by Robert Wilkinson
This show features two legends of the 20th century!
We’ll open with the music of the awesome Ray Charles (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004), who took a variety of styles and took them over the top in his very unique way and created musical history. Ray Charles was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century across many different genres of music. From Wikipedia:
He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records. He also helped racially integrate country and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, most notably with his Modern Sounds albums. While with ABC, Charles became one of the first African-American musicians to be given artistic control by a mainstream record company. Frank Sinatra called Charles “the only true genius in show business...”
For your enjoyment, Mister Ray Charles! I found some videos of Ray Charles that span his career from 1955-1999.
First, here's Ray performing live in 1955! "Hallelujah I Love Her So."
We’ll now slip into Sao Paulo, Brazil 1963 where Ray cranks out two of his early hits! Rock out with "What'd I Say" and "Hit The Road Jack."
He took this song to the stratosphere! Enjoy this electrifying performance that blew the world’s mind! "Unchain My Heart"
A great b/w live performance of "You Don't Know Me." Here’s the original studio version of "You Don't Know Me."
Last year I had a clearer clip, but this year it’s disappeared. Still, I found this electrifying performance by Ray Charles in 1966 on the Big TNT Show knocking it out of the park! "Let the Good Times Roll!" Wow! For another great dance tune, from what looks to be the same show, Ray ripping out "What'd I Say"
From the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival, "Let the Good Times Roll!" Here’s a great audio-only version by Ray fronting the Count Basie Orchestra cranking out "Let the Good Times Roll!"
Another live video of an early hit! "I Got A Woman"
From The Dick Cavett Show on September 18, 1972, here's Ray live doing "America The Beautiful." From the same show, "I Can't Stop Loving You" and "Georgia On My Mind." We’ll close it with one of his most famous and dynamic performances of the Beatles’ classic "Eleanor Rigby”
Speaking of the Beatles, here’s Ray performing "Let It Be”
Here's Ray in 1999 doing Leon Russell's masterpiece, "A Song For You."
We'll begin to close this brief birthday tribute to the Amazing Ray with a clip called The Giants Of Rock 'N' Roll done live in Rome in 1989 featuring Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, BB King, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, James Brown, Fats Domino, and more! Enjoy this 8:49 of pure gold!!
For our finale, five great performances! First, Ray’s 43 minute set at Newport in 1960! Ray Charles at the Newport Jazz Festival 1960
For our next encore, , an hour and 8 minute show! Ray Charles Live at the North Sea Jazz Festival – 1980
Here’s an hour and five of Ray Charles Live in Praha Lucerna 1981
His 1 hour 12 minute video of Ray Charles Live in Milano – 1991 has disappeared again, so instead this year here’s 44 minutes of Ray Charles Live at the Free Jazz Festival - 1986
Here’s an hour and 21 masterpiece! Ray Charles and Diane Schuur – Live from Miami 1998
For our closer, an electric performance by Ray in a duet with another blind musical genius, Mister Steveland Wonder! “Livin’ For the City” Here’s 30 full minutes of pure gold from that 1991 special! Ray Charles TV Special – 1991
Courtesy of Friend of the Site Steve Taylor, Ray Charles: Off the Record Interview June 2, 1987
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For our second set, a big happy also goes out to the 'Trane Himself, the legendary John Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967). He pioneered several forms of jazz, was one of the most significant saxophonists in jazz history, and worked with the greatest of the greatest. He was so revered that he was actually canonized as a saint by the African Orthodox Church! Today we have some great performance footage of the Sax Master!
We’ll begin with one of the classic performances of all time! Here’s John Coltrane performing live in Belgium in 1965 playing "Naima." and from the same 1965 gig, a great 20 minute live performance of "My Favorite Things"
Here's a 17 minute audio-only live recording from Newport in 1963 of JC and McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Roy Haynes doing a very jazzed out version of "My Favorite Things"
Here's a live video from April 1959 of Miles Davis & John Coltrane performing "So What" From Miles Davis' album, Kind Of Blue.
Last year I had a great 9+ minute live audio-only clip from 1958 of 'Trane and Miles at the Newport Jazz Festival doing “Bye Bye Blackbird" but it’s disappeared. So instead, from 1960, a 14 minute live version of "Bye Bye Blackbird"
Here’s a great 8+ minute video clip of ‘Trane and the great Wes Montgomery doing the Thelonious Monk jazz standard, “Round Midnight”
A live performance of "On Green Dolphin Street"
Last year I had a 51 minute video of ‘Trane with Stan Getz, Oscar Peterson, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb and many more jazz cats titled “On Green Dolphin Street - John Coltrane and Friends in Germany” but this year it’s disappeared. However, I found this performance in Dusseldorf in 1960 of ”On Green Dolphin Street.” From that show, the closer, “Hackensack”
Also from 1960, 35 minutes of ‘Trane and Stan Getz in Helsinki! ”On Green Dolphin Street.”
Yes, another from 1960 in Germany, this time 27 minutes with Miles and ‘Trane! ”So What,” “Round About Midnight” and “Walkin’”
We’ll finish 1960 with an hour and 25 of Miles and ‘Trane at the Olympia Theater in Paris! John Coltrane and Miles Davis Live in Paris – 1960.
2 years ago I had the John Coltrane Quartet in an extremely rare 1965 video from France performing the only live video of “A Love Supreme” but it’s disappeared. However, I found this clip from that show! "Ascension."
From that same year, an audio only 46 minute clip of John Coltrane - A Love Supreme (Festival de Jazz de Antibes, 1965)
We have two full albums from that era. Here’s 48 minutes of the 1964 studio album A Love Supreme and from 1966, another entire album. Ascension
Since we just had the Equinox a few days ago, I figure this one’s perfect! From 1960’s “Coltrane Sound” album, John Coltrane with McCoy Tyner on piano, Elvin Jones on drums, and Steve Davis on bass performing “Equinox”
The 11 minute studio version of the incredible "Blue Train."
If you want to hear the entire 42 minute 1957 studio album, here’s John Coltrane’s Blue Train
From 1958, JC as saxman along with Cannonball Adderley and Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, and Billy Cobb as the rhythm section for the Miles Davis Quintet at Newport! . The Miles Davis Quintet at the 1958 Newport Jazz Fest
Here’s the amazing 1960 studio album, the first with all compositions written by JC. Giant Steps
Here’s the entire 40 minute studio album from 1961! My Favorite Things
Here’s the entire 1 hour 15 studio album from 1962! John Coltrane Plays the Blues
Here’s the entire 40+ minute studio album from 1964! Crescent
We'll close this birthday celebration with his 1958 11 minute studio version of "Stardust"
Last year I had the full 1 hour 36 minute “Jazz Icons” television performance, but this year it’s nowhere to be found. So for our encore, a full 30 minute “Jazz Casual” television clip from 1963 featuring ‘Trane, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones! John Coltrane Jazz Casual
Last year these two shows were on one clip, and this year they’re on two! For our second encore, here’s a great audio-only performance of John Coltrane with Miles Davis!
John Coltrane and Miles Davis in Stockholm – 1960 (First show – 36 minutes)
John Coltrane and Miles Davis in Stockholm – 1960 (Second show – 46 minutes)Our third encore is #15 on Rolling Stone's 50 Greatest Live Albums! From 1962, it's 36 minutes of blazing 'Trane making a statement. John Coltrane - Live At The Village Vanguard
For our last encore, his final bow. The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording (April 23, 1967)
These guys were awesome, and set the standard for the ages. There’s a lot more of their music over at you tube, so if you’re inclined, check out anything and everything these major league talents ever did. They definitely influenced music across several genres for decades, and are still among the most loved and respected in their styles.
Copyright © 2020 Robert Wilkinson
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