The interview is part of the DVD compilation Larry King Live - The Greatest Interviews (2007).
Mediagraphy - Discography - Trackography - Videography - Gigography - Biography - Chronology
20 December 2010
Ray Charles On Larry King Live (1987)
In 1987 Ray Charles talked "about his love of music" in Larry King Live, on CNN. U.S. citizens can watch a 90-second fragment here, and the rest of the show on Netflix.
The interview is part of the DVD compilation Larry King Live - The Greatest Interviews (2007).
The interview is part of the DVD compilation Larry King Live - The Greatest Interviews (2007).
Labels:
'87 DM Larry
19 December 2010
Two New Pages
See top right corner of this page. A much easier way to browse through the Chronology pages.
See top right corner of this page. Specific & specified requests for help.
Labels:
Off topic
17 December 2010
Ray Charles Ft. In TV Commercials For Wisconsin Lottery (2000)
In 2000 Ray Charles signed a contract with MDI Entertainment, allowing (according to a press release full of humbug): "[...] state lotteries to team up with the legendary Ray Charles". I already wrote about campaigns for the State Lotteries of Oregon, New Jersey (see also here) and Georgia.
On 24 September 2000 the Wisconsin Lottery also launched a TV campaign. The account was handled by Hoffman York. Ray sang an original jingle, titled You Don't Have To Play To Win, penned by Hoffman's Tom Jordan.
The TV campaign was followed by a special promotion on 26 January 2001, entailing "second chance bonus drawings", offering grand prize packages such as "Winner's Choice trips for two to attend one of Mr. Charles' fabulous concert performances, [...] including backstage passes to meet Mr. Ray Charles in person, [and a] signed artist proof portrait of Mr. Charles. The portrait is the work of famous Wisconsin artist George Pollard [see illustration]". In addition, there were "some 1,400 merchandise prizes, including Ray Charles limited edition prints, music CDs, Tee shirts, key chains and more". The tickets cost $2, and the top cash prize was $25,000. Source here.
On 24 September 2000 the Wisconsin Lottery also launched a TV campaign. The account was handled by Hoffman York. Ray sang an original jingle, titled You Don't Have To Play To Win, penned by Hoffman's Tom Jordan.
The TV campaign was followed by a special promotion on 26 January 2001, entailing "second chance bonus drawings", offering grand prize packages such as "Winner's Choice trips for two to attend one of Mr. Charles' fabulous concert performances, [...] including backstage passes to meet Mr. Ray Charles in person, [and a] signed artist proof portrait of Mr. Charles. The portrait is the work of famous Wisconsin artist George Pollard [see illustration]". In addition, there were "some 1,400 merchandise prizes, including Ray Charles limited edition prints, music CDs, Tee shirts, key chains and more". The tickets cost $2, and the top cash prize was $25,000. Source here.
Labels:
00 CM Wisconsin NM
Ray Charles Reading Braille (1965)
This picture, shot in a studio (probably Ray's own, in LA) was used as an illustration in several tour brochures, and in the Provinciaal Zeeuwse Courant from 3 July 1965. The photo is now held in the Michael Ochs Archives, under the title Hands Of A Genius.
Labels:
Off topic
Ray Charles, King Of Soul (1988) (and 2007?)
In Germany the epithet "King of Soul" was often used for Ray (e.g. also for a few album titles). On 3 January 1988 the first German TV network aired a 70-minute program titled Ray Charles, King of Soul. According to this (Dutch) source it encompassed an interview and concert takes.
On 1 May 2007 tv station ARD re-broadcast the program (or... was it an entirely new documentary? BS) with the title Ray Charles - King of Soul. This source specifies that the "film" was made by Ali Haurand, a well known German jazz musician, presenting "Der musikalische Weg eines Superstars" - the musical journey of a superstar). The content description ("Ray Charles starb am 10. Juni 2004" - Ray Charles died on June 10th, 2004) seems to imply that this film was produced after Ray's death. Who knows more?
On 1 May 2007 tv station ARD re-broadcast the program (or... was it an entirely new documentary? BS) with the title Ray Charles - King of Soul. This source specifies that the "film" was made by Ali Haurand, a well known German jazz musician, presenting "Der musikalische Weg eines Superstars" - the musical journey of a superstar). The content description ("Ray Charles starb am 10. Juni 2004" - Ray Charles died on June 10th, 2004) seems to imply that this film was produced after Ray's death. Who knows more?
Labels:
'88 DM King NM
,
07 DM King NM
Ray Charles Live In Torino (1971)
My sources on the contents of this bootleg-CD are highly contradictive. For documental reasons I've described them all below.
But let's start with the correct track list:
The instrumental, track #1, is decently mixed. It is the Ornette Coleman tune Tears Inside from 1959 (listen to this). (The title chosen for the CD, and there also quoted as the title for this track - Blues Connotation - is from another, much better known Coleman composition).
Reeds and trumpets played out a nice battle. Marcus Belgrave (1st) and Jack Walrath (2nd) fought out the trumpet-part.* Edgar Willis picked his longest bass solo ever recorded. Ray played piano on it.
Track #7 (Leave My Man Alone) and # 9 (Bad Water) are only known from the 1972 album The Raeletts - Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow). Ray gave #7 (Leave My Man Alone, a long, ditty-ish, intro on the theme "Take Me To Your Leader" (rhyming to "Her Name Is Vernita").
Personnel
A trustworthy source has inferred the line-up from the corrupt liner notes on the bootleg CD and a concert that took place in October '71, in Paris.
Following the indication on the bootleg pictured above, the concert has always been dated on August 8, 1971. I've only found documentation about a concert in Torino, on 9 October 1971 - a much more credible date since Ray and the band were touring Italy around that time.
* Thanks to Jack Walrath for identifying the title and the trumpet players. Thanks to André "Jazz" Monnot for sharing the CD with me.
Corrupt notes from other sources
This source presented the first track on this bootleg with the title Blues Connotation, and gives the following, unusually corrupt, track list; I'm quoting it including the obvious errors):
1. Blues Connotation 5:59
2. Blues is my middle name 2:28
3. Georgia on my mind 4:44
4. Snow is fallin' 2:32
5. Hey now 4:03
6. What I'd say 4:34
7. Goin' down slow 8:04
8. I can't stop loving you 3:25
9. I don't need no doctor 3:04
10. Title Unknown 6:47
11. Hallelujah, I love her so 4:54
The bootleg CD also has some liner notes, specifying the personnel - again with numerous corruptions:
John Szabo, Thomas Cortex, Arthur Walruth, Dana Hughes (trumpets); Andy Dennis, Ismael Lopez, James Rowell, Marcus Belgrave (trumpets); Glenn Childress (trombones); Cloyd Miller, Earl Clay (alto saxophones); David Newman (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (bariton saxophone); Charles Bunds (piano, organ); James Martin (Guitar); Edgar Willis (bass); Ernest Elly (drums).
A second source, listed a completely different track list that was much more consistent with Ray's contemporary concerts, be it also with a number of corrupt details:
1. Intro & unidentified instrumental
2. That's You Girl
3. Georgia On My Mind
4. You Make Me Love You
5. The Long And Winding Road
6. Feel So Bad
7. Take Me to Your Leader & You Better Leave My Man Alone
8. I Can't Stop Loving You
9. Hey Boy
10. When I'm Calling You
11. What'd I Say & outro
But let's start with the correct track list:
![]() |
| Collection André Monnot. |
- Intro + Tears Inside (erroneously, titled Blues Connotation on the bootleg CD) (Ray Charles Orchestra; Ray on piano)
- The Bright Lights And You Girl
- Georgia On My Mind
- You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want To Do It)
- The Long And Winding Road
- Feel So Bad
- Leave My Man Alone (ft Vernita Moss)
- I Can’t Stop Loving You
- Bad Water (ft Mable John)
- Indian Love Call (ft Susaye Greene)
- What’d I Say + Outro
The instrumental, track #1, is decently mixed. It is the Ornette Coleman tune Tears Inside from 1959 (listen to this). (The title chosen for the CD, and there also quoted as the title for this track - Blues Connotation - is from another, much better known Coleman composition).
Reeds and trumpets played out a nice battle. Marcus Belgrave (1st) and Jack Walrath (2nd) fought out the trumpet-part.* Edgar Willis picked his longest bass solo ever recorded. Ray played piano on it.
Track #7 (Leave My Man Alone) and # 9 (Bad Water) are only known from the 1972 album The Raeletts - Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow). Ray gave #7 (Leave My Man Alone, a long, ditty-ish, intro on the theme "Take Me To Your Leader" (rhyming to "Her Name Is Vernita").
Personnel
A trustworthy source has inferred the line-up from the corrupt liner notes on the bootleg CD and a concert that took place in October '71, in Paris.
Musicians: Marcus Belgrave, Thomas Cortez, Frank Szabo, Jack Walrath (tp); Glenn Childress, Dana Hughes, Jules Rowell, Mayo Tiana (tb); James Clay, Jay Cloyd Miller (as); Andy Ennis, David Newman (ts); Leroy Cooper (bs, bandleader); Charles “Bags” Costello (org), Ben Martin (g), Edgar Willis (bs-g), Ernie Elly (dm). Raelettes: Dorothy Berry, Susaye Greene, Mable John, Vernita Moss.
Following the indication on the bootleg pictured above, the concert has always been dated on August 8, 1971. I've only found documentation about a concert in Torino, on 9 October 1971 - a much more credible date since Ray and the band were touring Italy around that time.
* Thanks to Jack Walrath for identifying the title and the trumpet players. Thanks to André "Jazz" Monnot for sharing the CD with me.
Corrupt notes from other sources
This source presented the first track on this bootleg with the title Blues Connotation, and gives the following, unusually corrupt, track list; I'm quoting it including the obvious errors):
1. Blues Connotation 5:59
2. Blues is my middle name 2:28
3. Georgia on my mind 4:44
4. Snow is fallin' 2:32
5. Hey now 4:03
6. What I'd say 4:34
7. Goin' down slow 8:04
8. I can't stop loving you 3:25
9. I don't need no doctor 3:04
10. Title Unknown 6:47
11. Hallelujah, I love her so 4:54
John Szabo, Thomas Cortex, Arthur Walruth, Dana Hughes (trumpets); Andy Dennis, Ismael Lopez, James Rowell, Marcus Belgrave (trumpets); Glenn Childress (trombones); Cloyd Miller, Earl Clay (alto saxophones); David Newman (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (bariton saxophone); Charles Bunds (piano, organ); James Martin (Guitar); Edgar Willis (bass); Ernest Elly (drums).
A second source, listed a completely different track list that was much more consistent with Ray's contemporary concerts, be it also with a number of corrupt details:
1. Intro & unidentified instrumental
2. That's You Girl
3. Georgia On My Mind
4. You Make Me Love You
5. The Long And Winding Road
6. Feel So Bad
7. Take Me to Your Leader & You Better Leave My Man Alone
8. I Can't Stop Loving You
9. Hey Boy
10. When I'm Calling You
11. What'd I Say & outro
Labels:
'71 LC Torino
,
Album 1971 Torino
,
Concert 1971 Torino
Ray Charles Live In Tulsa (1999)
On 16 and 17 April 1999 Ray Charles performed at Chapman Music Hall, in the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, with the Tulsa Philharmonic. The concert on the 17th was taped, and made available as a bootleg ("plagued by a rhythmic background static on a few of the songs. It's clearly an audience recording so it's not the FM static that hears from time to time; rather, it was more likely introduced by some inconsiderate fool somewhere up the burn chain").
The bootlegger specified the track list as follows:
The bootlegger specified the track list as follows:
- Intro
- They Can't Take That Away From Me
- If You Go Away
- That Thing Called Love
- Georgia On My Mind
- Eleanor Rigby
- Your Cheating Heart
- "I Don't Have A Clue - really, he slurs his way through this song and the words are indecipherable"
- Be My Love
- Unidentified instrumental
- A Song For You
- All I Ever Need Is You
- America The Beautiful
Labels:
'99 LC Tulsa
,
Concert 1999 Tulsa
Ray Charles At Carnegie Hall In 1984, Broadcast in Brazil In 1985?
The Jornal do Brasil from 8 May 1985 mentions a tv program on Record TV that night, a show taped at Carnegie Hall the year before, where Ray is singing Stella By Starlight, Ruby and What'd I Say.
On 12 November 1984 Ray gave a concert with the New American Orchestra, themed Reach For The Stars, a benefit for the Lenox Hill Hospital, at Carnegie Hall in New York - but there may of course have been one or more other shows at that venue.
Rede Record (Record TV) is Brazil's second largest television network (currently owned by Bishop Edir Macedo, founder of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God).
Who knows more?
On 12 November 1984 Ray gave a concert with the New American Orchestra, themed Reach For The Stars, a benefit for the Lenox Hill Hospital, at Carnegie Hall in New York - but there may of course have been one or more other shows at that venue.
Rede Record (Record TV) is Brazil's second largest television network (currently owned by Bishop Edir Macedo, founder of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God).
Who knows more?
14 December 2010
Ray Charles Camera-Shy In Molde (1999)
On- and off-stage, Ray Charles hated photo cameras. "What's all that damn click-click-clickin'?!" Ray's tour management always maintained very strict rules regarding photography (later also: videography) during concerts, but for instance also when Ray arrived at airports, hotels and concert venues.
At concerts, taking photos was usually just allowed during the first and the last song. Security people were briefed to act against camera owners breaking these rules. This often led to irritation, and sometimes to small riots in front of the stage. Or even on stage, when Ray refused to go on as long as photographers were shooting.
On 15 July 1999 Ray Charles performed at the Molde Jazz Festival in Norway. The next day Dagbladet reported that "quarrelsome security guards were about to destroy the entire concert with soul legend Ray Charles" when a camera man from NRK, a tv station, filmed during the "wrong" song, at which Ray threatened to walk off the stage if the videotape wasn't handed over to the security people. "There's an asshole out there who likes making movies when I play. As long as he continues, I do not play," Ray said from the stage, and sat with his arms crossed.
He resumed his performance when the NRK camera man gave the tape to one of the festival organizers, "who had the choice to either give the tape to one of Ray Charles' managers, or to get 7,500 spectators in his neck". During the concert, the organizer "made several vain attempts to persuade Charles' management to return the tape". A team from a competing tv station (TV2) managed barely to escape with their shooting materials - "with security forces in pursuit".
At the end of the concert the scandal continued: "When the photographers took some shots at the closing number, the security guards went almost crazy. The photographers were thrown out of the area [...]". When they protested, a guy in the entourage of Ray cried out. "See you in court in Los Angeles!"
As usual, before the concert a number of journalists had been invited to meet the legend at the airport, but when Charles' people discovered the camera press, they were furious. "Get away! The man will not be filmed!" bellowed Charles' staff. "The legend himself, tired and exhausted, did not come out before the press found itself at a distance."
The "circus" continued when the press was pushed and threatened by local security guards when Charles arrived at his hotel. "If I see a flash, I take the camera and step on it," roared a production manager from the jazz festival, and pushed several photographers.
Who knows more about any footage surviving from these scrimmages?
At concerts, taking photos was usually just allowed during the first and the last song. Security people were briefed to act against camera owners breaking these rules. This often led to irritation, and sometimes to small riots in front of the stage. Or even on stage, when Ray refused to go on as long as photographers were shooting.
On 15 July 1999 Ray Charles performed at the Molde Jazz Festival in Norway. The next day Dagbladet reported that "quarrelsome security guards were about to destroy the entire concert with soul legend Ray Charles" when a camera man from NRK, a tv station, filmed during the "wrong" song, at which Ray threatened to walk off the stage if the videotape wasn't handed over to the security people. "There's an asshole out there who likes making movies when I play. As long as he continues, I do not play," Ray said from the stage, and sat with his arms crossed.
He resumed his performance when the NRK camera man gave the tape to one of the festival organizers, "who had the choice to either give the tape to one of Ray Charles' managers, or to get 7,500 spectators in his neck". During the concert, the organizer "made several vain attempts to persuade Charles' management to return the tape". A team from a competing tv station (TV2) managed barely to escape with their shooting materials - "with security forces in pursuit".
At the end of the concert the scandal continued: "When the photographers took some shots at the closing number, the security guards went almost crazy. The photographers were thrown out of the area [...]". When they protested, a guy in the entourage of Ray cried out. "See you in court in Los Angeles!"
As usual, before the concert a number of journalists had been invited to meet the legend at the airport, but when Charles' people discovered the camera press, they were furious. "Get away! The man will not be filmed!" bellowed Charles' staff. "The legend himself, tired and exhausted, did not come out before the press found itself at a distance."
The "circus" continued when the press was pushed and threatened by local security guards when Charles arrived at his hotel. "If I see a flash, I take the camera and step on it," roared a production manager from the jazz festival, and pushed several photographers.
Who knows more about any footage surviving from these scrimmages?
Labels:
'99 DM Molde NM
Ray Charles On Canadian News (1986)
On 23 October 1986 Ray Charles played two sold out concerts at the Copa, Toronto. CBC covered the event twice. On the 23d, Newshour had an item with the following shotlist:
*/ls/ musician Ray Charles performing on stage at Toronto's Copa club
*/pan/ audience at the Copa claps
*/mcu/ Charles playing piano
*/ls/ protestors in front of the Copa with placard 'Ray Charles entertains apartheid'
*/cu/ sign 'the Copa' pan down to protestors standing in front of club
*/ls/ protestors give flyers to people leaving club
*/intv/ protestor SOT upset with Ray Charles' decision to perform to racially integrated audiences in South Africa
*/mcu/ reporter Stu Paterson with protestor
*/intv/ protestor SOT Charles shouldn't have gone to South Africa
*/var/ Charles performing on stage
On the 24th DRN (Daily Regional News), had a similar item, showing Ray performing at the Copa, and anti-apartheid protesting outside the venue. The voice-over explained: "Tonight, protestors gathered in front of The Copa club where musician Ray Charles was performing. Protestors were upset [about] Charles' decision to perform to racially integrated audiences in South Africa in the early 1980s [i.e. October 1980, BS], which, they say, supports South Africa's apartheid regime".
Since 1981 many of Ray's concerts in the USA and Canada were targeted by Unity In Action, a small but very active anti-apartheid group. In fact, in 1980 he had ignored a UN-supported boycott of South Africa. He faced pickets in South Africa, Europe and in many North American cities.
Just at the time of this concert in Toronto Ray had had enough of it. On October 4th he had published an open letter on the subject, in Billboard:
Also read this and this on Ray's position and actions against segregation. As late as 1991, a concert in Stockholm was canceled when the promoters discovered that Ray Charles was still on a U.N. blacklist...
*/ls/ musician Ray Charles performing on stage at Toronto's Copa club
*/pan/ audience at the Copa claps
*/mcu/ Charles playing piano
*/ls/ protestors in front of the Copa with placard 'Ray Charles entertains apartheid'
*/cu/ sign 'the Copa' pan down to protestors standing in front of club
*/ls/ protestors give flyers to people leaving club
*/intv/ protestor SOT upset with Ray Charles' decision to perform to racially integrated audiences in South Africa
*/mcu/ reporter Stu Paterson with protestor
*/intv/ protestor SOT Charles shouldn't have gone to South Africa
*/var/ Charles performing on stage
On the 24th DRN (Daily Regional News), had a similar item, showing Ray performing at the Copa, and anti-apartheid protesting outside the venue. The voice-over explained: "Tonight, protestors gathered in front of The Copa club where musician Ray Charles was performing. Protestors were upset [about] Charles' decision to perform to racially integrated audiences in South Africa in the early 1980s [i.e. October 1980, BS], which, they say, supports South Africa's apartheid regime".
Since 1981 many of Ray's concerts in the USA and Canada were targeted by Unity In Action, a small but very active anti-apartheid group. In fact, in 1980 he had ignored a UN-supported boycott of South Africa. He faced pickets in South Africa, Europe and in many North American cities.
Just at the time of this concert in Toronto Ray had had enough of it. On October 4th he had published an open letter on the subject, in Billboard:
Also read this and this on Ray's position and actions against segregation. As late as 1991, a concert in Stockholm was canceled when the promoters discovered that Ray Charles was still on a U.N. blacklist...
Labels:
'86 DM CBC
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