Off topic
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June 9, 2014
“So goodbye, old sweethearts and pals”
Read moreUntitled, wordless blues, performed at the Olympia Theater in Paris on 18 May 1962. Ray Charles – p, voc; Sonny Forriest – guitar; Edgar Willis – bass; Bruno Carr – drums. First released in 2013 by Body & Soul as part of the album Ray Charles – Live In Paris; Volume 2. Cartoon by Mike […]
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April 10, 2014
Potential youth delinquents dancing to Ray Charles’ What’d I Say (1961)
Read morePotential youth delinquents in San Francisco, dancing to What’d I Say, in Ask Me, Don’t Tell Me, a ‘PSA’ produced for Youth For Service (1961):
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October 4, 2013
Ray Charles In A Rhythm Group With Preston Epps And Jackie Wilson (1959/60)
Read moreRay Charles playing his Wurlitzer, with (f.l.t.r.) DJ and promoter Art Laboe, bongo player Preston Epps, and singer Jackie Wilson, shaking samba balls – probably posing for a promotional photo for “the season’s most cosmopoliton event” at the Hollywood Palladium on July 23d, 1959.
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June 12, 2013
Jim Marshall Catching Ray Charles’ Shadow (1961?)
Read morePhoto by Jim Marshall, put up for auction by Christie’s. Dated in 1960, but must be of later date since Ray’s first big band was established in 1961. The venue could be Longshoreman’s Hall in San Francisco on Dec. 29, 1961 – where Marshall shot a series with a.o. this photobackstage (if so, prob. with […]
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May 18, 2013
Ray Charles Band @ MIT (1961)
Read moreAs far as I know, this is the second-ever picture of Ray Charles’ big band. “After an informal dinner, it was the popular jazz artist, Ray Charles, and his orchestra. An enthusiastic audience attended the concert held in the Armory, which was followed by our own private performance – the annual pledge skit and a […]
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April 25, 2013
Ray Charles’ Iris By Francis Giacobetti (c 1990?)
Read morePortrait of Ray Charles by Francis Giacobetti (c 1990?), in the Hymn series: 180 black and white portraits, combined with full color close ups of each person’s iris. Cf. Francis Giacobetti’s website for more.
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April 23, 2013
Rare Picture Of Ray Charles Fans At 1958 Dance Hall Gig In Rochester (NY)
Read moreKids with (self-made?) Ray Charles hats at dance hall gig in 1958; photo by Paul Hoeffler. Almost certainly taken at Eddie’s Roller Palace in Chestnut Street, Rochester (NY). More pictures: here.
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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!
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]