Esoteric London

Ruby’s, Stoke Newington Road, London, N16. Photo © Roger Dean 2012

Ruby Murray was born on March 29th 1935 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She went on to be one of the most popular singers in the UK during the 50’s having seven top ten hits in the decade including “Softly, Softly” and “Heartbeat”. In March 1955 she had five songs in the top 20, a record equalled by Michael Jackson in 2009.

She was such a household name that she has entered the lexicon of Cockney rhyming slang as the moniker for a curry. A prime example of how slang is constantly evolving and how Cockney rhyming slang has become increasingly celebrity led mirroring life itself.

For more on Michael “Wacko Jacko” Jackson see post No. 303 and for more on curry see post No. 691. Ruby’s is a bar at 76 Stoke Newington Road, N16. R.D.