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| Montage of all winners, probably distributed as a promotional wire photo. |
There's also a video containing parts of that 1986 event (including a biographic documentary), and an October 2003 performance by Ellis Hall - at the request of the ailing Ray Charles, who had recently been co-producing an Ellis album on Crossover Records. Watch it here (requires RealPlayer). And don't miss this photo. Some more fragments of the same '86 event, Ellis' 2003 act, and more promo stuff from Ellis are here (again with a confusing timeline;-):
The 1986 program was announced as "An evening of tribute and entertainment", first from the White House, then the Kennedy Center. It took place on December 7, 1986.
Below is the - seemingly complete - footage of the tribute to Lucille Ball. In Part 1 Walter Cronkite introduces the honorees and shows a recap of their evening at the White House. Ray, sitting right next to Lucy, is on camera a lot in the other parts as well. Reagan's speech can be watched here; national anthem here.
Part 1 of tribute show for Lucille Ball:
Part 2:
Part 3:
NBC.
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At the time, I was a Doorman at the Ritz-Carlton DC. The hotel was filled with celebrities. Ray Charles, Stevie, Lucille Ball, Walter Mathau. The hotel staff were told that Stevie was a surprise guest at the Kennedy Center Honors and we were not to reveal to Mr. Charles that Stevie was also staying the hotel. There was a moment that I will remember for the rest of my life. Stevie and his crew were walking through the lobby leaving the hotel and Ray and his people were walking into the hotel. As they passed each other, the entourages nodded and smiled at each other as the two legends passed one another. I wish I could find the video of Stevie's performance that night.
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