1940s

1940:

• After disbanding her history-making orchestra and several years of performing solo. Blanche puts together an all-female orchestra which ends in short order due to lack of bookings. In the next few years, Blanche retires from show business.

1947:

• Blanche divorces and moves to DC and starts to manage the Crystal Caverns (2001 11th St NW).

1948:

• Blanche gives singer Ruth Brown, often referred to as “the Queen of R&B”, a chance to sing at the Crystal Caverns leading to Blanche mentoring Brown as a performer.

• Blanche begins managing Brown.

• Blanche advises Brown to sign a recording contract at new music label Atlantic.

• One source has Atlantic's Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson contacting Blanche Calloway in October 1948. Blanche convinced them to sign Ruth, although they hadn't heard a note of her singing.

• Another version has Abramson coming down from New York and, being entranced with Ruth's performance, signing her on the spot.

• Yet a third version has both Abramson and Ertegun present.

• October: Ruth is the only one injured in a car accident on the way to NYC for a concert at the Apollo theater. Blanche, a driver and Ruth’s “husband” Jimmy Brown were also in the vehicle.

1949:

• May 25: Ruth Brown has her first recording session at Apex Studios with Atlantic Records on crutches. Atlantic becomes known as “The House that Ruth Built”.