Ray Charles: Merry Christmas Baby

Ray doing an old Charles Brown hit just for the holidays.

Lucy Lawless: What I Say

Yup, it is Xenia the warrior princess singing an old Ray Charles song.  Also, that is really Renee O'Conner joining Lucy on stage once again.  The video is three years old so I am little behind the times with this one, but I got a kick out of seeing Lucy rock out. 

Taylor Hicks: Georgia On My Mind

Live, version of a Ray Charles/ Hogey Carmichael classic.

Ray Charles: America The Beautiful

Should be the Unitied States official Blues song:-)

Ray Charles: Baby Please Don't Go

Brother Ray taking an old delta blues song and making it soulful.

Hank Crawford RIP

From Bob Corritore

• RIP Hank Crawford 12/21/1934-1/29/2009: Yet another alumnus of the Ray Charles horn section has left us. Bennie "Hank" Crawford died Thursday from the debilitating effects of a stroke suffered in 2000. He was 74. Hank Crawford was one of the legendary greats of saxophone. Though most embraced in jazz circles, Crawford never strayed too far from the blues. His ripping, bluesy tone and expressive phrasing were trademarks of his wonderful style. The following obit is by Bob Mehr of the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

The evocative, blues-influenced playing of Memphis jazz great Hank Crawford colored the saxophonist's own albums and the work of many others, most notably Ray Charles.

Born and raised in Memphis, Bennie Ross "Hank" Crawford, Jr. was a childhood prodigy who first flashed his musical gifts in church. As student at Manassas High School, he was a member of the school's band, The Rhythm Bombers. Manassas proved a hothouse atmosphere: Mr. Crawford's classmates included future jazz greats George Coleman, Harold Mabern, and Charles Lloyd. Mr. Crawford died Thursday, January 19, 2009, at his home. He was 74. Delores Crawford said her brother had been in declining health for the past year, dealing with the long-term effects of a stroke he suffered in 2000.

Although Mr. Crawford made a return to the stage in 2003, he had not performed publicly in several years. In the late '40s and early '50s, Mr. Crawford was part of the thriving Mid-South dance band scene, serving as a member of outfits led by Ben Branch, Tuff Green, Al Jackson, Sr., and Ike Turner, and backing up then-fledgling artists like B.B. King and Bobby "Blue" Bland. After high school, Mr. Crawford moved to Nashville, where he studied music at Tennessee State University, and cut R&B records on the side. It was in Nashville that Mr. Crawford first crossed paths with Ray Charles. He joined Charles's band in 1959, and eventually became its musical director before leaving to form his own sextet in 1963.

Mr. Crawford's recording career was distinguished and adventurous. He cut a series of critically acclaimed albums for Atlantic throughout the '60s, and later explored fusion and funk on the Kudu label in the '70s, before taking a back-to-roots jazz direction in the '80s.

Over the years, Mr. Crawford also remained an in-demand sideman, working with a range of artists including Etta James, Lou Rawls, Jimmy McGriff, and Dr. John.

Although he spent much of his adult life based in New York City and touring Europe, Mr. Crawford returned to Memphis in 2000 after his stroke to recuperate with his family. He spent his remaining years splitting time between the Big Apple and his hometown.

Mr. Crawford's death comes just over a week after the passing of his longtime collaborator David "Fathead" Newman. The two horn players were for many years the backbone of Charles's band. Mr. Crawford also leaves a son, Michael Crawford; a daughter, Sherri Crawford; a granddaughter, Tiffany Crawford, and six siblings. Funeral arrangements are pending.

-Bob Mehr

Additionally, we should mention the great collaborative efforts of Hank Crawford and Jimmy McGriff, who toured frequently during the later part of Hank's career, and recorded many great albums together, many of which were lovingly produced by Bob Porter. To see some great performances by Hank on the David Sanborn show, click here and here.

Leroy Cooper RIP

sad news from Bob Corritore

• RIP Leroy Cooper 8/31/1928-1/15/2009: Leroy Cooper, Ray Charles's long time baritone sax and bandleader, died on January 15, 2009. He was 80. He passed away with relatively little fanfare, especially when contrasting the press concerning his friend and fellow Ray Charles alumni David "Fathead" Newman. Both Cooper and Fathead were around to be part of the lush horn work of Zuzu Bollin's first records and Lowell Fulson's "Reconsider Baby", and Cooper made many a great record with Ray Charles. His tenure with Ray Charles lasted from the 1950s to the 1970s, and it was there where he made his mark. For a bio and obit of this great horn player, click here. To see Leroy Cooper's MySpace page, click here. For great film clips of Leroy Cooper with the Ray Charles band, click here and here (Leroy is the one with the big bari sax). Another great musician has left us.

---

David "Fathead" Newman RIP

From Bob Corritorie

January 22, 2009

• RIP David "Fathead" Newman 2/24/1933-1/20/2009: Legendary Sax Man David "Fathead" Newman passed Tuesday from pancreatic cancer. He was 75. Born in Corsicana, Texas in February 24, 1933, Fathead soon moved to Dallas with his family, where he studied music in high school and college. In his travels as a musician, he met a young yet undiscovered Ray Charles, in what would become a defining relationship in Fathead's life. In I954, Fathead joined the Ray Charles group, starting as a baritone player, but soon becoming the star tenor soloist in the group. His great sounds grace many great Ray Charles records, and his tenure in the band lasted 12 years. 1959 saw the release of the now famous album Ray Charles presents "Fathead" on Atlantic Records, which secured a star status for Fathead for the rest of his life. He went on to record numerous records as a leader for Atlantic as well as High Note, Kokopelli, Warner Brothers, Prestige, Amazing, Timeless, and Muse. In addition to his great work with Ray Charles during Ray's historic Atlantic years, Fathead also recorded with T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Aretha Franklin, Herbie Mann, Natalie Cole, and many others. David "Fathead" Newman was equally at home in jazz or blues, and his soul-drenched, full-toned, breathy sax work has helped to define the role of a sax player in a rhythm and blues setting. His music has given the world great joy, and his impact and influence will be timeless. A true legend has left us. To see Fathead performing with Ray Charles in 1963, click here.

Ray Charles And The Rayettes: Hit The Road Jack

Brother Ray with his lovely Rayettes performing Hit The Road Jack. Classic!

Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, And Fats Domino: Piano Jam

Paul Shaffer tries to direct traffic with three of the best piano players in Rock and Roll history, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Fats Domnio, with Ron Wood on guitar. I think Steve Jordan is playing the drums. Shaffer certainly had his work cut out for him trying to keep three great piano players jamming at the same time without walking on top of each other! YIKES! Pretty awesome stuff.

Ray Charles: What'd I Say

Brother Ray in LIVING COLOR!! Very cool video.

Ray Charles - What'd I Say
Uploaded by fredozydeco

Taylor Hicks: What'd I Say

A very cool cover of Brother Ray's great hit from the 1950s, by Taylor Hicks.

Taylor Hicks: Georgia On My Mind

Brother Ray's great tribute to Georgia as interpretived by Taylor Hicks.

Taylor Hicks: The Right Place

I posted the version from the View HERE. This version was shot by Stacey who was nice enough to share the link with me. Enjoy Taylor live in Biloxi Mississippi.

Ray Charles: In The Evening

The late great brother Ray playing some heartfelt slow blues. Man, Ray could make the piano sing!!

Ray Charles- In The Evening-1963
Uploaded by redhotjazz

Ray Charles: In The Evening

Ah, Yes!!! Brother Ray, playing some very sweet slow blues! I miss Ray a lot, he was one of the great performers of any style of music he played.

Ray Charles: Hallelujah I Love Her So

The great brother Ray! enough Said:-)

Ray Charles: I Can't Stop Loving You

This is Ray doing country music! Ray could play and sing anything and it would sound great:-) Jimmy Pryor loved covering Ray's country tunes, and this was probably Jimmy's favorite Ray song. I only wish I could have played it better for the old man:-(

Ray Charles Obit From Historical Rants Blog

I have been updating the blog that will not die, and I ran across this great Obituary that I wrote for Ray Charles when he passed away a few years ago. I really, liked it, so here it is.

Ray Charles died of liver failure today. he was i believe 73 years old. much too young if you ask me. Ray was a great treasure to the world. he deserves parades, vigils, and three hours of programing about his positive impact on our lives. His America the Beautiful is one of the greatest patriotic songs I have ever heard. It always brings tears to my eyes.

However, I doubt any of that will happen. People underestimate the power of music and popular culture. One cold war historian once said it wasn't the cold war that brought the soviet union down, it was the Beatles, Blues Jeans, and Coca Cola. In other words our best offense was showing the people of the east what they could have if they wanted it. In the end it was the people who ended the cold war. when the borders fell in Poland and elsewhere in eastern Europe thousands from East Germany and Russia fled west which opened more holes till finally the walls came down.

Ray and the blues played a small part in it, certainly those in eastern Europe could understand the want and desire found in the blues, rock and roll, soul, R&B, and other black root music. Blues is a music that has changed the world for the better, and hopefully continues to this day.

Ray was our greatest ambassador to the music because he was talented in all forms of AMERICAN music. he played not only the blues, but soul, jazz, gospel, and County and Western. In fact, Ray was a big influence on our own Jimmy Pryor. Jimmy played country music for many years after the blues waned in the 70s. Most of Jimmy's country music came from the Ray Charles catalog.

Since I am a piano player I have always loved Ray Charles, but I have never played much of his music. I am a pretty good player, but I just cant play like Ray. I have tried for years, but Ray Charles had that touch that unless you know exactly how to do it, it just doesn't sound right. I have always loved Ray Charles too much to do bad cover versions of his songs.

God Bless you Ray, may you be at peace, and may you finally get to see all the wonderful things that you sang to us.

Ray Charles: America The Beautiful

Only brother Ray could perform this song as it should be. This is without a doubt the greatest version of American The Beautiful that I have ever heard. At times like these we need songs like this to remind us just how good we can be!

God Bless Ray! We Miss You!


Ray Charles

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