While I never actually met him in person, Ruby listened to my late night radio show regularly, and called me many times - during the show, at work, and even at home. He was always warm and complimentary to me, although there was always a certain saltiness to him, particularly when the subject of club owners and bookers came up. Many is the time he praised musicians with whom he had worked, and others he had met. I remember him praising Benny Goodman (who he admired), and raving about Roger Kellaway after they had done a project together, and one time he went on about Dave Brubeck. He also was enthusiastic about a number of the records I played, so we hit it off pretty well.
Although I have heard all the stories, I got to know a kinder, gentler Ruby Braff.