Patroness of the blues and owner of Babe's and Ricky's Inn in Leimert Dies.Public viewing tonight. Funeral tomorrow.

Mama Laura Mae Gross, who opened Babe's and Ricky's Inn on Central Avenue in 1964, died Oct. 5 at age 89, according to a story by Ari B. Bloomekatz of the latimes.com.

Mama hosted legends such as Bobby "Blue" Bland and John Lee Hooker. Her club was the backdrop for such movies as Jamie Foxx's "Collateral Damage." Her music entertained such stars as Beck.

Monday nights were famous in L.A. for the world-class blues and the fried chicken dinner.

Babe's and Ricky's moved to Leimert Park in 1997 after financial difficulties on Central Avenue, the Times reported.

Great blues guitarist Keb' Mo' told the Times that Babe's and Ricky's was "the last club from the Central Avenue heyday."

"It was just a great vibe. It was a real blues club, a true blues club," he said. "If you were in there and you'd start playing anything but the blues, Mama law would come up to the stage and she would stop you. She'd say: 'Na, na, na.' She wasn't having no Top 40 club."

THE PAST
Her impact can be seen in the following story from the early '90s that the Time reported.

The legendary songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller paid off a $9,000 debt Mama owed the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers after they sued to get fees on music performances at the club.

Leiber and Stoller wrote such classics as "Stand by Me," "Hound Dog" and "On Broadway" after growing up in Los Angeles on Central Avenue.

THE FUTURE

Her son, Ronald Smith, lives in New York but said he wants the club to stay open.

A public viewing will be held at Inglewood Cemetery Mortuary from 3 to 8 p.m. Oct. 16.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Golden West Mausoleum, also known as the Galleria, at Inglewood Park Cemetery, 720 East Florence Ave.