In the mid-1970s, a British young lady born to Jamaican parents arrived in Amsterdam. Having grown up in southeast London in black neighborhoods such as Deptford, Lewisham, and New Cross, the cultural diversity of Amsterdam was a breath of fresh air for Patricia Ann Ruddock.
Endowed with a voice that was distinctly recognizable among others due to her color, she quickly found employment with the top bands of that time, including Solat, Daniel Sahuleka, Odongo & The Spirits, and Milestones Emancipation.
Not long after, she caught the attention of the record producer Dicky Lafour, who elevated the band Spargo to the highest European level. Under the name Rockaway Boulevard, the single ‘Baby Can I Change my mind‘ was released on the I-scream label. This version of Rockaway Boulevard also featured Mildred Douglas (Mai Tai) and Tony Worrell, among others.
Ruddock was also a sought-after studio singer who worked on backing vocals for various artists in the largest studios in the Netherlands. She provided backing vocals for Forrest Thomas on his hit ‘Rock The Boat.’ and ‘Feel The Need’. Abroad, Ruddock collaborated with artists such as Princess, who had previously made a career with the band Osibisa.
On the I-Scream a solo project was launched with Patricia. The single ‘I Scream, They Scream’ which was recorded at the famous NiteFlite Studio and remixed at the Dali Press Studios went straight into the disco charts and Ruddock was looking at a bright showbizz future with gigsand tours galore. Especially in Germany the single was doing well in discotheqs but then tragedy crossed her path:
On January 17, 1981, her childhood home on New Cross Road, 439, caught fire. The fire erupted during her sister’s birthday party, catching the revelers off guard, unable to escape the inferno. As a result, 13 young black people lost their lives in this blaze. A year later, a 14th victim would take his own life, unable to overcome the mental trauma of the tragedy. In this disaster, Patricia lost a sister and an older brother.
Because the direct cause of the fire was never found, many believe it was arson with a racist motive. The New Cross Fire marked the beginning of the largest black demonstrations in Europe, with Black Panther Europe leaders such as Darcus Howe and reggae poet Linton Kwesi Johnson taking leadership roles. In Dennis Bovell’s (Blackbeard) studio, Patricia, along with Janet Kaye and Caron Wheeler (Soul II Soul), recorded the song ‘The 17th,’ composed by Guilly Koster. In the Melkweg in Amsterdam, a benefit concert was also held, the proceeds of which were donated to the survivors.
Patricia Ruddock never fully recovered from this blow, and difficult years of mental health problems followed. Her singing career declined, and Ruddock moved to the Notting Hill neighborhood in London. She became a mother to a son and started working at a bank.
On December 8, 2023, Patricia Ann Ruddock literally succumbed to a heavy heart on her way back from the bank to her home. Her talent and love for music were too great to let this tragic event pass unnoticed.
