Ruby Turner MBE on Financial Lessons and Career Earnings

Singer Ruby Turner MBE, known for her extensive work with Jools Holland's Rhythm & Blues Orchestra and collaborations with artists like Bryan Ferry and Mick Jagger, has shared insights into her financial journey. Turner, who has been a fixture with Holland's orchestra for over three decades, noted that session work has often been more lucrative than recording her own albums.

Born in Jamaica and moving to Birmingham at age nine, Turner recalled a childhood where money was scarce. Her father worked as a telephone engineer, and her mother, Vi, instilled a sense of frugality. "She taught me not to be wasteful," Turner said of her mother, who could make a large pot of stew feed a large family. Her childhood pocket money of 50 pence per week was considered precious.

Financial Challenges and Successes

Turner experienced financial strain in 1990 when mortgage interest rates climbed and session work became less frequent. "It was a close-run thing," she admitted, recalling the need to monitor her spending closely. Despite these challenges, her career has provided a steady income, particularly through her long-standing relationship with Jools Holland.

Her hit singles in the 1980s, such as "If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)" and "I'd Rather Go Blind," as well as her 1990 US R&B chart-topper "It's Gonna Be Alright," established her career. However, she found that her work as a vocalist for other artists, including Bryan Ferry, Mick Jagger, and Culture Club, was often more financially rewarding. One particularly well-paid session job enabled her to purchase her first property, a £22,000 terraced house in Birmingham in 1985.

Turner acknowledged that while corporate events and private weddings can offer significant payments, they do not align with her artistic fulfillment. "Those can pay a couple of grand a time, but do nothing for your soul," she stated.

Significant Purchases and Investments

Among her more enjoyable purchases, Turner cited her Daytona-grey Audi Q3, bought for £36,000. More recently, she spent $800 on tickets for herself and her American brother to attend the US Open Tennis Championships in New York, an experience she deemed money well spent after witnessing Coco Gauff's win.

Her financial missteps include an £8,000 investment lost during the 2008 stock market crash and a nearly £25,000 loss on her last album, "Love Was Here," due to pandemic-related delays that shelved the project. These costs covered production, studio time, and session musicians.

Conversely, Turner considers her investment of £12,000 in her upcoming album, "Warms Me Like the Sun," distributed by Warner Records, to be a potentially significant financial decision. She also highlighted her decision to pay into a private pension since she began her music career at age 17 as one of her best financial choices.

Property and Legacy

Turner owns a three-bedroom semi-detached house in Birmingham, purchased for over £200,000 in 2007, which has likely doubled in value. She finds security in homeownership. Regarding her legacy, Turner, who has no children, has made a will to ensure her assets are distributed among her nieces, nephews, and godchildren, with additional bequests to charities such as the RSPCA, NSPCC, and Oxfam.

Looking ahead, Turner's primary financial concern is ensuring she has adequate funds for future care needs. She continues to tour with Jools Holland and is set to release her new single, "For You."