Uncategorized
-
August 29, 2012
Al Hall’s Times With The Ray Charles Orchestra (1971)
Read more(Sanifu) Al Hall, Jr. was a trombonist in the Ray Charles Band in 1971 and 1972. Today he shared the first of his memories of this period in a great blog article, My times with the Ray Charles Orchestra. Recommended reading!
-
August 7, 2012
Ray & Raita, A Cover Story (1961 – 1962)
Read moreRay Charles and the Finnish journalist Raita Johnson (birth name Raita Outinen; a.k.a. Raita Outisen, Greta Johnson) started their affair soon after she interviewed him at the Jazz Festival in Antibes, in July 1961. Photo (c) Rancurel. Ray and Raita were seen and photographed together at a concert by Count Basie at the same jazz […]
-
July 5, 2012
Steve Sigmund’s Brother Ray, A Letter (2004)
Read moreOn June 11, 2004, the day after Ray Charles died, Steve Sigmund wrote a letter to David Ritz, co-author of Brother Ray: Ray Charles’ Own Story. In fact, the moving content of Steve’s story is complementary to Ritz’ eulogy The Last Days Of Brother Ray, the final chapter in the extended version of Charles’ autobiography […]
-
-
June 13, 2012
Ray Charles Playing Some Blues At The Sunset Terrace (1951)
Read moreUPDATED Jun. 20 This newspaper article, from the Indianapolis Recorder of March 3, 1951, is one of the oldest print publications about Ray Charles that I’ve found so far. The story announces a dance gig with Lowell Fulson at the Sunset Terrace in Indianapolis, describing Ray as an “added attraction”, a “song stylist”, and a […]
-
June 13, 2012
Ray Charles Small Big Band Acting As House Band In Fantabulous Show (1957)
Read moreOn November 14, 1957 the Fantabulous Rock ‘n’ Roll Blues Show, with “More Than 50 Top Stars” was staged at Tomlinson Hall in Indianapolis; with Mickey and Sylvia, The Moonglows, The Velours, Larry ‘The Short Fat Fannie’ Williams and his orchestra, Big Joe Turner, Bo Diddley and his Trio, Ray Charles “and his dance orchestra […]
-
June 12, 2012
Ray Charles Performing With The Dyerettes (1954)
Read moreOn June 6, 1954 Ray Charles (don’t miss the wrong portrait photo – of Lowell Fulson – above) was part of ‘the 1954 Rhythm ‘N’ Blues Parade’ at the Sunset Terrace ‘dancery’ in Indianapolis, He was billed with Mantan Moreland, Bud Harris, The Spiders, tap dancer Flash Ford, Tanya ‘and her exotic dance’, and Floyd […]
-
June 5, 2012
I’ve Got A Woman At Alan Freed’s WINS Radio Show (1955)
Read moreThe excellent Vocal Group Harmony website offers a highly entertaining, 70-minute copy of an Alan Freed radio show (“Rock ‘n’ Roll Party”) on the New York station WINS 1010 AM, as it was aired on February 12, 1955. The Top 25 of that week had Ray’s (“the great blind blues singer”) I’ve Got A Woman […]
-
June 1, 2012
Ray Charles Crossing Over To Teenagers (1961)
Read morePhoto top by Jim Marshall, probably from another concert; photo bottom by “Skeetz”, shot at the Hollywood Bowl. In April 1961 Ray Charles formed his first, “temporary” bigband, for a 3-weeks tour in the U.S. This “A Salute To Genius” tour was promoted by Hal Zeiger. During the last part of Spring and early Summer […]
-
-
April 22, 2012
Ray Charles’ Early Iconography
Read more1. This photo has been used in several documentaries, always suggesting that it shows Ray with his mother Aretha. The picture reproduced here is a still from The Genius of Soul. If the photo is authentic, and if the woman is Aretha, the picture should be dated as ‘circa 1944’. 2. In early 1948 Ray […]
-
March 27, 2012
Billy Joins Ray & B.B. On Stage In Woodland Hills (1972)
Read morePhoto shot at one of the concerts from the series at the Valley Music Theater. B.B. King’s and Ray Charles’ paths crossed many times during their long careers. From late November to Mid December 1972 they shared the bill for a few 1-week stints. Between 5 and 10 December they played the Valley Music Theater […]