Trivia

She and husband John Williams initially met in high school. They met later again as adults and this time fell in love. He composed "Treesong" between 1974-76, a concerto for violin in memory of his late wife.

Barbara was a former roommate of Carousel (1956) co-star Shirley Jones in New York when they both were starting out. When Jones married singer/actor Jack Cassidy, Barbara sang "When I Marry Mr. Snow" at the wedding.

Her son, Joseph Williams, was the lead singer of Toto from 1986-89 and the singing voice of the Adult Simba in Disney's The Lion King (1994).

Daughter of Lurene Tuttle and Mel Ruick.

Ruick's older son, Mark Towner Williams, is also a musician. He joined the rock group Toto as the band's third lead singer in 1986. He sang on several of the group's top-40 hits: "I'll Be Over You", "Could This Be Love", "Pamela", and "Stop Loving You". He began his professional journey at the age of fifteen as a drummer. At age 16, he started working in Las Vegas and Los Angeles clubs and studios as well as performing on cruise lines.

Mark Towner Williams studied at Grove's Music, the Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory before returning to Los Angeles to resume his career as a drummer. He has worked as a touring and studio musician, along with local concerts and club dates and as an independent producer with some 56 acts produced since 1979. He toured as a drummer with artists such as Tina Turner, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Air Supply.