Ray Charles in Richmond?

Way back in 1987, I heard that Ray Charles and the Raylettes were coming to perform at the Richmond Auditorium. That was really big news, I thought, and since I was the first to break it to my editor on the El Cerrito Journal, he let me cover the story. "Do it in your own, inimitable Reilly style", he said, and my head swelled just a little bit.

Then I went to the library and checked out a couple of books written about Mr. Charles. I skimmed through them making sure I knew a little something of his background. There was one quote that stuck in my mind. He said, "I just want folks to feel my soul."

The night of the concert came and the photographer and I were each given a drink, and were told that we could interview him after the show, after a couple of groups came to see him.

We had good seats, and I sat through most of the show. I was nervous about what I would say, but excited to actually hear him sing "Georgia on My Mind", "Hit The Road Jack", and all the other classics. He rocked back and forth as the Raylettes harmonized with him, and they twirled around in unison in their sparkly dresses. Folks in the crowd were delighted that he had come to our town.

Maggie Miller, the photographer with me, was more used to covering such things, and she couldn't sit still waiting. She boldly went off toward the back stage to see if she could get any good shots. We met back by the dressing room door, and when the show was over, the guy in charge said we could go in after the kids from the blind school had met with Mr. Charles.

We waited, and then Mayor Livingston and all the city council and their spouses were shown in. At last, we entered the crowded room, and saw that Ray was looking a little ill at ease, as he posed for portraits with the mayor and others. They all grinned from ear to ear, while Ray looked kind of worn out. Then, all of a sudden, his manager said, "Well, that'll be it for now, Mr. Charles is getting tired."

(What!  I thought, We haven't even gotten close to him!)

Then it was if the sea parted before me. His handlers were making room for him to leave, and Ray Charles was standing facing me, about three feet away. I got up my nerve, and stepped right over to him and holding his right hand in both of mine, said "We felt your soul tonight, Ray!"

He smiled, bent his head down and said, "Thank ya babe."

His manager broke in and said, "Well, we'll be going now! Thanks everyone", scooting him out the back door to his limo. We all watched the legend that we had listened to all our lives, drive away.

The next day, our story was on the front page of the Journal, but my editor said, "Is that all you could get from him?"  I reminded him that Pope John Paul had also been to the Bay Area that week, and I hadn't seen any interviews with him. In fact, he was mostly reported about as he passed by in his Pope Mobile!

As for me, I was happy I got to meet Ray Charles face to face, and, after all, he called me "Babe".