Uncategorized
-
June 20, 2011
A Tune Titled Tina, And More, From A 1963 Review Of A Ray Charles Concert
Read moreConcert reviews from the 60s that went beyond the message that Ray Charles had been in town were very rare. An interesting exception is the article below, by Norval Perkins, as it appeared in the Washington Afro-American on 12 November 1963, about a show that had taken place the week before at the University’s Gymnasium in […]
-
June 17, 2011
More On O Gênio (1963)
Read moreIn my earlier post on Ray Charles’ magnificent O Gênio* concerts from 1963 I overlooked an article by Edmundo Leite from 2005, Sai em DVD show de Ray Charles no Brasil em 1963, which sheds some more light on the factual and entertaining details of Ray’s Brazilian tour. The Brazilian tour entailed 10 concerts in […]
-
May 28, 2011
Manufacturing Of Ray Charles’ Greatest Hits (1962)
Read moreStock agency Budget Films has archived (ID Clip-4881) this documentary footage of the manufacturing of the compilation album Ray Charles, Greatest Hits (ABC 415), from 1962:
-
April 25, 2011
Soul Bag – The Best R&B Magazine In The World (FYI)
Read moreThe historiography of African-American popular music is mainly in the hands of volunteers. And somehow, the appreciation for blues, rhythm & blues and soul music by these amateur specialists has always dominantly been a European thing. Since the early 1960s France was without a doubt the market where Ray Charles was more popular and […]
-
February 7, 2011
Ray Charles Featured In Down Beat (1956)
Read moreThis is the first full page magazine article about Ray Charles that I know of, from Down Beat, dated 28 November 1956. Wexler’s quote on the “soul part” of the blues is remarkable – possibly the earliest instance where Ray’s music was associated with the term soul. The essence of RC’s biographical mantra is there, […]
-
February 6, 2011
Rare Photos Of The Ray Charles Orchestra & The Raelettes In Paris (1963)
Read moreEarly photos of Ray Charles are relatively rare, but photos from the musicians in his band and of The Raelettes are really scarce. People who regularly follow this blog have seen that lately I’ve spent quite some effort in documenting the few pics that are available on the web. That’s how I came across the […]
-
December 19, 2010
Two New Pages
Read moreChronology See top right corner of this page. A much easier way to browse through the Chronology pages. Inquiries See top right corner of this page. Specific & specified requests for help.
-
December 17, 2010
Ray Charles Reading Braille (1965)
Read moreThis picture, shot in a studio (probably Ray’s own, in LA) was used as an illustration in several tour brochures, and in the Provinciaal Zeeuwse Courant from 3 July 1965. The photo is now held in the Michael Ochs Archives, under the title Hands Of A Genius.
-
September 26, 2010
Ray Charles – Music That Matters To Him
Read moreRay Charles – Music That Matters To Him was an album in Hear’s Artist’s Choice series, where he made a selection of the artists and songs that influenced and inspired him. It’s always hard to assess to what degree rights clearing has been a restriction in a selection like this, but the result really seems consistent […]
-
September 25, 2010
Ray Charles Memorial Library Opens Doors (2010)
Read moreThe Ray Charles Memorial Library, in the studio and office building Charles built in South LA in the early 1960s, officially opened its doors in 2010. The library features interactive exhibits about Charles’ life and career. Read article (for the first time revealing that Ray not only left all of his intellectual property but also […]