Stock 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:
Although he is not 200% positive (only recognizing the contours of a familiar Moon bass, but not his own profile), Nils Johnson thinks this footage may originate from the concert for Earth Day that was produced by the Japanese public broadcasting organisation (NHK) in Tokyo, in 1992. The program was either broadcast live on 22 April, or taped on the 21st and aired on the 22nd of April.
Victor Vanacore conducted a local symphony orchestra, supported by the Ray Charles band's rhythm section; Peter Turre on drums, Kenny Carr on guitar, and Nils Johnson on bass.
Sufficiently documented, complete (in very few cases near-complete) personnel listings of the Ray Charles Orchestra (small & big big bands, incl. line-ups of later trio & quartet settings, and incl. Raelettes) can be found on this new page (also see navigation at top right corner of each blog page).
As per definition, these listings can't be perfect. All tips and suggestions for improvements and additions are welcome!
"If it's really something good that was not on the record, that's okay, because when I perform I can make the performance of the song better than the record was."
The Genie
Ray Charles at the Apollo (Apr. or maybe Oct. 1959), working on his Wurlitzer. Photo by Alex Harsley.
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About
The Ray Charles Video Museum is a research project, documenting live performances by The Genius.
This blog is above all aMediagraphy. It's also a discography (or, more correctly, a trackography), aggregating all tunes that Ray sang and/or played - including the "canon" of 700 tracks listed on the official Ray Charles website, but also identifying the songs that have never been officially released, and e.g. the recordings of other artists, where Ray backed them on piano. Thirdly, this blog has evolved into a multimedia Chronology (click the years in the panel al the top of this page) of Ray's productive live.
I also try to do some justice to the more than 1,000 great musicians and singers who contributed to Ray's career (1, 2).
The Quotes page lists the wisest, craziest and funniest things that the Genius ever said. If you want to read more about Brother Ray, go here.
The availability of the streaming video and audio content on this blog is constantly under pressure. Some rights owners still think that sharing these videos damages their sales. I'm keeping disfunctional clips as placeholders - to show that the footage exists, and to replace them when new uploads appear on the Web.
The articles in this blog are continuously updated and improved. Your help is more than welcome.
The Bishop seduces the world with his voice
Sweat strangles mute eyes
As insinuations gush out through a hydrant of sorrow
Dreams, a world never seen
Mounded on Africa's anvil, tempered down home
Documented in cries and wails
Screaming to be ignored, crooning to be heard
Throbbing from the gutter
On Saturday night
Silver offering only,
The Right Reverend's Back in Town
Don't it make you feel all right?