Ray Charles & The Raelettes

"He wanted to have some background singers 

in there, and we didn't have any of the 

background singers. We were actually 

the first Raelettes." - David Fathead Newman.

[The group was promoted with their name spelled in different ways: The Raelettes, The Raeletts, The Raelets, the Raylettes, etc. On this blog, I have consistently chosen to go for the Raelettes spelling. In the listings below I have 'normalized' the spelling of a few titles].

Ray 'discovered' The Cookies* in 1956, in Philadelphia. That night he went out to a concert by the Lionel Hampton Band. Chuck Willis opened the show, and he was accompanied by the girls. Ray, as he later stated, was immediately hooked on their way of singing. He had already recorded Drown In My Own Tears with Mary Ann Fisher, supported by two other girls, but now he wanted to make this kind of female backing vocals part of his sound, permanently.
He first invited them for a recording session in New York, where they taped Lonely Avenue, I Want To Know and Leave My Woman Alone. In 1958 they were re-baptized as The Raelettes (Raeletts, Raelets, etc.), rejecting the alternative name "The Silver Bells" (see below: sub 1958 and LA Sentinel article from 1960), and started touring with The Genius.

Article including little interview with Margie,
from Los Angeles Sentinel Sep 15, 1960.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s Ray put a lot of effort in establishing the girls as an individual act - in the studio, and later also as a performing act. In 1967 and 1968 the featured line-up was: Merry Clayton (lead), Clydie King (contralto), Gwen Berry (alto) and Alex Brown (tenor). After that, the most productive line up was: Mable John, Susaye Greene, Vernita Moss, and Estella Yarbrough.**

* For the (complicated!) full history of The Cookies, read John Clemente's Girl Groups: Fabulous Females Who Rocked The World (Bloomington, 2013; good, but not without errors). ** In the summer of 1968 the line-up was Rita Graham, Beverly Ann Lesure and Susaye Green; on 8 October 1968 Verlyn Flenaugh, Susaye Greene, Beverly Ann Lesure, Barbara Nell Terrault were on stage. Mable John joined Susaye Greene, Vernita Moss, Estella Yarbrough in March '69. In October 1971 the line-up was: Dorothy Berry, Susaye Greene, Mable John, Vernita Moss. In April 1972: Dorothy Berry, Susaye Greene, Mable John, Vernita Moss, Estella Yarbrough. None of the later line-ups were involved in recording The Raelettes as a separate act.

Singles:

Ad in Cashbox.

• One Hurt Deserves Another (Single (A): Tangerine 972 - 1966)*
• One Room Paradise (Single (B): Tangerine 972 - 1966)
• Into Something Fine (Single (A): Tangerine 976 - 1967)
• Lover's Blues (Single (B): Tangerine 976 - 1967)
• All I Need Is His Love (Single (A): Tangerine 984 - 1968)
• I'm Gettin' 'Long All Right (Single (B): Tangerine 984 - 1968)
• I Want To Thank You (Single (A): Tangerine 986 - 1968)
• It's Almost Here (Single (B): Tangerine 986 - 1968)
• I Want To (Do Everything For You) (Single (A): Tangerine 1006 - 1970)
• Keep It To Yourself (Single (B): Tangerine 1006 - 1970)
• Bad Water (Single (A): Tangerine 1014 - 1970)
• That Goes To Show You (Single (B): Tangerine 1014 - 1970)**
• Here I Go Again (Single (A): Tangerine 1017 - 1971)
• Leave My Man Alone (Single (B): Tangerine 1017 - 1971)
• Come Get It, I Got It (Single (A): Tangerine 1024 - 197?)
• Try A Little Kindness (Single (B): Tangerine 1024 - 197?)**
• You Must Be Doing Alright (Single (A): Tangerine 1029 - 197?)
• You Have A Way With Me (Single (B): Tangerine 1029 - 197?)
• If You Wanna Keep Him (Single (A): Tangerine 1031 - 1973)
• Many Rivers To Cross (Single (B): ABC 1015 - 1971-03 [flipside is Booty Butt by the Ray Charles Orchestra] 

*Ray Charles - organ. **Ray Charles - keyboards.

Billboard scores

• One Hurt Deserves Another (#76 Pop; #24 R&B)) 
• I Want To (Do Everything For You) (#96 Pop; #39 R&B) 
• Bad Water (#58 Pop; #40 R&B) 
• I'm Gettin' 'Long Alright (#23 R&B) 
• I Want To Thank You (#47 R&B)

1971* - Album: Souled Out; Ike & Turner With The Raelettes 

The Raelettes also toured with the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in 1970 and 1971. Tangerine released an odd album featuring both acts, both doing their own things: Souled Out, in 1971 (TRCS-1511). Ray played keyboards on all the Raelettes' tunes.

1. I Want To Thank You
2. It's Almost Here
3. All I Need Is Love
4. I'm Gettin 'Long Allright
5. One Room Paradise
6. Into Something Fine
7. A Lover's Blues
8. One Hurt Deserves Another 

Ike & Tina contributed Anything You Wasn’t Born With, I’m Hooked. Beauty Is Just Skin Deep and Dust My Broom.

1972 - Album: (Ray Charles Presents The) Raeletts, Yesterday... Today... Tomorrow

The individual Raelettes recording this album (Tangerine TRCS 1515, 1972) weren't named in the liner notes (which do claim that "The name of the Raeletts is an exclusive property of Ray Charles Enterprises, Inc."), but the photos show that it's the quintet consisting of Vernita Moss, Susaye Green, Mable John, Dorothy Berry and Estella Yarbrough.
The songs were arranged by Ray Charles, Ray Jackson, Roger Neumann and Sid Feller. The engineering was done by Ray and David Braithwaite.
Ray Charles is present on every track, on keyboards, and sometimes also singing or humming.
In an interview from July 2004 Mable John remembered: "At the end of 1970, we went to Mexico City and we were booked by ourselves. It was supposed to be for two weeks but they kept us for eleven. We packed the room every night and Ray flew down to see us. He caught our show, he wanted to see how we were doing. The following year, he booked us in Japan during our off season and he had every girl in the group learn at least two songs they could lead. When we came back, he said, 'I want to do an album on you', and that's when we did the one Raelet[te]s' album, Yesterday, Today and Forever [sic!]. We all sang and Ray always pushed everyone on. If you hit a wrong note, he would play it on stage so you got it right. I loved talking back to him on stage on songs because that helped make the show spicy. And Ray was great with me: he never contradicted anything I said to the group and his attitude was, 'I gave you the position of leader, I won’t go behind you' and he lived by that standard, even after I left the group..."

1. You Must Be Doing Alright**
2. Bad Water*
3. Come Get It I Got It*
4. You Have A Way With Me*
5. Love Train
6. I Want To (Do Everything For You)*
7. Leave My Man Alone*
8. After Loving You (ft. Susaye Greene)
9. Keep It To Yourself*



Backside sleeve
of Leave My Man Alone.

10. Here I Go Again*

* Keyboards - Ray Charles. **Lead singer Mable John, Ray sings a brief solo.

1993 - Compilation album: The Raelettes; Hits And Rarities
This compilation missed the songs I Want To Thank You and It’s Almost Here. They added a few tracks that were independently recorded by Margie Hendricks. Compilation: Titanic Records TR-CD 4422, 1993.

1. You Must Be Doing Alright
2. Bad Water
3. Come Get It I Got It
4. You Have a Way With Me
5. Love Train
6. I Want To (Do Everything For You)
7. Leave My Man Alone
8. After Loving You
9. Keep It To Yourself
10. Here I Go Again
11. That Goes To Show You (ft. Susaye Greene)
12. Let No One Hold You**
13. A Lover's Blues**
14. I'm Gettin' 'Long Alright
15. All I Need Is Love
16. One Hurt Deserves Another
17. One Room Paradise
18. Into Something Fine
19. It's Alright A Lover's Blues****
20. Try a Little Kindness
21. Many Rivers To Cross
22. If You Wanna Keep Him (ft. Vernita Moss)
23. I Found My Love***
24. Now the Hurt's On You***
25. My Baby*
26. Restless***

*Ray Charles sings; cf. this. **From Margie Hendricks' Tangerine singles. ***From Margie Hendricks' Mercury singles (TRC 940). ****Mis-titled on the album.

Letting Ray?
Merry Clayton, in a 2013 interview, said:

"The level of professionalism is what I learned from Brother Ray. He sort of took me under his wing. I was a baby. He called me Sister Merry. He took Billy [Preston] and me under his wing, and he would just be on my case all the time. There were certain songs we’d do, they’d have four singers: he didn’t have three, like everybody else; he had four singers. So the harmonies were very, very close and very, very tight, and if you missed a note, I mean not only the singers, but also the trumpet or the trombone player missed a note, Ray would hear it. Period. 

So we were singing a song called “Together Again”, and I could not hear the second part. At that time Bobby Womack was in the band; he was the guitar player, and my husband-to-be Curtis Amy was the conductor, and then there was Billy. So these were all my buddies, and they knew I was having problems so they concocted this scheme. I’ll never forget because we were at dinner that night, and they said, “If you hear this note, then this is the note, Merry, then you sing.” But every time they hit the note, I could not hear the second part because the harmonies were so close. So I think we were in Carnegie Hall, it had to be Carnegie Hall because I remember Billy and I going to the top of Carnegie Hall before sound check and nobody could find us and we hear Joe Adams screaming, “Billy Preston and Merry Clayton! Come down here! Where are you? We can’t find you!” We’re laughing; we’re kids, what would we do but laugh? Billy and I looked at each other and I said, “One day we’re going to come back here and it’s going to be you and I, Billy!” He said, “That’s right, baby. We’re going to be here one day, and it won’t be long.” We made this plan.

So we came on stage after the sound check and came on for the show, and Ray starts to sing, “Together Again.” And, of course, everyone in the band starts to look at me and the girls start to look at me and say [whispers], “Merry, you’ve got to hit that note.” And I did not hit that note. Do you know that Ray took his finger and banged the note out on the piano? I was so embarrassed. My feelings were just hurt. I said, “Are you just picking on me? You know I’m a child.” He said, “You’re not a child, you can hit this note, you can hear it, and before I get through with you, you’ll be able to sing it in your sleep.” 

He rehearsed me for four or five hours. He’d rehearse all the girls. We’d get to a city and he’d have the grand ballroom set up in the hotel and he’d rehearse us. We had perfection on that stage with Ray.

Q: At Sundance, you said there was a saying: “You couldn’t be a Raelette unless you let Ray.”

MC: I get that all the time, and I politely say, “You know, I had no problem ‘letting Ray,’ but the problem was I was too busy ‘letting’ the conductor, who later became my husband for 32 years until he passed away in my arms.”

And that shuts them up real quick. “What?! You were married 32 years?!” Oh, yes, to a brilliant man - a loving, kind, precious, exquisite man. I was very proud to be Mrs. Curtis Amy. My thing in life when I married Curtis Amy was being Mrs. Curtis Amy. Career was fine, but I was enthralled with being Curtis’ wife. That was very important to me back then, and that’s always important to a young lady from New Orleans. That’s our upbringing: to be a wonderful wife and mother first. Everything else will follow. So, I was too busy letting the conductor. I couldn’t let Ray.

Q: You came in as a kid, too. It seems like it was more of a mentor relationship with Ray. 

MC: Absolutely. Billy and I were like his kids. We were 17 and 18 years old, and we grew up on the road with Ray. He sang, “Happy Birthday” to me on my 21st birthday at the Shrine Auditorium here in L.A. He was like a father figure to me. 

Then again, he knew that my mother would slice him up. He knew better than to do anything that was inappropriate with me."

Soundclips:
One Hurt Deserves Another:

One Room Paradise:

All I Need Is His Love:

I'm Gettin' 'Long All Right:

It's Almost Here:

I Want To (Do Everything For You) (ft. Mable John):

Keep It To Yourself (ft. Mable John):

Bad Water:

Here I Go Again (ft. Estelle Yarbrough):

Let No One Hold You (Margie Hendricks with The Vocals):

Leave My Man Alone (Vernita Moss):

That Goes To Show You (ft. Susaye Greene):

Come Get It, I Got it (ft. Mable John):

You Must Be Doing Alright (ft. Mable John):

You Have A Way With Me (ft. Susaye Greene):

It's Almost Here:

A Lover's Blues (Margie Hendricks with The Vocals):

Love Train:

After Loving You:

I Want To (Do Everything For You):

Keep It To Yourself:

Try A Little Kindness (ft. Vernita Moss):

Many Rivers To Cross:

The Raelettes, A Lover's Blues:


Songs performed live

The following Raelette solo songs were on the repertoire of the Ray Charles Group. Titles marked with an asterisk (*) were taped more than once. Between brackets I have indicated which songs were attributed to individual singers (one per performance, of course). I have prioritized links to articles about shows where live versions of these songs were first taped.

This list is a first draft, and is not exhaustive:

• All I Need* (ft Trudy Cohran)
• Anyway You Want To*
• Baby, It's Cold Outside* (ft Clydie King, Alex Brown, Angie Workman)
• Bad Water* (ft Mable John)
• Born To Love Me (ft Elaine Ross)
• Chain Of Fools* (ft Estella Yarbough)
• Crying Time* (ft Gwen Berry)
• Do It To Me Slow (ft Pat Peterson)
• Don't Set Me Free* (ft Lillie Fort, Merry Clayton, Estella Yarbrough)
• Giving Up* (ft Trudy Cohran)
• Guess Who I Saw Today* (ft Dorothy Berry)
• Hold On, I'm Coming*
• I Only Have Eyes For You (ft Verlyn Flenaugh)
• I Want Your Love* (ft Estella Yarbough)
• If You Love Me Like You Say (ft Clydie King)
• Indian Love Call* (ft Susaye Greene)
• Knock on Wood* (ft Trudy Cohran)
• Leave My Man Alone* (ft Vernita Moss)
• Love Is What We Need*
• Love Train*
• My Baby (I Love Her Yes I Do)
• My Funny Valentine (ft Susaye Greene)
• Ode To Billie Joe (ft Clydie King)
• One Hurt Deserves Another* (ft Trudy Cohran)
• People Will Say We're In Love*
• Rock Steady*
• Running Out
• Shadows Of My Mind
• Shake*
• Shameless* (ft Estella Yarbough)
• Soul Serenade (ft Susaye Greene)
• The Pages Of My Mind (ft Angie Workman)
• You Better Watch Them Dogs*
• We're Gonna Make It*
• You Are My Sunshine* (ft Merry Clayton, Trudy Cohran)
• You Have A Way With Me (ft Susaye Greene)

Line-ups (recap, earliest documented dates only)

• 30 November 1955 as The Cookies: Margie Hendricks, Dorothy Jones, Darlene McCrea.
• 27 November 1956: Mary Ann Fisher (ft), Margie Hendricks, Dorothy Jones, Darlene McCrea.
• February 1958: Cookies renamed into Raelettes.
• 5 July 1958: Mary Ann Fisher (ft), Margie Hendricks, Pat Lyles, Gwen Berry,
• Early 1959: Margie Hendricks, Pat Lyles, Gwen Berry, Darlene McCrea.
• 29 May 1959: Margie Hendricks, Pat Lyles, Darlene McCrea.
• Around October 1959: Margie temporarily replaced by Mae Mosely-Lyles.
• Not later than November 1959: Margie Hendricks, Mae Mosely-Saunders, Gwen Berry, Bettye Smith.
• 17 July 1961: Gwen Berry, Margie Hendricks, Pat Lyles, Darlene McCrea.
• 17 - 22 May 1962: Gwen Berry, Margie Hendricks, Pat Lyles, Darlene McCrea.
• 21 September 1963: Gwen Berry, Margie Hendricks, Darlene McCrea, Patricia Richards.
• Late June, early July 1964: Pat Lyles, Margie Hendricks, Gwen Berry, Darlene McCrea.
• 20 September 1964: Gwen Berry, Helen Bryant, Lillie Fort, Bobbie Pierce.
• 29 November 1964: Lillie Fort, Gwen Berry, Fritz Basket, Marilyn McCoo.
• March - July 1966: Lillie Fort, Gwen Berry, Merry Clayton, Clydie King.
• 8 October 1966 (air date): Vermettya Royster, Merry Clayton, Gwen Berry, Clydie King.
• 15 October 1966: Gwen Berry, Merry Clayton, Clydie King, Alex Brown.
• 7 July 1968: Gwen Berry, Merry Clayton, Clydie King, Alex Brown.
• Late July - August 1968: Rita Graham, Beverly Ann Lesure and Susaye Green.
• 20 September (London) - 8 & 9 October 1968: Barbara Nel Terrault, Susaye Greene, Verlyn Flenaugh, Beverly Ann Lesure. 
• October 1969: Mable John (joined in March '69), Susaye Greene, Vernita Moss, Estella Yarbrough.
• October 1971: Dorothy Berry, Susaye Greene, Mable John, Vernita Moss.
• April 1972: Dorothy Berry, Susaye Greene, Mable John, Vernita Moss, Estella Yarbrough.
• 8 September 1973: Denise Jackson, Mable John, Vernita Moss, Madelyn Quebec.
• 9 October 1973: Dorothy Berry, Denise Jackson, Mable John, Vernita Moss, Madelyn Quebec.
• February 1974: Vernita Moss, Dorothy Berry, Mable John, Cynthia Scott, ?Madelyn Quebec.
• 10 May 1975: Dorothy Berry, Bernice Hullaby, Madelyn Quebec, Linda Sims, Estella Yarbrough.
• 13 May 1975: Linda Sims, Dorothy Berry, Bernice Hullaby, Estella Yarbrough.
• 12 June 1975: Dorothy Berry, Bernice Hullaby, Madelyn Quebec, Linda Sims, Estella Yarbrough.
• 7 August 1975: Linda Sims, Dorothy Berry, Estella Yarbrough, Bernice Hullaby, Madelyn Quebec.
• November 1975: Linda Sims, Dorothy Berry, Bernice Hullaby, Estella Yarbrough, Donna Jones.
• 16 and 18 July 1976 (The Hague, Antibes): Donna Jones, Bernice Hullaby, Estella Yarborough, Dorothy Berry, Linda Sims.
• 12 November 1977: Trudy Cohran, Dorothy Berry, Deborah Gleese, Linda Sims, Estella Yarbrough.
• 16 July 1978: Chrylynn Cobb, Trudy Cohran, Dorothy Berry, Linda Sims, Estella Yarbrough.
• 22 July 1979: Trudy Cohran, Pat Peterson, Madelyn Quebec, Estella Yarbrough.
• 23 October 1979: Madelyn Quebec, Estella Yarbrough, Trudy Cohran, Pat Peterson, Avis Harrell.
• September 4, 1982: Trudy Cohran, Elaine Woodard, Estella Yarbrough, Janice Mitchell, Ann Johnson.
• 1 July 1986: Sharon Creighton, Estella Yarbrough, Gladys [Unknown], Elaine Woodard, Angie Workman.
• 19 July 1987: Trudy Cohran, Sharon Creighton, Elaine Woodard, Angie Workman, Estella Yarbrough.
• Fall 1989: Anita Brooks, Estella Yarbrough, Trudy Cohran, Kathryn Collier, Angie Workman.
• 19 July 1990: Trudy Cohran, Kay Nickerson, Lalomie Washburn, Angie Workman, Estella Yarbrough.
• Fall 1990: Kay Nickerson, Trudy Cohran, Angela Workman, Estella Yarbough.
• December 1990: Angie Workman, Valerie Washington, Estella Yarbrough, Kay Nickerson, Trudy Cohran.
• Summer 1991: Wendy Smith, Estella Yarbrough, Paula Moye, Trudy Cohran.
• 28 November 1991: Paula Moye, Estella Yarbrough, Trudy Cohran, Wendy Smith, Angie Workman.
• 1 July 1992: Trudy Cohran, Pamela Diggs, Paula Moye, Angie Workman, Estella Yarbrough.
• 19 November 1993: Angie Workman, Trudy Cohran, Michelle King, Elaine Woodard, Estella Yarbrough.
• 22 June 1996: Estella Yarbrough, Karen Evans, Kathy Mackey, Elaine Woodard, Tonette McKinney.
• 11 July 1997: Estella Yarbrough, Katrina Harper-Cooke, Kathy Mackey, Karen Evans, Tonette McKinney.
• 10 January 2000: Estella Yarbrough, Tangy Biggers, Tonette McKinney, Karen Evans.
• 18 July 2000: Estella Yarbrough, Renée Collins Georges, Tangy Biggers, Tonette McKinney, Karen Evans.
• 22 June 2002: Katrina Harper, Estella Yarbrough, Renée Collins Georges, Karen Evans and Tonette McKinney.
• November 2002: Brianna Tucker, Estella Yarbrough, Renee Collins Georges, Karen Evans and Tonette McKinney.
• 20 July 2003: Estella Yarbrough, Renee Collins Georges, Katrina Harper, Karen Evans, Tonette McKinney.

Timeline

1954/1955

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.

1956

From Billboard, Feb. 11, 1956.

Documented line-up 16 May 1956:
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.

Documented line-up 5 July 1958:
Mary Ann Fisher (ft), Margie Hendricks, Pat Lyles, 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.

Clipped from Los Angeles Sentinel, Aug. 7: review of Raelettes at Cavalcade of Jazz in LA on August 3.

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.

Poster for a Ray Charles concert at the (Syria) Mosque Theatre in Pittsburgh March 17, 1959). This was the first (documented) time that The Cookies were co-billed as The Raelets. Margie Hendricks explained the name change in an interview in1961: "On a nice morning Ray tackled the problem, and came to the conclusion that only two names were possible: the 'Silver Bells' or the 'Raelets'. I immediately rejected the 'Silver Bells' - that name appeared ridiculous to me."

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.

Documented line-up 21 - 22 September 1963:
Gwen Berry, Margie Hendricks, Darlene McCrea, Patricia Richards.  

1964

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.

L-R: 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.

From Red and Black, Oct. 6, 1966.





1967

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 Amsterdam.

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.
 Fom 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.

From the same shoot? L-R: Vernita Moss, Estella Yarbrough, Mable John, (sitting) Susaye Greene.

This photo by Jan Persson is labeled with "Copenhagen", and October 5, 1969. It's probably much older.

Documented line-up October 1969:
Mable John, Susaye Greene, Vernita Moss, Estella Yarbrough.

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?

Documented line-up 18 April 1970:
Mable John, Susaye Greene, Vernita Moss, Estella Yarbrough.


1971

Publicity pic for Raelettes' solo tour in Japan (started Feb. 12);  f.l.t.r. Vernita Moss, Susaye Greene, Mable John, unidentified singer

Line-up from Newport festival program (Jul. 2).

Documented line-up 2 July 1971:
Mable John, Susaye Greene, Vernita Moss, Estella Yarbrough.

Documented line-up August, October 1971:
Dorothy Berry, Susaye Greene, Mable John, Vernita Moss.

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.


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.

Documented line-up 1, 8 July 1973
Vernita Moss, Susaye Greene, Mable John, Dorothy Berry, Estella Yarbrough.

Promotional photo of Ray Charles and The Raelettes (clockwise starting at top [unidentified singer], Mable John, Susaye Greene, ?Denise Jackson), circa September 1973.

Documented line-up 8 September 1973:
Denise Jackson, Mable John, Vernita Moss, Madelyn Quebec.

Backstage at unidentified venue, possibly Autumn 1973, L-R: Vernita Moss, Dorothy Berry, Mable John, [poss. Denise Jackson], Madelyn Quebec.

Documented line-up 9 October 1973:
Dorothy Berry, Denise Jackson, Mable John, Vernita Moss, Madelyn Quebec.

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).

Line-up on 7 August 1975 (Cher show):


L-R: Linda Sims, Dorothy Berry, Estella Yarbrough, Bernice Hullaby, Madelyn Quebec.

Documented line-up November 1975 (Japan):

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.

1986

Documented line-up 1, 7 July 1986:

Sharon Creighton, Estella Yarbrough, Gladys [Unknown], Elaine Woodard, Angie Workman.

Concert in Portland (the photo could also be from '87).

1987

Documented line-up 19 July, 12 September 1987:

Trudy Cohran, Sharon Creighton, Elaine Woodard, Angie Workman, Estella Yarbrough.

1st Izmir Festival at Ephesus Great Theatre (Jul. 7). 

 Ft. in Moonlighting (September). 

1989

 Executive Inn, Paducah (Jun. 17). 

 Montreal Jazz Festival, Place des Arts (Jun. 30). 

Auburn (Aug. 27). Photo by Richard Nevell.

Documented line-up Fall, 5, 17 November, 8 December 1989:
Anita Brooks, Estella Yarbrough, Trudy Cohran, Kathryn Collier, Angie Workman.

Publicity photo by Michael Collopy, c. 1990.

1990

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).

At the 15th Annual Sacramento Blues Festival, on   22 September 1991.

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.

1993

Documented line-up 19 November 1993:
Angie Workman, Trudy Cohran, Michelle King, Elaine Woodard, Estella Yarbrough.

Still (f.l.t.r. Michelle, Trudy, Elaine, Angie) from the TV recording of the concert in Leverkusen on November 19, while Estella is taking her solo..

1996

Possibly shot in Copenhagen.

Documented line-up 22 June 1996:
Estella Yarbrough, Karen Evans, Kathy Mackey, Elaine Woodard, Tonette McKinney.

1997

Montreux Jazz Festival (Jul. 19); L-R: Estella Yarbrough, Katrina Harper Cooke, Kathy Mackey, Karen Evans, Tonette McKinney.

Documented line-up 11, 19 July 1997:
Estella Yarbrough, Katrina Harper-Cooke, Kathy Mackey, Karen Evans, Tonette McKinney.

Probably in Italy, (July?) 1997. Photo by Luigi Barba.

1999

  

Backstage at  Showroom Casino, The Orleans Hotel, Las Vegas (Sep. 29 - Oct. 3).

2000

Montreal Jazz Festival at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Bell Centre, Montreal.

Documented line-up 10 January 2000:
Estella Yarbrough, Tangy Biggers, Tonette McKinney, Karen Evans.
  

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.

2003

Documented line-up 20 July 2003:
Estella Yarbrough, Renee Collins Georges, Katrina Harper, Karen Evans, Tonette McKinney.

 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