Ruth Young is an Americanjazz singer, born in New York. She was the common-law wife of jazz trumpeterChet Baker.
Young grew up in a show business family inManhattan andBeverly Hills. Her father was the Vice President ofUnited Artists Company.[1] Her parents were friends with actressesMarilyn Monroe andJane Russell. They would go to jazz clubs together in Los Angeles. Young became interested in singing at a very young age, and was singing toPeggy Lee,Anita O'Day,Julie London andFrank Sinatra records by the age of 7.[2]
In 1973,[3] Young metChet Baker while he was headlining at theHalf Note Club. Down and out at the time after a long period in obscurity after having his teeth knocked out in a 1966 attack, she recalls that he looked "absolutely horrible", with his gaunt features and burgundy and red outfit and cowboy boots and "sounded like shit", but was charming, still considering him to be a hero. The two began spending time together and began a relationship.[2] Two duets between Baker and Young appeared on his 1977 albumThe Incredible Chet Baker Plays and Sings, made inMilan.[3]
In 1988, Young gained much attention for her biting comments about Baker in the documentary filmLet's Get Lost. She described him as "manipulative"[2] and later said "You gotta realize, Chet was not that intelligent". He did not know what he was doing...He just did it."[4]
Michael P. Gladstone ofAllAboutJazz comments that "despite an occasional intonation", Young can "eerily" emulate Baker's phrasing and timing in her singing.[1] She released an album namedThis Is Always in 2005.[5]
