AN EVENING WITH RAY CHARLES
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 FROM 21:00
Stingray DJAZZ marks the birthday of American soul pioneer Ray Charles (1930 - 2004). Blind from age seven, Charles drew influence from artists like Art Tatum, Nat King Cole, and Louis Armstrong. He went on to fuse rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues, and played a significant role in the racial integration of country and pop music, earning him the nickname ‘The Genius’. This Stingray DJAZZ special features singer and keyboard man Ray Charles's performance at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague on July 13, 1980. After a characteristic moment of pre-show business concerning TV rights (which saw Charles $5,000 richer), he took to the stage 20 minutes late. Accompanied by the Raelettes and the Ray Charles Orchestra, Charles then delivered two captivating one-hour sets that afternoon, each demonstrating the distinctive talent that made him one of music's most recognizable voices. On this concert tour, The Raelettes were vocalists Estella Yarbrough, Pat Peterson, Madelyn Quebec, Trudy Cohran, and Avis Harrell. The Ray Charles Orchestra consisted of Mitch Manker, Doug Crescimano, Tom Swayzee, Doug Martin (trumpets); Art Velasco, Dan Marcus, Papo Vázquez, Steve Davis (trombones); Ricky Woodard, Clifford Solomon, Ira Weinstein, Rudy Johnson, Mark Roland (saxophones); Tony Matthews (guitar); Curtis Ohlson (bass); Peter Turre (drums); and James Polk (keyboards).
Ray Charles @ North Sea Jazz 1980
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 at 21:00
The North Sea Jazz Festival is the largest indoor music festival in the world, known globally as the event where the past, present and future of jazz are featured within three days. Next to a firm base of jazz as the festival’s staple music genre, many others, such as blues, soul, funk, or hip hop, pass by. In 1980, legendary American singer-pianist Ray Charles gave an unforgettable performance at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. This mercurial artist pioneered soul music in the 1950s, and helped integrate country, rhythm and blues, and pop.
Ray Charles and the Raelettes @ North Sea Jazz 1980
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 at 22:00
The North Sea Jazz Festival is the largest indoor music festival in the world, known globally as the event where the past, present and future of jazz are featured within three days. Next to a firm base of jazz as the festival’s staple music genre, many others, such as blues, soul, funk, or hip hop, pass by. In 1980, American soul legend Ray Charles brought the Raelettes and the Ray Charles Orchestra to the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. With the full force of these two groups behind him, Charles showed why throughout his storied career he has been viewed as one of the most recognizable voices in music.
