She played trumpet in a number of jazz bands (most notably the all-female bands led by Irene Vermillion and Ina Ray Hutton).
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Upon returning to Cleveland, she was invited to tour with Ina Ray Hutton's All-Girl Traveling Band; after which, she returned again to Cleveland where she performed in a variety of local venues as a part of the Cleveland Women's Orchestra.
In 1934 she was asked by vaudeville agent Alex Hyde to lead an all-girl orchestra, the Melodears, which featured musicians including trumpet player Frances Klein, pianist Ruth Lowe Sandler, saxophonist Jane Cullum, guitarist Marian Gange, trumpeter Mardell "Owen" Winstead and trombonist Alyse Wells during its existence.
In 1936, Ruth was working in the 'Song Shop' in Toronto when Ina Ray Hutton brought her All-Girl band (The Melodears) to town.
Owen Charles "Sonny" Igoe (October 8, 1923 Jersey City, New Jersey – March 28, 2012 Emerson, New Jersey) was an American jazz drummer and music educator who, from the mid-1940s to the mid-1950s, toured with the orchestras of Tommy Reed (1913–2012), Les Elgart, Ina Ray Hutton, Benny Goodman, and Woody Herman.
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In 1944 he joined the military; after his service he played with Ray McKinley (1946-50, intermittent), Benny Goodman (1948-49), Gene Krupa, Ina Ray Hutton, Tommy Dorsey, Tex Beneke, Herman once more (1950-51), Jerry Gray, Bob Chester, Elliot Lawrence, and Jimmy Dorsey (1952-53).