Posted on 06/11/2004 4:29:59 AM PDT by MoralSense
Help me with a letter to the editor I'm writing. What singers can you think of who've based their sound on Ray Charles? I've got Michael Bolton, David Clayton-Thomas, Steve Winwood, Joe Cocker, and a few others. I know there are more. Thanks.
John Belushi
Nobody sings like Ray Charles, except Ray Charles.
Van Morrison, and according to American Music Guide, these "Followers:"
Arthur Alexander, The Animals, Chuck Berry, The Spencer Davis Group, Sugar Pie DeSanto, The Everly Brothers, Georgie Fame, The Honeydrippers, Frankie Miller, Steve Winwood, Ran Blake, Arthur Blythe, Stone the Crows, Geno Washington, Airto Moreira, Johnny Adams, Doyle Bramhall
Stevie Wonder - He even has the same glasses.
The EVERLY BROTHERS sing like Ray Charles ????
Janis Joplin...........
Michael Bolton sings like Ray Charles? Gimme a break. Ray Charles had his own distinctive sound, and no one could even come close to imitating it.
Travis Tritt. I saw a show featuring the two of them some time in the last year.
Only Ray Charles sang like Ray Charles.
The closest imitator I've heard to date has been Big Bird; but you have to catch him on a good day!
Bonnie Tyler
For his sake, I hope that the angels do.
Luciano Pavoratti
...and Minnie Ripperton
A lot of singers have gravel in their voices. Some of it is affected and some of it is natural.
A real good scene from my favorite sports movie of all time (The Sandlot) has the kids scrambling to play a few outs of baseball "under the lights" on the Fourth of July while the night sky is lit up by the local fireworks display. All the while, Ray Charles is singing America the Beautiful.
It's about time to watch that one again this weekend.
Beg to differ. Listen to Steve Winwood when he was singing with the Spencer Davis Group. In fact, that is how he came to be recommended for the gig -- they were told, "This kid sounds like Ray Charles."
Try some of Sting's bluesy stuff.
But, Ray Charles had his own eternal style. That's why we loved him.
I do hope to go to Heaven one day. We gon' do some Ray Charles, an' Stevie Ray, etc. etc.
God puts on some awesome concerts, I bet.
"A real good scene from my favorite sports movie of all time (The Sandlot) has the kids scrambling to play a few outs of baseball "under the lights" on the Fourth of July while the night sky is lit up by the local fireworks display. All the while, Ray Charles is singing America the Beautiful.
It's about time to watch that one again this weekend."
A local radio station played America the Beautiful by Ray Charles this morning, heard it in on the way to work. Thought of The Sandlot instantly! The movie is a classic! Innocent and entertaining, if anyone hasn't seen it, watch it. It's a kid's movie, but it appeals to that kid that's in us all. :
I had the same thought, time to see Bennie the Jet Rodriguez again. :)
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