I saw Ray Charles was coming to town. Londontown, about 4 years ago. And I thought to myself, you know, you better go see this guy, coz he's getting on a bit. So, i saw him at the Hammersmith Odeon and he was blinding and did all that fabulous leg shifting stuff under the piano and was an absolute charmer and of course, a top class act! Total and absolute respect! He died within a few months. Instincts? Best follow them!
'Hit the road Jack' I first heard in elementary school, sung by Susan Wong and Susan Herron in a class room during a lunch hour, well before i had ever heard Ray sing it. It was my first experience of Ray Charles. I was quite put out by it. Who was Jack? I felt all disjointed with the song, those lyrics, and by them singing it, as i took it quite personally. I was Jack! I wasn't welcomed in their girlie singing group. They had taken ownership of the damn song! It was the girls club!
Well, as the song goes, both parties gotz something to say, and i just happened to have identified with Ray side of things! Funny that!
Another funny thing is, i wanted to blog about Satchmo, but some how Ray just shifted on in here.......the shifty rascal!
