Ruby and Gordon's Letters

Located in Gordon's bedroom in The Real Unreal, this is a collection of letters amassed by Gordon over the years. It spans over a decade of correspondence between Gordon and his wife Ruby. Below are scans of all 42 of the letters as of opening week. (Some of them may have been stolen/damaged since then.) Images without a date written at the top are the backside of the previous letter in the gallery. They have been ordered chronologically for your convenience. Transcriptions are written as they were originally, including spelling and punctuation errors.

## Transcriptions

### October 9, 1971

Dear Ruby,

Offweedershane or whatever the hell it's called I can't spell German. Can't spell anything. They have so much sausage and beer here and it's not even noon.

Been thinking about you won't lie. I think about you a lot. Hope you thinking about me too. Chow! (look at me trying to be all languaggey)

- Gordon

### January 6, 1972

Bom dia! That's how they say hello here in Rio. They speak portogeese. I also got to eat at a [illegible crossed out text] brazilian BBQ! They bring you meat on these long poles and you eat what you want! So much samba and bossa nova. Sully likes it.

After this we'll be back in the States at the Dutch Inn Hotel. Gonna write me back? Tchau! (see? Im learning to spell it right.) -Gordon

### February 14, 1972

Hello from Rhode Island. Woman trying to sweettalk me during the gig. Last night All I kept thinking about was how you smiled at me the first time I met you. eyes shining in the dark. I'd rather read your letter and hold it close to my heart than talk to any ole drunk gal. Will write you a real letter next time. -Gordon

### May 31, 1972

Dear Ruby,

Hello from the Big Apple! You should have seen us playing overseas. Crazy so many europeans love jazz. Sully got us some good gigs. Felt like we were tracing the footsteps of Coltrane, The Duke, all them big giants.

In France we got in real, real late. The cabbie dont speak english so we did't realize we were heading in the wrong direction. Sully then says something and pisses the cabbie off. Next thing you know he dump all of us on the side of the road. So here we are, middle of nowhere. no one know how to speak french, and we have to hoof it to the nearest town which was at least two hours on foot. It's now morning and lord, here we are five black joes strollin in with our luggage and instruments and everyone's staring. We trying to stay cool then some kid points at Biscuit and yells "Jackie! Jackie Robinson!" Well, what we gonna do? Biscuit actually had a baseball on him so he tosses it to the kid and gets a game going. Sully sweettalks some french gal to use the phone and we finally get another cab to take us to the gig.

We're staying at the Brooklyn hotel until 6/22. Write to me and let me know if you still want me to send you letters.

Thankful, Gordon

### June 5, 1972

Thank you very kindly for your letter. You'll be happy to know I do indeed keep all of your correspondence. I found your postcards from different countries absolutely delightful. All those places. What was your favorite place?

Traveling as a jazz musician must be very interesting. It's certainly better than cleaning houses. And I'm so glad you were safe in France. Things are calming down here in the States, but it's still a little crazy here and there.

Do please continue to write to me. I'll respond the best I can. Where is your tour taking you? Anywhere in the Midwest?

Sincerely, Ruby

### June 25, 1972

Dear Ruby

Got your letter! Glad to hear you keeping my postcards. Heading to the Midwest right now heading to Grand Rapids. Aint as pretty as the french countryside (and certainly not as pretty as you.) Was gonna say don't smell as nice either but Paris smelled like piss no matter where you went. Hope you dont mind me saying piss. You strike me as a very sofisticated lady who deserves lots of class. Well, I definitely got the last part of that word down. I just need to work on the C and the L.

To answer your question. I want to say my favorite was Rio thought we didn't get to see ~~Copocobana~~ ~~Copoc~~ the beach. There were black folk there who came to our gigs. I like their music too. Bossa Nova. Pops in the mouth when you say it Bossa. Nova. Been adding bits of it during our jams. Sully rolls his eyes but then Biscuit and Pete gets into it and then Vic does his own spins and riffs. And then we all jamming. It's all cool.

We're staying at the Tupleo in Grand Rapids until July 7, then heading to Indy. Don't suppose you can meet us there?

Hoping, Gordon

### July 1, 1972

Dear Gordon,

It's currently raining here in Chicago. I had to run outside with bowls because my house plants like rainwater, not tapwater. By the way, what kind of fruit do you like? Strawberry? Gooseberry?

Grand Rapids! I've never traveled that far east, and sadly I don't think I'll be going there anytime soon. The only place I travel to is down to Arkansas to stay with my grandmother on her farm. But let me know if you head towards Chicago. You can find me at the jazz lounges. There's a couple my girlfriends and I go to, but my favorite is the Alley Cat Club on 47th and Grand Boulevard. I like going to the jazz lounges because there you can have actual conversation and not strain your voice. Of course, the jazz needs to measure my standards- not too loud, enough to tickle the ears, smooth as satin.

Funny that your band met none of my criteria, yet I still enjoyed it. Hmm... I wonder why?

Sincerely, Ruby

### July 10, 1972

Dear Ruby,

I has always been most parshal to blue berries. There was a hill near me growing up that had the sweetest berries My brothers would snatch them up before I got to them. Barely any leftover for me.

Sully's got family here, so we been crashing at their house. His sister Opal made us bacon and eggs and grits and we played spades on their porch until it was time for the gig.

Let me tell you a secret, Ruby. Our band is magic. Don't believe me? You need to see Sully and Vic when they get into a jam. Trading riffs on their horns like those ping-pong players you see on TV. Then Biscuit moseys in with his bass, bouncing off them like drunk bees. I chime in with my own 2 cents and Pete with his drums keeps us all in line. When we get going, we can jam all night. I don't even get tired. It's a good thing. Ruby A good thing. You gotta be there to see it.

We are indeed coming back to Chicago. Plan is to be at the Peach tree on 52nd & Wabash on the 16th. If you can make it there sit at the 4th table left of the stage.

Really hoping, Gordon

### July 27, 1972

Dearest Ruby,

Already miss your wanna smile and dancing eyes.

The band sends their regards. Won't stop talking about your blueberry pie. Now you know the best way to get on our good side is to make us pie! All the berries in the world aint as sweet as you.

Vic and Pete want me to ask you if you can darn their socks for them. Don't listen to them. My mama said if you don't know how to darn your socks. Then you might as well not do anything. Now, me. I can darn my own socks and cook a mean steak. You should ask me what else I can do.

Not even gonna tell you bout this place It's a dump.

In a funk, Gordon

(P.S. I have your handkerchief. What do you want me to do with it?)

### August 2, 1972

Ruby my Dear, (you like that?)

Here we are in Las Vegas. They got slots everywhere Everyone spending money even before they go out to the strip.

You don't need to worry about me. Sully's real hard on us. He wants us to be respekatble which means to wild parties or had liquors or drugs. Wanna know my secret? I don't like that stuff. Only so many parties you go to where you sit in dark rooms and smoke and talk shit about whats happening in Nam.

Vic and I are the homebodys. We fool around on the instruments after the gig's done, jamming to three or four in the morning. Vic's got so much music in his head he needs more time to get it all out. When I can't keep up with him I let him play while I read a paperback and have a glass of whiskey. So you can tell your daddy we straight. Only thing he can hold against me is that I never finished high school. Ran away to New York when I was sixteen. But I love me some reading though.

You should listen to your mama and take those college courses Tell you what. If you do that, then I work on getting my GED. That way we can be in school together.

So do this mean I get to ask you to the school dance?

Pining, Gordon

(P.S. did I tell you we're gonna be making a record?)

### August 5, 1972

Well, well, well, Mr. Delaney,

You certainly are slick. I'm still humming that rendition of "Ruby, my Dear". I loved it so much I went out and bought the Monk and Coltrane album. I know it's the original but when I play it, I always see you at the piano with your sly look and shy smile. Very slick indeed. I'm going to have to keep my eye on you.

You tell Vic and Pete that my offer to darn their socks stands, and don't you start fussing. I'm glad your mama taught you how to darn our own socks and cook your own food, but my mama taught me if you have something to share, then find a way to share it. I made the offer and I intend to stand by it.

As for the handkerchief, no need to send it back.

You said your next stop is Las Vegas. Don't get corrupted there. It's bad enough that I need to convince my daddy that you're not corrupting me on account of you being a jazz musician. (This is on top of my mama telling me I should enroll in college. After all the protests, I don't know if it's worth it.)

- Sincerely, Ruby

### September 1, 1972

Dear Gordon,

Congratulations on making a record. I want to hear all about it.

Fine, fine. Both you and my mama convinced me. I decided to take some accounting courses at Kennedy-King college. Mama always said I had a good head for figures. She wants me to get a job working on that red building downtown. I'm not so sure I like the idea of riding the L everyday and work in an office building with so many people. I need to do something, though. I don't want to be cleaning houses for the rest of my life.

You don't strike me as someone who didn't finish high school. I'm curious as to what type of books you like to read. I'm more of a music person.

Speaking of music, you can ask me to dance, then you better be ready to show me your best moves. I'm very picky about my dance partners.

Sincerely,

Ruby

### September 18, 1972

Ruby my Dear,

Made it to New Orleans! Been eating shrimp and gumbo and toofay [étouffée] and not sure what else Sully got us playing creole and swing standards and he got a couple of extra horn players. I like walking around the city. Went to visit the cemeteries. You would really like it.

You asked what books I like. Mostly paperbacks. You can get them real cheap at drugstores I read fast. Been that way since I was a kid. I like all kinds of paperbacks Classics, westerns, science fiction, you name it. I don't know if I have a favorite author. But my favorite thing to read nowadays are your letters.

Anyway, we'll be in New York working on the album. It'll be several months, so we'll be staying put. We done 45s before, but this is our first LP.

Reading,

Gordon

### November 16, 1972

Dear Gordon,

Don't you dare complain. You're getting paid for this right?

If I could have anything in the world... that's a big question. I should be studying for this exam, but your question is making me dream.

If I had anything I wanted, I'd love to have a garden of my own. I plant vegetables in posts here, but it's not the same. I want a garden where I can feel the soil and grow whatever I want. I'll grow it all: beans, carrots, beets, rutabagas, turnips, broccoli, you name it. I also want a house with a big porch. A place where I can have all my friends over for drinks. Music would be playing out the windows. Kids would be running all over the lawn. Maybe a cat or two wandering around.

Well, I better get back to studying. Oh, and be sure you look under the socks before you give them to Pete and Biscuit. I left a little surprise for you. Think of it as an early Christmas present.

Sincerely,

Ruby

### December 27, 1972

Hey Sweet pea,

Pete and Biscuit want to thank you for the socks. They say you my paramore [paramour] and you should adopt us since you treat us so well. You're spoiling them. But then again, you're spoiling me too. Thanks for the issue of Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine. That was a nice surprise. I'll start reading it tonight. I also like reading about the house you want and your garden. I can see you in a pretty dress sitting on the porch rocking and laughing with a glass of lemonade in your hands and the sunset turning your skin a gleaming brown. Would it be too forward if you can see me there too, sitting on the steps, laughing along with you?

I'll be thinking about your pretty smile.

Winking,

Gordon

### January 17, 1973

Dear Ruby my dearest,

Sully and Vic are having an argument. Most of what we been playing so far been standards: Ellington, Porter, Coltrane. Vic wants to play something he wrote It switches me and Vic up, with me on clarinet and him on keys. Vic's got this way of tickling the keys that's so smooth like ice skating at the Rockefeller. Sully says it doesn't fit. I think it does.

Our sound has always been our spin on the classics. I dig. It's how we stay afloat. Me and Pete and Biscuit, we all fine with it. Vic grumbles but he and Sully's been joined at the hip. We all know that in the end. Sully always gets his way. I just wish Vic can get off his leash every once in a while.

Hustling,

Gordon