Annie Ruddock (1963- ), born Anne-Marie Teresa Antoinette Ruddock, was the lead singer of the 1980s British ska band Amazulu. They sang such hits in Britain as “Too Good to be Forgotten” (1986), “Excitable” (1985), “Don’t You Just Know It” (1985) and “Montego Bay” (1986).
In 1987 the band suddenly broke up. Ruddock and two others tried to carry on as Amazulu II. They got two songs in the top 100, but then nothing. Band mate and bass guitarist Clare Kenny went on to play for Shakespear’s Sister and Sinead O’Connor in the 1990s and is now a songwriter.
Ruddock herself appeared in the 1987 film “Straight to Hell” as Molly. She gets shot dead in that film. It is the last we ever see of her. She dropped out of sight.
Annie, where did you go!? I miss you!
I loved her: her voice, the way she looked, her stage presence, her long black dreadlocks. I loved her eyes and her thighs. Her smile and those cheekbones. Even her songs. Everything. Even if she was kind of thin.
I wonder where she came from. I know she grew up in London, but how did she wind up in a ska band in the middle 1980s? Ska was already old-fashioned music in Jamaica in those days – something your parents listened to – but somehow it lived on in Britain and she became a part of it.
I would guess she had a Jamaican father and a white British mother, but she has those three French names. That makes me think she is Catholic, that her family came from somewhere that was once under French rule but then fell under British rule. Like maybe Dominica in the Caribbean. And it is not just the names: she even looks Creole, like Lisa Bonet.
Amazulu was an almost-all-girl ska band in London that had been performing since at least 1982. Falcon Stuart, the manager of Adam & the Ants, discovered them in 1983 and got their song “Cairo” on the radio. They also appeared as a band on television shows in 1984 and 1985: “Top of the Pops”, “The Wide Awake Club” and “The Young Ones”. That helped to get them known. In 1986 they started to get airplay in America, but then a year later in 1987 the band broke up.
Amazulu is a Zulu word that means “the people from heaven”.
Word on the Internet has it that as of 2006 she was doing well, living in London, studying and working in computer software, having left the music industry long ago.
Annie, if you are reading this, drop me a line! Abagond at gmail.com. If you want to clear up any mysteries or facts, I would love to know! Or if you have any cool pictures of yourself to send. The ones on the Internet do not do you justice!
May God be with you in all you do!
Postscript: A commenter who says he is her cousin says that her parents both came from Jamaica, her mother being half Chinese. Another who says she is her sister said their father was Jamaican and their mother white.
See also:
*GOES TO YOUTUBE TO VIEW A VIDEO FROM AMAZULU*
LikeLike
There was a news article a few years ago saying that she was in cult and that’s why she is out of the public eye.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have been trying to get hold of Sharon Bailey and Anne-Marie Ruddock of AMAZULU for years! Pl pass on…..Their friend who lived in Belsize Park in the eighties!
would really like a contact number or email.
LikeLike
Ska has always been popular in Britain long after its popularity in Jamaica had finished, epecially amongst local White British artists
Two Tone a derivate of ska fused with other musical elements is discussed here….
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=bqcOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA106&lpg=PA106&dq=Dick+Hebidge+on+ska&source=bl&ots=KELI3kC5cl&sig=jLmXZazxPT45J0uL_oi-2timFMo&hl=en&ei=FmBbS7f4EY360wS2pPj0BA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=&f=false
LikeLike
i just found out today that annie is my cousin and she’s brittish, her parents are jamaican her mother is half chinese..for those who don’t know 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for your tribute to my cousin Annie; however her parents are both Jamaicans. She was born in London.
LikeLike
Wow, thanks!
LikeLike
I would like to put some fact straight. Annie is my older sister who is alive and well and very very happy. Annie has never been a part of any cult so that information is completely crap.
@John & Geradine you are no blood relatives of our family.
Our father was jamaican and mother was white and Annie was born in London.
@ Toru pass me on the message I will give to my sister.
LikeLike
i have read all comments and i would like to add: Annie if you are out there somewhere i worked with you years ago. without putting too much out there we shared the same agency on fulham palace road.This was before you became famous. i remember you always speaking about your nan! and music!!!!! i wont mention which road you lived on for obvious reasons….. i remember you being very humurous making me laugh all the time. i know there is much speculation regarding your roots andwhere you live but who really cares so long as you are ok, happy and God is guiding your life because that is what is really important!!!!! so if you are out there!!! may the MOST HIGH ( JEHOVAH) be with you to protect you and guide you. jeremiah 29 v11&12
LikeLike
I ran around with Annie, Sharon and Lesley for a brief and crazy moment in the late 80’s. They partied hard and it all got a little too weird for me so it’s good to hear that they made it through the 80’s!
Glad you’re doing well Annie. I had a huge crush on you. Makes me wish I could turn back time and do a few things differently!
LikeLike
I loved her so much. And her music, their albums and one concert with Amazulu I had on a video tape. I could watch it for hours. I have always been a reggae fan, but it was a wonderful experience to hear Amazulu do Rub-a-dub Soldier and War.
I live in Sweden, in Lapland. Santa is one of my neighbors. So I didn’t got any news about anything until Internet and YouTube and Google came. But it has been so difficult to find any news at all about Anne-Marie Ruddock. The most beautiful woman on this planet.
When I was younger I didn’t want to marry any girl except Anne-Marie Ruddock, so I waited and waited and waited. Please, Anne-Marie, give me one week and I will show you heaven…
Stefan
sanmare at yahoo se
LikeLike
The songs of Amazulu remind me of happy times, particularly ‘Too Good to be forgotten’. I vividly recall singing along to this tune…happy daze 🙂
I dont know much more about her than is written here other than that from a vague memory, I think she was linked with a Oliver Skeete who was a Rastafarian Showjumper (though confirmation on that would definately be required).
Sounds like a link to Jamaica is most likely judging from the responses…
LikeLike
“Lorna Ruddock”, if your “Anne-Maries” sister then u tell me WHO MICKEY was to u & Anne Marie.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me & i’ll explain just who i am…………
LikeLike
Hamza,who’s Mickey for you and who you are?
LikeLike
I am really worried about people making up things here, telling stories about Annie that maybe not is true. If you don’t know where she is or if she is ok, then please show some respect. Please!
Anne-Marie Teresa Antoinette Ruddock: it should be good to hear some real info about you. I can imagine and understand what can happen to people who are in the spotlight very young and then stop with music when they are about 25-30, and I don’t know your story. For instance, I knew everything about Pauline Black. I think reggae artists have a different connection with the audience than other artists. They also have a special commitment, and the message about universalism and oneness instead or nationalism and Babylon.
Everybody in reggae (artists or listeners) are not rastafarians, but they do belong to the universal reggae family and know that humanity can do better than what it do today. You only meet love on a reggae concert, the audiences are usually very very friendly. Women like Anne-Marie Teresa Antoinette Ruddock are also good role models for young girls, an important thing. Now, 2012, my daughter listens to Amazulu.
Stefan
sanmare at yahoo se
LikeLike
Wow fantastic article. I to have always wondered what happened to this group of 3 very talented singer from the 80s. your right the lead singer was a beautiful women with a fantastic voice.. Thanks man..
LikeLike
Hi Toru, I know Sharon would love to contact you can. Please contact me on the email I have given and I willnget message to her .
LikeLike
Toru, remember your flat in Belsize Park George and I use to visit.
LikeLike
I went to school with Annie. She is a great girl. Am glad to hear that she is ok.
Love to see her again
LikeLike
Loved amazulu in the day, and just listened again. What happy and uplifting songs they made. Anne Marie is stunning.
LikeLike
amazulu is only available on video (unless you know better) but i have had a copy transferred to dvd. amazing ! i play it over and over again. i agree with all comments about annie, she was lovely.
LikeLike
I guess she IS lovely. And the others in the band too. Why not join and make one more tour. Things have changed since 1979-1985. Amazulu, with or without help from members of other old bands, would be welcomed in most larger towns in Scandinavia, in the many Summer festivals they have.
LikeLike
I know that Anne-Marie is very well, she was at my grand mothers funeral last year, it was lovley to see her, I grew up with her and her other sister and her bother. She was a lovely person then, and I am pleased to say she is still that same warm person. Let her enjoy being out of the lime light I do not think she has any intention of being that way again, that is her paste and I am pleased to say she has moved on, for the records Ann Marie has a Jamaican Chinese mother and a Jamaican father, so you all have got it wrong.
LikeLike
Bullshit! I respect all that privacy staff and choices,but ones you are a public parson you should’ve take responsibility for that what you’ve done.No one who has got little bit love in heart would quit like that.I hope only that she is fine but something tells me that she is death 😦
LikeLike
I would have liked her to go on making music or appearing in films, of course, but I am glad she is all right – I had feared the worst. I wish her the best.
LikeLike
Hi there
I’m looking for a ‘Marcia Ruddock’
She said she was the sister of Anne-Marie Ruddock?
I spent some time with her in Feb 1987.
I was wondering if this is true and if so would love to know how Marcia is?
She was a very kind, funny girl. Who looked after me un my time of need.
If anyone could help me?
👍🏻 thx
LikeLike
I’v still got Anne-marie’s autograph on a napkin from glastonbury 1986.Amazulu were great!! and i had such a crush on her!
LikeLike
Hey Annie!
We said goodbye at Abu Dabi Int Airport…
Often think of you, and whare you might be?
With Love
Tim
Ya Private Dancer…
LikeLike
Hi, I nieve she has a brother, Mike who lived in Birmingham in the 1970s. We were good friends. I came to London to live and we lost touch. Also really good friend with his cousin Jimmy (cannot remenber his surname) would love to hear if you have any news on them. My name Is Nicky Powers (maiden name).
LikeLike
strangely amazulu were on a youtube party night recently at my flat on the wc estate , I lived 5 doors away from her wonderful family her nan and my mum were friends , I was so pleased to hear so many good comments about her , she was a naturally sweet kind girl
christopher c franklin , if you read this anne ? (doubt it) peace and love girl get in touch and see my paintings
LikeLike
my art studio and meditation centre are in pinner now
LikeLike
i met annie a little and briefly.
i think she’ll remember me.
i more knew her partner or friend at the time, Benji i believe.
she’ll remember me, where, how and why i was in her company.
if by some luck you read this, i thought about you.
from reading comment from your sister, really happy to hear you’re doing well x
LikeLike
A beautiful soul you are Annie. Hope you are well?
An admirer!!
LikeLike