Actress. Born Ruth Mae McMahon, her mother sang to her as a child which led to her interest in music. During her youth, she won a singing contest with a Chicago radio station, which resulted in her being signed by the Paul Ash Chicago Theatre Orchestra. She marked her film debut at the age of sixteen in the picture “Love and Hisses” (1937) and went on to appear in a wide range of movies, often cast in musical numbers. Among her films of diversity include the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ picture “The Hound of the Baskervilles” (1939), “Blondie Goes Latin” (1941), “The Three Sisters” (1944) and “Hands Across the Border” (1944, in which she co-starred with Roy Rogers). She left the entertainment industry for a decade, but returned during the late 1950s to begin a second career in television. She was a guest star on such programs as “77 Sunset Strip”, “Maverick” and “Cheyenne”. (bio by: C.S.)  Family links:  Spouse:  John E Ledbetter (____ – 2004)* *Calculated relationship