Ray Charles Is In Town - Chronology 1987

TV commercial, starting at 16:27, for an 'exclusive' 2-CD titled Heart Touching Classics.

Photo by Ellen Jaskol.

At an unidentified event with Quincy Jones. Photos by Betty Mickelson.

1987
 
Born: Ryan Corey-Robinson den Bok (to Mary Anne den Bok).  
A Little Bit Of Heaven peaks at #76 on Country Chart, Baby Grand (with Billy Joel) at #75 on Pop Chart.
Starring in Symphonie Ray Charles, directed by Jean-Paul Jaud. See this.
Starring in The Tender Side Of Ray Charles, advertorials on WTBS. See this.

6 January 1987
The Willie Nelson Silver Anniversary Special, a radio program that aired on USP. See this.

7 January 1987
Interviewed By Charles Rose. See this.

24 January 1987
Saenger Performing Arts Theater, New Orleans.

Watermarked wire photo.

3 February 1987
Ft. in Who’s The Boss (air date). See this.

4 February 1987
As Arthur Tibbits in St. Elsewhere (air date). See this.

With Cindy Pickett Star in St. Elsewhere.

7 February 1987
Honored by Valley Links at Sheraton Premiere Hotel, Universal City, Los Angeles. 
This date proclaimed Ray Charles Day by LA Mayor; Ray serenaded by Linda Hopkins.

With Skip Cunnngham.

14 February 1987
Santa Clara University's 21st annual Golden Circle Theater Party at San Jose Center for the Performing Arts.

19 February 1987
On the Tonight Show. See this.

March 1987
Release of the single and the music clip of Baby Grand (with Billy Joel). See this.

7/8 March 1987
Easter Seal's Telethon. See this.

9 March 1987
Sanremo. Photo op and interviews in hotel garden.

Photo: Universal Pictorial Press.

29 March 1987
On Ed Bradley's 60 Minutes: Ray Charles. See this.

April 1987
Pavillon Baltard, Nogent-sur-Marne.

24 April 1987
Théâtre André Malraux, Rueil-Malmaison.

25 April 1987
Private party sponsored by Mitel at Free Academy auditorium, Ogdensburg ("Is there an airstrip hidden somewhere here?" Ray asked, after missing the local airport when landing).

26 April 1987

Appears before congressional subcommittee in Washington DC, asking for increase in research funding to solve the problems of neurological and communicative [hearing] disorders. Wirephoto by John Dericks.

Ft. in Printemps De Bourges (by & with Serge Ginsbourg; air date). See this.




28 April 1987

Speaking for a House subcommittee in Washington, pleading for research funding of hearing disorders ("'Hearing is my lifeblood, along with my music,'" Charles told the House Appropriations subcommittee for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education on Tuesday").

8 May 1987
Guest at the The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers. See this.

15 May 1987
AllStar Concert at Constitution Hall, Washington DC.

Week before 21 May 1987
Celebrating Stevie Wonder's birthday at Bourbon Street Grotto in Los Angeles.

30 May 1987
For the 3d time on the athletic field at Los Angeles County's Sybil Brand Institure for Women (2,000 inmates), Los Angeles CA.

3 June 1987
Interviewed by Joe Smith; see this.

5 June 1987
Paul Masson Winery, Saratoga CA.

7 June 1987
Three Rivers Arts festival, Harrisburg PA.

9 June 1987
On the Tonight Show. See this.

Photos by Gary Null (NBC/Getty).

10 June 1987
With Oregon Symphony Orchestra, Portland OR.

This Raelettes pic was probably also taken at the Portland concert.

12 June 1987
Montana's, Seattle WA.
BBC airs Aretha Franklin-episode of Omnibus series, Ray is interviewee. See this.

13 June 1987
Champs De Brionne Music Theater, George WA

16 June 1987
Uihlein Hall Performing Arts Center, Milwaukee WI.

Photo by Richard Brodzeiler (watermarked wire photo).

18 June 1987
Carlton Celebrity Dinner Theatre, Bloomington MN.

19 June 1987
Vredenburgh Auditorium, Evansville (bootleg, unverified). Source here.

From Evansville Press.

20 June 1987
 In Evening at Pops, Boston Symphony Hall (air date). See this.

Concert, canceled or relocated because of washout, at Three River Arts Festival, Point State Park with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburg.
Norris Cultural Arts Center in Saint Charles IL.

21 June 1987
Hart Plaza, Detroit MI.

24 June 1987
Berwick Fair, Berwick PA.

25 June 1987
JVC Jazz Festival, Avery Fisher Hall, New York City NY, with Grover Washington; tickets at $20-$30 ("hasn't lost any of his sparkle. But his show, unfortunately, hasn't lost any of its ornamentation. The Ray Charles '87 package […] retained the hokey elements that have surrounded the richly talented performer: the childish sight gags by the orchestra members, the sophomorically embroidered song lead-ins, and the graceless choreography of the Raelettes").

26 June 1987
Coliseum, Hampton Jazz Festival, Hampton VA.













29 June 1987
Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris Jazz Festival.

7 July 1987

1st Izmir Festival at Ephesus Great Theatre.

8 July 1987
Arrival at Ben Gurian Airport.

9 July 1987
Sultan's Pool, Jerusalem; with Rickey Lee Jones.

Photos by Ayalon Maggi.

11 July 1987
Amphitheatre, Caesarea Maritima.

12 July 1987
Cinerama Theatre, Tel Aviv.

On or shortly before 15 July 1987
Concert in Milan; review here.

16 July 1987
Festival de Châteauvallon, Ollioules. See this.

17 July 1987
Villa Grimaldi, Teatro di Nervi, Genoa, as part of  Viva Nervi '87. Read review here.

18 July 1987
Opening festival at Casino Kursaal in Ostend.

19 July 1987
In a tv program with Sarah Vaughan - with parts of their concerts staged during the Jazz À Juan festival, Antibes (performance date & air date). See this.

Photo by Tim Motion.

Around this date in July 1987

28 July 1987
Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater FL.

31 July 1987
Roof Garden del Casino, Sanremo.

Possibly around this date, during a stop at Rome airport:


4 August 1987
Filene Center, Wolf Trap Farm Park, Vienna VA.

Setlist notes by audience member.

8 - 9 August 1987
Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis MA. Photo here.

11 August 1987
Ohio State Fair Grandstand, Columbus OH ("beaming his thousand-kilowatt grin, Charles led a woefully unamplified band through a set of his hits, with a pace that ranged from that of a tortoise to a chugging locomotive").

12 August 1987
Kresge Auditorium, Interlochen MI.


13 August 1987At 5th Annual National Rib Cook-Off on Mall C in Cleveland.

13 August 1987
Mall C, Cleveland OH.

14 August 1987
Richard B. Baumgardner Center for Performing Arts, Tampa FL.  

15 August 1987
Chastain Park Amphitheater, during the Atlanta Symphony's 30-show Summer Pops"series, Atlanta GA.


16 August 1987
Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater FL ("Ray Charles show begins, ends with fans ovations").

19 August 1987
Civic Center, Augusta GA.

From Augusta Chronicle, 26 July 1987.

23 August 1987
Bethlehem Community Arts Pavilion a.k.a. Kunstplatz at Musical Fair America, Bethlehem PA.
("[F]ans literally climbing the hills and trees to get a space within hearing distance"; "Chuck Mangione asked for help setting up his father's souvenir stand, the Spinners requested limousine transportation, and Ray Charles... well Charles was easily satisfied. He had no requests. He requested nothing, and when Musikfest called to ask him what he might want, he told us, 'Anything you provide will be appreciated,'"said Barbara Ryan, Musikfest's hospitality coordinator).


28 August 1987
Kelly Park, Ft. Bliss. Promoted through this TV commercial:


29 August 1987
Pacific Symphony, Pops Series, Santa Ana CA.

1 September 1987
Concert at the Sternwheel Regatta along the Kanawha River, Charleston WV ("Ray Charles and his band were forced to hit the road early under a hail of abuse from concertgoers after the singer refused to turn up the volume at an outdoor show in Charleston, W.Va., officials said. The crowd chanted, "Turn it up, turn it up," drowning out Charles and his band, which included a 12- piece brass section, during Tuesday night's concert at the Sternwheel Regatta along the Kanawha River. At one point, angry spectators tossed cups at the...").

3 September 1987
Coliseum Theatre, Albany & anti-apartheid  demonstration planned, but both canceled because, "Fortunately or unfortunately the Coliseum [...] went out of business in early August" (see this).


3 September 1987

Sanremo, interview.

5 September 1987
Norris Cultural Arts Center, Saint Charles IL.

Ad from Chicago Tribune, 17 Jul.

6 September 1987
Regal Theatre, Chicago IL.

9 or 29 September 1987
Ft. in Moonlighting. See this.



11 September 1987
Prairie Capital Convention Center, Springfield IL; tickets $12.50 ("the man in the gleaming black dinner jacket, feet flying, head flailing, hands bobbing, has more musical styles than some record libraries").

12 September 1987
Bicentennial Celebration with US Air Force Academy Band, in Boston (40,000 people).
Hatch Shell, Boston MA, in a concert themed Ray On The Charles ("time to call it a summer when [Ray Charles] performs in the Metropolitan District"). See this.

15 September 1987
Memorial Convention Center, Richmond VA.

 

Concert in Richmond; photos by Richard E. Aaron.

17 September 1987
Beverly Theater, Los Angeles CA.

Picketing at Beverly in Beverly Hills.

18 September 1987
30th Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey County Fairground, Monterey CA.

19 September 1987
Kings Srena, Sacramento CA.

20 September 1987
Bear Creek Country Club, Dallas TX.

23 September 1987
Ray Charles Gala Birthday Celebration at Hotel Bel Air benefiting Ear International (tickets originally $500, discounted in the end).

Photo by Scott Downie.

24 September 1987
Grand Opera House, Galveston TX.

26 September 1987
Ray Charles Gala Party at Capital Arts Center in Bowling Green KY.

30 September 1987
Key West (planned for the beach at the Reach, could be moved indoors to the Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center, Key West FL.

Late September 1987
30th Monterey Jazz Festival. 
 

2 October 1987
Jesse Jones Hall, Houston TX; tickets at $17.50 - $18.50.

8 October 1987
Dinner honoring Kenneth Hahn's Forty Years of Public Service, Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles CA.

9 - 10 October 1987
Lehman Center for Performing Arts, Bedford Park, Bronx County NY; tickets $16.50-$22.50.

11 October 1987
Maiden High School Auditorium, Malden MA.

15 October 1987
Adler Theatre, Davenport IA.

19 October 1987
Dorton Arena, Raleigh NC.

22 October 1987
Pearl Street, Northampton MA.

24 October 1987
Kuhl Gymnasium, SUNY, Geneseo.

25 October 1987
Piedmont Park, Atlanta GA; also read this.

Series by Greg Wright ("shot through curtain").

31 October 1987
Apollo Theatre, New York City NY.

1 November 1987
Honored by Deafness Research Foundation at a dinner-dance at the Waldorf-Astoria, New York (tickets $400).

This photo (with Kenny Carr on guitar and Anders Swanson on bass), taken in New York by David Redfern in 1987, possibly at this gig.

2 November 1987
The Rib Exchange's 12th annual Jazz Festival, Schaumburg IL.

5 November 1987
Receives Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Show, at the Mark Hellinger Theater on Broadway (one source says Ray was at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles; aired on 9 December 1987). See this.

From a CBS press kit promoting the show.

With Dionne Warwick at Grammys.

13 November 1987
Givens Performing Art Center, Pembroke NC.

15 November 1987
Mazza Gallerie, Washington DC.

20 November 1987
Post-game concert (The Sting vs St. Louis Steamers) at the Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont IL; 7,861 people.

21 November 1987
Suffolk Community College's, Selden NY; tickets $17.

27 November 1987
At the Silva Hall (Hult Center) for the Performing Arts, Eugene OR.


28 and 29 November 1987
Two shows at Bicentennial Pavilion in Tacoma WA.

29 November 1979
On Las Vegas: An All Star 75th Anniversary (air date). See this.
And on the Super Dave TV show. See this.

30 November 1987
Rona Elliot Interviews Ray Charles & Joe Cocker (air date). See this.

1 December 1987
Concert at the Sternwheel Regatta along the Kanawha River ("forced to hit the road early under a hail of abuse from concert-goers after the singer refused to turn up the volume"; "At one point, angry spectators tossed cups at the stage and shook the towers holding the amplifiers").

3 December 1987
United Negro College Fund Party. 
On the Parade Of Stars. See this.

Ray Charles, Lou Rawls, Quincy Jones. B/w photos by Greg De Guire. 

10 December 1987
On The Tonight Show. See this and this.

14 December 1987
Crazy Horse, Santa Ana CA.

25 December 1987 to 3 January 1988
Harrah's Tahoe.


29 December 1987
UNCF Telethon aired (taped December 3d).

30 December 1987
Paying tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. at Kennedy Center Honors, in Washington.

31 December 1987
Recording session for Just Between Us with Jeff Helgesen and Ted Murdock, at RPM in LA.
 

1987 or 1988
 Rehearsal session in hotel room; Ray drops by.


1987 and 1988
In print campaign for American Express Card.