Circa August 1954: Jesse Stone and The Cookies at Atlantic Records: Beulah Robertson, Dorothy Jones, Ethel (Darlene) McCrea. This line-up never worked with Ray.
The Cookies: L-R Beulah Robertson, Ethel (Darlene) McCrea, Dorothy Jones (sometimes dated 1954 or ’57).The Cookies: L-R Ethel (Darlene) McCrea, Beulah Robertson, Dorothy Jones, recording one of their own records (sometimes also dated 1956).
Documented line-up 30 November 1955 as The Cookies: Margie Hendricks, Dorothy Jones, Darlene McCrea.
Documented line-up 27 November 1956: Mary Ann Fisher (ft), Margie Hendricks, Dorothy Jones, Darlene McCrea.
1957
Ray Charles touring with The Cookies and Gene Allison.
Publicity photo of Mary Ann Fisher, issued by Shaw Artists (probably from 1957).
1958
In February 1958 Ray Charles makes it official – taking The Cookies on the road with his touring show and renaming them The Raelet[te]s. Margie Hendricks and Pat Lyles go with Charles full time. Margie Hendricks explained the name change in an October 1961 interview (Jazz Hot, No 17, Nov. 1961): “Since we became an integrated part of Ray Charles’ orchestra, it would have been perfectly stupid to continue using the ‘Cookies’ name. On a nice morning Ray tackled the problem, and came to the conclusion that only two names were possible: the ‘Silver Bells’ or the ‘Raelet[te]s’. I immediately rejected the ‘Silver Bells’ – that name appeared ridiculous to me. And that’s how we called ourselves the Raelet[te]s. We’ve never been [called] the ‘Raylettes’: that name would be an error. In American [English] Ray is [a name] for men, and Rae is for the ladies.” (The girls who continued as The Cookies were Ethel (Darlene) McCrea, Dorothy Jones, and Dorothy Ross).
Ad for 9 – 1 dance gig by Ray Charles Band at April Showers Ball, Southside Armory, Indianapolis (April 29, 1958); first known ad announcing The Cookies (who had joined the touring group on January 10th). Their stage name “The Raelets” was already used in July 1958 (at Newport), but in promotion materials their old name was used until the spring of 1959.
Photo by Lee Friedlander, dated in 1956, but probably (watch the microphone!) taken – while Margie Hendricks took a solo elsewhere on stage – at this Newport concert: Pat Lyles, Mary Ann Fisher, Gwen Berry.The critic of the Newport Daily News, in a review of the Ray Charles Sextet’s concert at the Jazz Fest, was [one of?] the first to mention “The Raylettes” [sic!] as Ray’s backing group. The fourth girl was Mary-Ann Fisher.
1959
The Raelettes, prob. early 1959. From left to right: Margie Hendricks, Pat Lyles, Gwen Berry, Darlene McCrea. Photo by James J. Kriegsmann (Collection Joël Dufour).The Raelettes, from the same shoot. From left to right: Pat Lyles, Margie Hendricks, Gwen Berry, Darlene McCrea. (Collection Joël Dufour).Ambler Liberty Sporting Club (Montgomery, PA), c. 1959.Maceo’s, Nashville, c. 1959.
Mambo Club, Wichita, 9 May 1959.
Documented line-up 29 May 1959: Margie Hendricks, Pat Lyles, Darlene McCrea.
Around October Margie takes a few months off to give birth to her son; she is replaced by Mae Mosely-Lyles.
This photo, taken at the Apollo may be from October (2nd to 8th) 1959, and would than also add Ruby Rae Robinson to the list of girls subbing in this period. In this picture from left to right: Pat Lyles, Ruby Rae Roberson, David Newman, Gwen Berry, Bettye Smith (from RRR’s Memoirs, 2007).The Raelettes, c. 1959. Clockwise from left: Pat Lyles, Gwen Berry, Margie Hendricks. (Collection Joël Dufour). The Raelettes, c. 1959. Top to bottom: Pat Lyles, Gwen Berry, Margie Hendricks. (Collection Joël Dufour).
1960
Betty Smith and Margie Hendricks spotted in St. Petersburg on Feb. 12.Souvenir brochure of the Hitmakers of 1960 tour. Topfoto left, f.l.t.r.: Margie Hendricks, May Saunders, Gwen Berry, Bettye Smith.
Announced as the Raelets, for show at Public Hall Auditorium in Cleveland on June 5, 1960 (clipped from Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 29).
At the Apollo in New York City, between April 22nd and April 28th, 1960. The girls from left to right (best guess:) Pat Lyles?, Margie Hendricks?, Gwen Berry, Darlene McCrea. Photo by William Claxton.
Documented line-up 2 July 1960: Gwen Berry, Margie Hendricks, Mae Mosely, Betty Smith.
Pacific Ballroom, San Diego, 21 August 1960
1961
Documented line-up 17 – 23 July, late summer, 20 or 22 October 1961: Gwen Berry, Margie Hendricks, Pat Lyles, Darlene McCrea.
The Raelettes after landing on Orly Airport, probably on July 18, 1961; f.l.t.r. Gwen Berry, Margie Hendricks, Pat Lyles, Darlene Mc Crea.The Raelettes in Antibes, July 1961. F.l.t.r. Darlene, Gwen, Margie, Pat.Antibes 1961 (from 1962 concert souvenir brochure).From Jazz Hot, Dec. 1961. Marcus Belgrave stepping forward for a trumpet solo.The Raelettes at Paris concert in October; from right to left: Pat Lyles, Gwen Berry, Margie Hendricks, Darlene McCrea (collection J.P. Verger).The Raelettes in Paris; from left to right: Pat Lyles, Gwen Berry, Margie Hendricks, Darlene McCrea (collection J.P. Verger).Pat Lyles, Gwen Berry, Margie Hendricks, Darlene McCrea (collection J.P. Verger).At the Palais des Sports in Paris, in October 1961: Pat, Margie, Gwen, Darlene. Photo by Jacques Chenard.L-R: Pat Lyles, Margie Hendricks, Gwen Berry, Darlene McCrea, from a 1962 souvenir brochure.Stills from the film Swingin’ Along, released in December 1961.
1962
Stack of Afra TV contracts for Gwen Berry (Jan. 5, 1962 and Aug. 15, 1962), Dorothy Berry (Jan. 5, 1962) and Fritz Basket (Nov. 19, 1963). No TV gigs on these dates are known to me.
From Philadelphia Tribune archives, earliest date on backside 21 April, 1962.Photo by Jim Marshall, New York, 1962.Photo by William Claxton, 1962. At the Capitol Studios in New York, with Gwen Berry. Photo by Howard Morehead.Concert series at L’Olympia Theater in Paris, in May. The Raelettes: Gwen Berry, Margie Hendricks, Pat Lyles, Darlene McCrea.
Documented line-up 17 – 22 May 1962: Gwen Berry, Margie Hendricks, Pat Lyles, Darlene McCrea.
Prob. shot at the Olympia; f.l.t.r.: Pat Lyles, Margie Hendricks, Gwen Berry, Darlene McRea.10 June 1962: landed at Arlanda Airport (coming from France), for two gigs at Gröna Lund Amusements Park, Stockholm.
1963
In February a possible Raelettes gig-without-Ray at the Apollo in New York.
Documented line-up 9 – 11, 22 May 1963: Margie Hendricks, Gwen Berry, Pat Lyles, Darlene McCrea.
Margie Hendricks, backstage at Ray Charles’ first concert in London (at the Finsbury Park Astoria) on May 12, 1963. Photo by Val Wilmer.From 1963 UK souvenir brochure; photo probably shot in U.S.
At Orly Airport, with Raelettes, and Sonny Forriest. Photos by James J. Kringmann of The Raelettes, from a UK souvenir brochure. Margie missed a concert at the London Hammersmith Odeon, in May. Quotes from New Musical Express: “Raelets leader Margie Hendrix missed Charles’ concert at Hammersmith on Tuesday through illness but was able to rejoin the show the following night”. “That wasn’t the real Ray Charles,” said Ray Charles. “With Maggie ill, no one could sing her part. So I had to leave out a lot of the wilder things…”Concert in New Orleans, at Louisiana’s Loyola University auditorium in 1963, the first show in New Orleans to allow racially mixed seating. “No incidents reported, everyone had a lovely time, and […] paid to see Ray instead of staying away in protest of integration. Another triumph for music.” At Saskatoon Arena, Saskatchewan. Read review here.Photo probably shot at Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, in late December.
Publicity photo of The Raelettes, c. 1964. Clockwise from top: Darlene McCrea, Pat Lyles, Gwen Berry, Margie Hendricks. (Collection Joël Dufour).
Documented line-up Late June, early July 1964: Pat Lyles, Margie Hendricks, Gwen Berry, Darlene McCrea.
At a concert in Bristol Margie and Darlene don’t appear on stage, due to an “indisposition”. Soon (or right?) after this incident the girls broke away.
Stills from the film Ballad in Blue (shot in June/July in Dublin, London and Paris). The marquee of the Olympia Theatre has a fictional announcement of a concert on August 5.Clipping from a 1964 newspaper. F.l.t.r. Gwen Berry, Lillie Fort, Bobbie Pierce, Helen Bryant.
27 July 1964:
L-R: Helen Bryant (prob.; seen on back), unidentified Raelette, Bobbie Pierce and Gwen Berry at a concert in Copenhagen. Photo by Jan Persson.
Documented line-up 20 September 1964: Gwen Berry, Helen Bryant, Lillie Fort, Bobbie Pierce.
Documented line-up 29 – 30 November 1964: Lillie Fort, Gwen Berry, Fritz Basket, Marilyn McCoo.
The Raelettes in concert, somewhere in the UK. Licensed by Corbis and Getty, who both date this pic in 1965. Photo prob. by David Redfern.
1965
From 23 to 29 April 1965 Margie Hendricks has a solo booking at the Apollo in New York, but is still backed up by the other Raelettes (source: New York Amsterdam News, April 24, 1965).
The Philadelphia Tribune of May 22 reported that the “girls wanted to leave and establish an independent singing group. […] Margie Hendrix […] is leader of the new group which calls itself ‘Margie Hendrix and the Melodies, formerly the Raelets'”.
Ad from Miami Times, Aug. 13, in the period that Ray Charles was kicking his habit, announcing The Raelettes, “formerly with Ray Charles”, at Mr. James Club, Miami.At Big T.N.T. Show. F.l.t.r. Lillie Fort, Gwen Berry, Fritz Basket, and Marilyn McCoo.
1966
F.l.t.r. Clydie King, Gwen Berry, LilianFort, Merry Clayton, circa 1966.Rare publicity photo; clockwise, from top: Merry Clayton, Clydie King, Gwen Berry, Lilian Fort.Publicity photo of The Raelettes. Clockwise, from top: Merry Clayton, Clydie King, Gwen Berry and Lilian Fort. Photos by John E. Reed, Hollywood); licensed by Corbis, who date this shoot erroneously in 1965. Publicity photo of The Raelettes. From left to right: Lillie Fort, Gwen Berry, Merry Clayton, Clydie King.
Documented line-up March – July 1966: Lilian Fort, Clydie King, Gwen Berry, Merry Clayton.
After the release of One Hurt, the Raelettes were hired for a ten-day stint at Ciro’s, Sunset Boulevard’s famous and fashionable nitery.
Gig at women’s prison; read here. F.l.t.r. Ray Charles, Gwen Berry, Merry Clayton and Clydie King.Hollywood Palace TV show, Los Angeles, on Oct. 8. L-R: Vermettya Royster, Merry Clayton, Gwen Berry, Clydie King. See this. Photo by Joe Adams.
Documented line-up 15 October 1966: Gwen Berry, Merry Clayton, Clydie King, Alexandra Brown.
Photos by Maurice Seymour (= Maurice & Seymour Zeldman). Clockwise: Ray Charles, Clydie King, Gwen Berry, Alex Brown, Merry Clayton. From left to right: Gwen Berry, Merry Clayton, Clydie King, Alex Brown.From left to right Alex Brown, Merry Clayton, Ray Charles, Gwen Berry.L- R: Merry Clayton, Alex Brown, Gwen Berry, Clydie King. Photo byMaurice Seymour.From a UK Magazine. From left to right: Alex Brown, Merry Clayton, Gwen Berry, Clydie King.Top to bottom: Clydie King, Merry Clayton, Alex Brown, Gwen Berry. Photo by Maurice Seymour.
Documented line-up 18, 26 April, 3 May 1967: Merry Clayton, Alexandra Brown, Clydie King, Gwen Berry.
Concert at La Salle Pleyel in Paris, on Apr. 18.Essendon Airport, near Melbourne, on Aug. 16.Australia tour ’67.Ad from Charleston Daily Mail, 29 Sep.Unidentified concert, c 1967.
1968
These photos from the Andy Williams Show are dated March 26, 1968. L-R: Merry Clayton?, Alex Brown?, Gwen berry, Clydie King. Photos by Gerry Null, Getty Images.At Newport Jazz Fest on July 7. F.l.t.r. Merry Clayton, Alex Brown, Gwen Berry, Clydie King.At an unidentified venue, f.l.t.r. Alex Brown, Merry Clayton, Gwen Berry, Clydie King. Photo by Bob Hannah, dated April 4, 1968.At Newport Jazz Festival on July 7. F.l.t.r. Merry Clayton, Alex Brown, Gwen Berry and Clydie King. Photo by David Redfern.
In the Summer of ’68 Rita Graham’s Vibrations album was “[…] the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’ for The Raelettes. They all quit one night while the show was booked into L.A.’s Premiere night club, the Coconut Grove in the Ambassador Hotel. The next morning after I had been at the Grove, ‘glowing’ to everyone about my album that Ray Charles had produced, R.C. called me and asked me to be at his office in the Washington Boulevard RPM Studios within the hour. Two other girls there, Beverly Lesure and Susaye Green and I, made up the new (Instant) Raelettes. That night, we were standing on the stage of the Grove, and I was a nervous wreck. Unlike the other girls, I’d had no experience with harmony and group singing, because I’d never been a church singer and I’d never been with any singing group, except for solo work with a professional choir when I was eleven”.
Probably the only surviving photo of the three Raelettes who backed Ray in the late summer of 1968; f.l.t.r. Beverly Lesure (partial), Susaye Greene, Rita Graham. From a 1969 article in Soul Illustrated.
After that San Francisco, with the new Raelettes. From there to Sugar Shack in Boston.
Documented line-up 8 October 1968: Verlyn Flenaugh, Susaye Greene, Beverly Ann Lesure, Barbara Nell Terrault.
Ray Charles and The Raelettes, performing Eleanor Rigby at the Ed Sullivan Show on Dec. 8.Documented line-up for 20 September (London) and 8 – 9 October (Paris), L-R: Barbara Nel Terrault, Susaye Greene, Verlyn Flenaugh, Beverly Ann Lesure (photo by David Redfern/Getty).With Billy Preston, c. 1968.
1969
In March ’69 Mable John joins the Raelettes.
Susaye Greene (at shooting of German TV film in LA).At the 2nd Hampton Jazz Fest on June 28, f.l.t.r.: Vernita Moss, Susaye Greene, Mable John, Estella Yarbrough.Vernita Moss. Photos by Bea Kopp.
From Daily Register, July 3, showing how old line-ups kept on being communicated.
L-R: Mable John, Vernita Moss, Susaye Greene, Estella Yarbrough. First known publication in a UK souvenir brochure from September 1969. so this studio shoot must have happened in the Spring or Summer of 1969.From the same shoot? L-R: ?Estella Yarbrough, Susaye Greene, Mable John.
This photo by Jan Persson is labeled with “Copenhagen”, and October 5, 1969. It’s probably much older.
L-R: Susaye Greene, Mable John, Estella Yarbrough, Vernita Moss.The single was released in 1970.Probably from the same shoot. L-R: Vernita Moss, Susaye Greene, Mable John, Estella Yarbrough.
1970
The Raelettes independently fill a 16-week stand from January to mid April at the Camino Real Hotel in Mexico City (Ray only joins them briefly at the end of February to receive an award).
In Mexico City… (from Mable’s website).Vernita Moss, Susaye Greene, Mable John, Unidentified. Photo: Redfern/Getty.Concert c 1970, Japan?
Dorothy Berry making her debut on October 10 in Milan, flown in to replace Estella Yarbrough (“because of ill health”).
Musikhalle, Hamburg, Sep. 2.
1972
A concert in c. 1972, L-R: Mable John, Susaye Greene, Vernita Moss, Dorothy Berry, Estella Yarbrough. The Raelettes, backstage at a concert in Madrid, poss. in ’72.Carol Burnett Show, aired on Jan. 26; f.l.t.r. Vernita Moss, Susaye Greene, Mable John, Dorothy Berry.At one of the two other Burnett shows; f.l.t.r. Vernita Moss, Dorothy Berry, Mable John, Susaye Greene, Estella Yarbrough.1 July 1972 at the Newport Jazz Festival. Photo: Getty Images.
1 July 1972 at the Newport Jazz Festival. Photo: Getty Images.Documented line-up April – December 1972: Dorothy Berry, Susaye Greene, Mable John, Vernita Moss, Estella Yarbrough.
From a concert in Serbia (prob. Belgrade) in 1972 or 1973.
1973
TV contract for Midnight Special; Dorothy Berry, Mable John, Susaye Greene, Vernita Moss, Estella Yarbrough (March 1973).July 1, Newport Jazz Festival; concert with James Baldwin at Carnegie Hall, New York.
Promotional photo of Ray Charles and The Raelettes (clockwise starting at top [unidentified singer], Mable John, Susaye Greene, ?Denise Jackson), circa September 1973.
October 18, 1973, in Differdange. Photo by Armand Binda.On October 10th, 1973 at Nancy Jazz Pulsations festival.L – R: [Unidentified singer], Dorothy Berry, Mable John, Cynthia Scott, Madelyn Quebec (1973 or 1974).
1974
L-R: Vernita Moss, Dorothy Berry, Mable John, Cynthia Scott, ?Madelyn Quebec.From the Mike Douglas Show (Feb. 1974): Vernita Moss, Dorothy Berry, Mable John, Cynthia Scott, Madelyn Quebec.
Music is the Message Festival at Fort Gordon, Jun. 20.
YMCA, Auckland, Oct. 10. Photo by Murray Cammick.
From Japan Tour brochure, 1975.
At unidentified concert.
1975
The Raelettes on April 22 in Paris (photo by Jean-Pierre Arniac). Estelle Yarbrough later identified them as (L-R): Madelyn Quebec, Linda Sims, Dorothy Berry, Nika Brooks, herself (but I doubt if the attribution to Nika is correct).
Documented line-up 10 May 1975: Dorothy Berry (Durr), Bernice Hullaby, Madelyn Quebec, Linda Sims, and Estella Yarbrough.
Reconstructed line-up 13 May 1975 (Madrid): Linda Sims, Dorothy Berry, Bernice Hullaby, Estella Yarbrough.
Documented line-up 12 June 1975: Dorothy Berry (Durr), Bernice Hullaby, Madelyn Quebec, Linda Sims, and Estella Yarbrough.
Gwendolyn Joseph, Interview – The Women Behind Ray Charles (Distaff, July 1975).
Linda Sims, Dorothy Berry, Estella Yarbrough. Bernice Hullaby, Donna Jones.
1976
Northsea Jazz Festival, The Hague, on Jul. 16. L-R: Donna Jones, Bernice Hullaby, Estella Yarbrough, Dorothy Berry, Linda Sims. Photos: Hans Hendriks.
18 July 1976: same line-up in Antibes.
1977
Documented line-up 12 November 1977: Trudy Cohran, Dorothy Berry, Deborah Gleese, Linda Sims, Estella Yarbrough.
1978
Documented line-up 16 July 1978: Chrylynn Cobb, Trudy Cohran, Dorothy Berry, Linda Sims, Estella Yarbrough.
Quatorze Juillet, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence (Linda Sims @ far right).
1979
Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, prob. on June 17, 1979. Photo by Carl Johnson.
Documented line-up 22 July, 9 August 1979: Trudy Cohran, Pat Peterson, Madelyn Quebec, Estella Yarbrough.
Avis Harrell, Trudy Cohran, Pat Peterson, Madelyn Quebec.
Documented line-up 23 October 1979: Madelyn Quebec, Estella Yarbrough, Trudy Cohran, Pat Peterson, Avis Harrell.
Backstage at ACL, f.l.t.r. Madelyn, Estella, Trudy, Pat, Avis. Photo by Dan Marcus.
1980
Howard Theater, Washington DC, May 16th: f.l.t.r. Madelyn, Estella, Trudy, Pat, Avis.
Photo by Milton Williams (Smithsonian).
Documented line-up 13 June 1980: Estella Yarbrough, Pat Peterson, Madelyn Quebec, Trudy Cohran, Avis Harrell.
F.l.t.r. Avis Harrell, Madelyn Quebec, Pat Peterson, Estella Yarbrough, Trudy Cohran.Ritz, New York, on Jul. 31.In or around 1980; Madelyn Quebec, Estella Yarbrough, Center, Trudy Cohran, Pat Peterson & Avis Harrell.
1981
In or around 1981; Stella Yarbrough, Ledoria [= Ann?] Johnson, Trudy Cohran, Elaine Woodard, Janice Mitchell.
1982
Documented line-up 17 – 18 December 1982:
Trudy Cohran, Elaine Woodard, Estella Yarbrough, Janice Mitchell, Ann Johnson.
1983
July 4, at Théâtre St-Denis, Festival International De Jazz De Montréal.
Documented line-up Early Summer, 14 July 1983:
Trudy Cohran, Anne Johnson, Janice Mitchell, Elaine Woodard, Estella Yarbrough.
At Sonomo County Fairground on Aug. 8. Photos by Richard Pechner.
1984
Documented line-up 18, 27 October, 1 November 1984:
Trudy Cohran, Anne Johnson, Janice Mitchell, Elaine Woodard, Estella Yarbrough.
Flint Center, Cupertino, on Dec. 1.
1985
Documented line-up 10 July 1985:
Trudy Cohran, Anne Johnson, Janice Mitchell, Elaine Woodard, Estella Yarbrough.
Line-up on July 17, 1985, in Nîmes. Photo by Jacques Merle.
Documented line-up 19 – 26 July 1990: Trudy Cohran, Kay Nickerson, Lalomie Washburn, Angie Workman, Estella Yarbrough.
Documented line-up Fall, December 1990: Kay Nickerson, Trudy Cohran, Angela Workman, Estella Yarbough.
Documented line-up December 1990: Angie Workman, Valerie Washington, Estella Yarbrough, Kay Nickerson, Trudy Cohran.
1991
Backstage, c. 1991; f.l.t.r. Wendy Smith, Estella Yarbrough, Paula Moye, Trudy Cohran.Pepsi’s Paylettes: Melaini Paul, Fretchen Palmer, Darlene Dillinger (from Jet, May 18, 1992).Home made artwork by Tracey Whitney (r), here with Paula Moye (l).
Documented line-up 28 November, 4 December 1991: Paula Moye, Estella Yarbrough, Trudy Cohran, Gwendolyn Smith, Angie Workman.
1992
Documented line-up 1 – 22 July 1992: Trudy Cohran, Pamela Diggs, Paula Moye, Angie Workman, Estella Yarbrough.
Raelettes having fun in Lucca, Italy. Sitting: Renée Georges, Karen Evans, Tangy Biggers, Tonette McKinney; standing: Estelle Yarbrough (Jul. 18).F.l.t.r.: Ernest Collins, LaTonya Hicks-Jefferson, Ray Charles, Brianna Perry-Tucker.Pre-game performance at Super Bowl XXXV, Raymond James Stadium in Tampa (Jan. 28).
2002
Millennium Theatre, Brooklyn (May 1).
At Mohegun Casino. F.l.t.r.: Katrina Harper, Estella Yarbrough, Renée Collins Georges, Karen Evans and Tonette McKinney (Jun. 22).At opening ceremonies of the Empire State Games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York; emceed by Bob Costas (Jul. 31).The Raelettes, backstage with a fan, at a Casino hotel in Atlantic City (from August 2002?).At Beacon Theatre in New York (Aug. 7).Late November in Nortmandie, France. From left to right: Brianna Tucker, Estella Yarbrough, Renee Collins Georges, Karen Evans and Tonette McKinney.Photo by Carlo Carugo, prob. shot in Switzerland or Italy, Autumn 2002.
Festival International de Jazz de Montréal at Salle Wilfrid Pelletier (Jun. 25 – 26). Belleayre Music Festival, Highmount (Jul. 12); from left to right: Estelle Yarbrough, Renee Collins Georges, Katrina Harper, Karen Evans and Tonette McKinney.
2005
A Ray Charles Orchestra without Ray Charles was tried out by Joe Adams in 2005. On August 4th he gathered a group of musicians, a few ‘Raelettes’, and Billy Osborne as the singer, in the Blue Note, in New York. The Raelettes in the photos are Andromeda Turre (who was hired in 2003, when concerts started to be canceled and therefore never performed live with Ray), Joy Styles and Shalaine Adams. Nobody booked the group.
Labels: Album3 1971 Raelettes, Album3 1972 Raelettes, Album3 1993 Raelettes, Organ, With Ray Charles
