(Our Christmas story was inspired by a jail warden’s fictional story told to me over a bottle of Jack Daniels. I met him in Los Angeles, California during Christmas a few years ago.)

“Riot Ruth” was a legend because she triggered riots in all her 15 jail concerts across America. Some wardens hated her for the riots, others loved her for her charisma that touched the inmates.

Warden Joe discovered 77-year-old ex-alcoholic Ruth in a dim side-street bar in New Orleans. He had an idea that Ruth could sing to calm his violent convicts. She refused at first, afraid of rotten tomatoes flying from tough inmates. But Warden Joe offered a deal she could not refuse, triple her salary for a month. 

Before her maiden concert, Ruth went to a church, not to pray, just to gaze at the image of Jesus on the cross. She was scared. She wanted to back out. Then she said, “Lord, I am too old. Let me just die a simple painless death. Just take me.” 

Then something odd happened. She felt a warm “embrace,” and she knew it was Him “talking” to her, telling her to do a concert for Him.

It was a big mistake by Warden Joe. Instead of calming the inmates, Ruth fired them up into a violent riot. She hit the papers the next day and became the legendary “Riot Ruth.” From utter poverty, she became one of the richest blues singers ever, on the level of Tina Turner and Joss Stones. 

Warden Joe is interviewing her on a nationwide talk show.

WARDEN JOE: You know what happened in Tulsa. They broke every chair in the auditorium.

RUTH: But there was no brawl. No one was hurt, just chairs flying. They were just releasing the stress you guys caused.

WARDEN JOE: Okay, okay, blame it on us. But, really, it’s amazing how your music can fire them up, yet calm them later.

RUTH: Gentle adrenaline, Joe.

WARDEN JOE: Adrenaline is never gentle, grandma? But you mingled with them and they did not touch a hair of your body.

RUTH: They love me. And I love them back. Now I use monobloc chairs that I bring in myself in two 16-wheelers a day before the concert. Hercules can’t break a monobloc.

(To be continued)