Did you ever get to see Ray Charles live? I saw him a couple of times at different festivals back in the '70s. Brother Ray was an incredible performer, and he ran a super-tight band from the piano even though he was blind from the age of 7 years old. His career spanned over 50 years. His final public appearance was on April 30, 2004, at the dedication of his music studio as a historic landmark in Los Angeles
This year at PATH JAZZ NIGHT there is a double treat. The Jazz & Blues Revue will do a Tribute to Ray Charles, and special guest vocalist Eric Benet will also perform. The show is NEXT THURSDAY NOVEMBER 3 and there are a few seats left. Tickets are $200, and all proceeds go to PATH Ventures to help build supportive housing for LA's homeless.
Ray Charles sings Georgia: There are MANY live versions of this song on YouTube, but I think this is my favorite, from Midnight Special in 1976. Check out the hairstyles! Ray breaks it down around 3:00 and then brings it home with a rousing finish. A classic performance!
