Written by
Bob Stumpel

September 4
2010

Ray Charles Is In Town – Chronology 2002

Chronology 2002

At RPM Studio in Los Angeles (c 2002). Photo by Matt Wreford.

2002

Photographer Howard Morehead with Ray Charles (unidentified location).

Honored with EMMA Lifetime Achievement Award, at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel; acceptance speech thru pre-produced video. See this.

Interviewee in PBS documentary Jimmy Scott: If You Only Knew. See this.

On Star Academy (TF1). See this.

Ft. in Got Milk Campaign. See this.

Mother peaks at #72 on R&B chart.

In 2002 Charles featured on the cover of the Purina Cat Chow calendar.

Three portraits and contact sheet by David Racugglia (c. 2002).

Signs Ellis Hall to Cross Over label.

11 and 12 January 2002

Music Hall, Kansas City MO, with the Kansas City Symphony.

Photo: University of Missouri/Evie Quarles Collection.

14 January 2002

Start of tv commercial campaign for Oregon Powerball (spots ran from January 14 to 17 and from April 8 through April 21, 2002). See this.

8 February 2002

Hilton Washington Hotel and Towers.

9 February 2002

Universal Amphitheatre, Universal City CA, with Willie Nelson; grossing $187.783 from 4,793 spectators.

Photo by Ken Hively.

Photos by Kelly Swift.

11 February 2002
Music Hall, Kansas.

11 and 12 February 2002

Interviewed (sitting in LA, taped on 11th, over satellite) on Australian radio. See this.

22 February 2002

Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne AU with Renée Geyer and the Australian Pops Orchestra. Photo here. Read review here.

Getty locates this photo in Melbourne, and dates it on February 7th. Is it from a separate trio gig?

23 February 2002

Wyndham Estate Winery, Hunter Valley AU.

26 February 2002

Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix AZ.

2 March 2002

Palace Theatre, Canton OH (1,250 people).

8 March 2002

In studio, at RPM.

Plays chess against Larry Evans at event organized by Chess Live in Reno NV. Read this.

12 March 2002

Riviera Theater in Charleston SC.

26 March 2002

In Willie Nelson – My Life (DVD release date). Seethis.

April 2002

Photo by Shawn Wood.

3 April 2002

State Theatre, Kalamzoo MI.

Photo by Darron R. Silva.

4 April 2002

Music Hall Center, Detroit MI; “made possible by the Ford Motor Company”.

6 April 2002

Mohican No. Star Casino, Bowler.

8 April 2002

Arie Crown Theater, Chicago IL.
In Ray’s dressing room: launch of animatronic doll; cf. this and this.

10 April 2002

Historic State Theater, Minneapolis MN; 1,300 people.

12 April 2002

Orpheum Theater, KS Wichita.

13 April 2002

Juanita K. Hammons Hall, Springfield MO.

14 April 2002

Civic Center, Peoria IL (1,600 people); tickets $30-$50.

15 April 2002

University Of Missouri, Columbia.

17 April 2002

Interviewed in LA (video). See this.

Macomb Center, Clinton Township MI.

18 April 2002

West Side High School Auditorium in Gary IN.

20 April 2002

McNiese Theatre, Sparta.

21 April 2002

Sovereign Center For Performing Arts, Reading PA.

23 April 2002

Palace Theatre, Stamford.

25 April 2002

Merrill Auditorium, Portland ME.

27 April 2002

Eisenhower Hall, West Point NY.

30 April 2002

Community Theatre, Morristown NJ.

May 2002

Release of album Thanks For Bringing Love Around Again.

1 May 2002

Millennium Theatre, brighton Beach, Brooklyn NY.

2 May 2002

Union County Arts Center in Rahway NJ.

6 May 2002

Receives honorary doctorate at Albany State University in Albany; addresses the graduates and presents the school with a $2 million check (after an initial $1 million donation in 2001).

10 May 2002

Release of video-presskit, titled Jazz And Blues Legend Ray Charles Embarks On 135th World Tour. See this.

11 May 2002

Hosting (?) Time For Life Concert In Colosseum, Roma IT. See this.

Interview on KCRW (air date). See this.

12 May 2002

Ft. In The Heaven And Earth Show (air date, UK). See this.

Morgan State University, Baltimore.

17 May 2002

Spokane Opera House with Spokane Symphony (sold out), Spokane WA.

18 May 2002
Trio gig at Boomtown Party, Santa Monica. Photos here.

19 May 2002

49th Annual Share Boomtown Gala, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma WA; with the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra; almost 4,000 people; tickets at $35-$45.

24 May 2002

Atlanta Jazz Festival at Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta GA.

1 June 2002

Star Plaza Theatre, Merrillville IN.

6 June 2002

Private concert engagement at the TD Waterhouse Centre in Orlando FL.

8 June 2002

Zénith, Toulouse FR.

10 June 2002
Fox Theater, Balersfield CA.

13 June 2002

North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston SC.

14 and 15 June 2002

Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, Peachtree City GA

17 – 18 June 2002

Convention Center, Greenville NC (2,400 people)

20 June 2002

Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis MS.

21 June 2002

Botanic Garden, Memphis TN.

22 June 2002

The Raelettes f.l.t.r.: Katrina Harper, Estella Yarbrough, Renée Collins Georges, Karen Evans and Tonette McKinney.

Grand opening of the Mohegun Sun Casino in Uncasville CT; Dan Ackroyd celebrating his 50th birthday (“It was supposed to be the wondrous finale for the grand opening […] – Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin, performing together on stage for the first time in 20 years. But it didn’t happen. Charles and Franklin each performed – and performed well – Saturday night at a private function for celebrities and high-rollers at the Montville casino, but the artists’ much-anticipated soul reunion never materialized, and no explanation was given”). Photos here.

Billboard special: Ray Charles – Six Decades Of Hits. Read this.

27 June 2002

Chicago Theatre, Chicago IL with Koko Taylor; tickets at $33.50-$198.50.

28 June 2002

Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard, New Berlin, Milwaukee WI.

29 June 2002

Schottenstein Center, Columbus OH (“Upset was what he was, or so it seemed. During his first couple of songs, Charles tapped the microphone a few times. One thought the blind singer-pianist was simply checking where he needed to sing.Next came a mumbled version of the swinging tune Busted”).

4 July 2002

Ft. In Macy’s 4th Of-7-Fireworks Spectacular. See this.

11 July 2002

Museumplatz, Bonn DE.

Photo by Massimo Borchi/Corbis.

17 July 2002

Cain Park, Cleveland Heights OH.

18 July 2002

Receives Heroes Award from National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences’ Atlanta chapter at West-in Pechtree Plaza Hotel, Atlanta.

With Evander Holyfield.

19 and 20 July 2002

Bellterra Casino & Resort, Vevay IN.

21 July 2002

Concert of Colors, Chene Park, Detroit MI.

Photo by Mandi Wright.

25 and 26 July 2002

Calvin Theater, Northampton MA.

27 July 2002

Great Auditorium, Ocean Grove NJ; tickets $25.

29 July 2002

Merrill Auditorium, Portland ME.

31 July 2002

At opening ceremonies of the Empire State Games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York City NY; emceed by Bob Costas.

2 and 3 August 2002

The Theater at Trump Plaza Casino Resort, Atlantic City NJ; tickets $60.

The Raelettes, backstage with a fan, at a Casino hotel in Atlantic City (from 2002?).

4 August 2002

Planting Fields Arboretum, Oyster Bay NY.

7 August 2002

Beacon Theatre, New York City NY; tickets at $35- $75. This story may refer to this concert. Photos made by a Russian tourist:

9 and 10 August 2002

Dover Downs Slots, Dover DE.

11 August 2002

Mann Music Center, Philadelphia PA.

18 August 2002

Desert Diamond Casino, Sahuarita AZ (“must have put the fear of God into more than 2,000 fans Sunday night. On the first two songs of his barely one-hour set at Desert Diamond Casino, the soul man’s legendary growl was barely audible. The thought that the 71-year-old’s sterling talent had tarnished probably chilled them to the bone. Thankfully, it was just a weak microphone”).

19 August 2002

Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, San Diego CA.

20 August 2002

Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix AZ.

21 August 2002

Press meeting at RPM, Los Angeles, to promote the album Ray Charles Celebrates A Gospel Christmas.

Original caption to this Reuters photo: “Singer Ray Charles poses at the piano at his Los Angeles recording studio August 21, 2002 to promote his upcoming Gospel music concert titled The Gospel According to Ray Charles featuring the Voices of Jubilation. Charles returns to his roots with this first ever Gospel music concert set for September 5 and 6 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood accompanied by the 70 member Voices of Jubilation choir from Newark, New Jersey.” Location, date and title were changed later (see below).

22 August 2002

Wente Concerts At The Vineyard, Livermore.

American Routes airs I Didn’t Learn That In School!, taped at Ray Charles’ RPM studios in Los Angeles. Seethis.

23 August 2002

Mountain Winery, Saratoga CA.

24 August 2002

Radisson Woodlake Hotel, Sacramento CA.

25 August 2002

Marin Center, San Rafael CA; tickets at $28 – $60; review here.

27 August 2002

Konocti Harbor Resort, Kelseyville CA.

28 August 2002

Britt Pavilion, Jacksonville OR.

29 August 2002

Zoo Amphitheater, Portland OR.

September 2002

Interviewed by Travis Smiley (NPR). See this.

September 2002

Release of God Bless America Again on the compiler Ray Charles Sings For America, recorded with Billy Preston and Slash. See this.

5 September 2002

The Wayne Brady Show. See this.

5 and 6 September 2002

Kodak Theatre, Hollywood.

10 September 2002

Regis And Kelly show. Seethis.

With Travis Tritt performing on CMT’s Crossroads (aired in November 2002). See this.

11 September 2002
Kodak Theatre, Hollywood CA.
Interview at RPM, Los Angeles.

12 September 2002

Benaroya Hall, Seattle WA.

15 to 20 September 2002

Lincoln Center, Fort Collins CO.

21 and 22 September 2002

Union Colony Civic Center, Greeley CO

23 and 24 September 2002

Lincoln Center, Fort Collins CO.

26 September 2002
Concert in Central Park, Passadena.

Press conference announcing the Ray Charles On Ice television special (taped at the Staples Center on October 5, 2002 and aired December 21, 2002 on the NBC). Photo here. See this.

Photo by Frederick M. Brown.

27 September 2002

First air date of Ray Charles Ft. In Jools Holland’s Piano, part 1 (UK). Seethis.

29 September 2002

Konocti Harbor Resort, Kelseyville CA

2 October 2002

Interviewee on documentary in American Masters series, Willie Nelson, Still Is Still Movin’ (air date). See this.

Big Fresno Fair, Fresno.

3 October 2002

Paramount Theatre, Oakland CA.

4 October 2002

Ft. In Jools Holland’s Piano, Part 2 (UK; air date). Seethis.

The Grove, Anaheim CA.

5 October 2002

Performing at Tribute On Ice, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles CA (aired on 21 December, by NBC). See this.

6 October 2002

Trio gig at Verizon Musical Festival, in Old Pasadena CA, Central Park; for bootleg(s?) cf. this and this.

With Tom Fowler and Peter Turre. Photos by Chris Walter.

10 October 2002

Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Fifth Annual Awards Dinner and 61st Birthday Celebration for Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr.

View image | gettyimages.com

“Musician Ray Charles (C) cuts the cake in honor of the Rev.Jesse Jackson Sr.(R) 61st birthday during the Fifth Annual Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Awards Dinner at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 10, 2002 in Beverly Hills [with] Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. [and Warren Beatty, a.o.]”. Photo by David Klein/Getty.

15 October 2002

Abravanel Hall, Salt Lake City UT, with Utah Symphony (2,400 people); tickets at $30-$150.

Benefit concert for the Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s 10th Annual Caring Foundation for Children Gala.

16 October 2002

National Visionary Leadership Project, Los Angeles.

18 October 2002

Unveils new line of 16 slot machines for the visually impaired at Harrah’s New Orleans Casino; and performs at the casino.

21 October 2002

Taping for Liza And David (never aired). Seethis.

27 October 2002

Lifetime (Assistance Founcation’s) Award at Eastman Theatre, Rochester NY.

1 November 2002

Visits Crenshaw High’s Elite Choir, LA.

2 November 2002

Honored at the 20th annual Media Access Awards for raising awareness about disability issues in the entertainment industry by American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, with the Disability Awareness Award at Sheraton Universal Hotel, Hollywood. Photos here.

Photos by David Klein.

With John Landis. Photo by Robert Mora.

4 November 2002

Photo taken at unknown location:

7 November 2002

Palais des Spectacles, Saint-Étienne FR.

8 November 2002

Texas Station Gambling Hall, Las Vegas NV.

9 November 2002

Paradise Casino, Yuma AZ.

10 November 2002

Interviewed at RPM studio in LA.

Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix.

11 November 2002

Palais des Congrès, Paris FR.

15 November 2002

Harrah’s Casino, New Orleans LA.

17 November 2002

Atlanta Civic Center Theatre, Atlanta GA.

21 November 2002

Le Zénith, Paris FR. Read review here.

Ticket stub (coll. Jean Francis Merle).

Photo by Gérard Piwtorak.

This photo by Franck Camhi is dated on this day in ’03…

24 November 2002

Saku Suurhall, Tallinn on the Eurovision Song Festival stage.

25 November 2002

KKL Kultur- und Kongresszentrum, Luzern.
“The audience experienced a truly memorable evening. Ray Charles filled the room with his unrivaled skills, his genius, and he enchanted around 1,900 happy spectators with his husky voice, his charm, his gaiety and his soul. That evening will remain in our hearts forever.”

Photo by Urs Flueler.

26 November 2002

Vivement Dimanche, Paris.

27 November 2002

Mannheim.

28 November 2002

Geneva.

Photos by Carlo Carugo, probably shot around this date.

29 November 2002

Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon.

Late November 2002?
Probably taken somewhere in the Normandie:

From left to right: Brianna Tucker, Estella Yarbrough, Renee Collins Georges, Karen Evans and Tonette McKinney.

6 December 2002

Taping of A Garden State Salute, at the Trenton War Memorial, Trenton NJ, by NJN, the New Jersey Public Television & Radio station (aired on 7 December). See this.

With city Lights Orchestra at UIC Pavilion, Chicago.

7 December 2002

Fargodome with Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, Fargo ND.

8 December 2002

Resch Center in Green Bay WI (video taping of Ray Charles Celebrates A Gospel Christmas; read this).

14 December 2002

Cameo at The 5th Annual Sears Soul Train Christmas Starfest. See this.

18 December 2002

Miracle on 34th Street, a concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City NY (with Liza Minelli and Patti LaBelle). The concert was billed as a tribute to Ray Charles. From a review in the New York Post: “For many, it wasn’t newcomer Ashanti or old-timer LaBelle who ranked as the night zenith, but rather national treasure Ray Charles who continues to defy time with his classic sense of cool. He was terrific on the Hoagy Carmichael classic Georgia and had the entire house on its feet for his rendition of America The Beautiful. His version of this patriotic number was not only inspiring, it was soulful.”

Patti Labelle, Ray Charles, Liza Minelli. Rex Features.

Late December 2002

Ray presents each of his children with a $ 1 million cheque at a Christmas lunch.

Ray Charles with kids. Top, from left: Raenee, Evelyn, Vincent, Ray Jr., Robyn (holding her daughter Avari), Corey and Reatha. Bottom, from left: Robert, Alexandra, Ray and David.