I watched him throughout his performance. And he was gaunt in here, terribly, terribly. And he was wearing that red and burgundy combination that he thought was such a big hit, which was wild. With a pair of cowboy boots. He looked absolutely horrible. But still, he was charming. It was still my hero walking into the room. So, I listened and I watched and it was great. I just had to thank him. I said something like, “I gotta tell you, it’s really great to see you. I think you’re doing a hell of a job”. ‘Cause he sounded like shit. He was trying so hard. And that was what was so endearing, to see this man completely reveal himself, to look so horrible, to sound so terrible, but to be standing there and trying again.
Ruth Young on Chet Baker, Let’s Get Lost (1988)
