Product Description

The name Ray Charles stands for superstar worldwide. He is an icon in the music world, has a star on Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame, a bronze bust enshrined in the Playboy Hall of Fame, and has received fifteen Grammys, the Kennedy Center Honor, and three National Medals of Arts. In his fifty years in the music world, Ray Charles has earned the title "The Legendary Genius of Soul." In this benefit concert for the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind from the James L. Knight center in Miami, Florida, Ray Charles performs all his classics, and delights the audience with a saxophone solo and a duet with special guest and Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist Diane Schuur. Songs: I Got a Woman, A Song For You, It Hurts To Be in Love, Georgia on My Mind, The Good Life, Your Cheatin' Heart, They Can't Take That Away From Me, It Had To Be You (with Diane Schuur), You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (with Diane Schuur), Till There Was You, Say No More, Blues For Big Scotia, If You Go Away, All I Ever Need Is You, Love in Three Quarter Time, America The Beautiful. 82 minutes.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32312 in DVD
• Brand: Image Entertainment
• Released on: 2001-03-20
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD-Video, Live, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 82 minutes

Amazon.com
At the age of 71, Ray Charles hasn't lost a step musically. If anything, his performance has been honed even further to what can only be described as the distillation of musical soul. Taped at a benefit concert in Miami, Florida, this set documents Charles with a massive orchestra that he manipulates like a trio, with a solid sense of dynamics and fun. He mixes everything from country to city, from pop to blues, from Hank Williams to George Gershwin, and renders it all with that purringly gritty voice and economical keyboard work. For good measure, he works out on saxophone for one number as well. He also sings a pair of duets with Diane Schuur, "It Had to Be You" and "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To." --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews

Ray Charles-In Concert
I have always admired Ray Charles, but his performance here was far less than satisfactory. For example, when he sang, the words were slurred so bad that unless you knew the song, you had no idea what he was saying. The entire DVD was like this. I couldn't help but wonder if he was stoned during his performance.I sent it back and purchased a different DVD of a different artist.

Don't bother
Some people have complained that the sound is turned down too much on this DVD. After watching it, I wonder if they did it on purpose.
Ray Charles is in great spirits at this concert but certainly not in great voice.
The orchestra is great and Ray could certainly still play the piano just fine but his singing is pretty bad.
Diane Shur, who guest stars on two songs is very good but if you're going to get this DVD for her, you might as well get her own DVD.
Anyway, get some other Ray Charles DVD instead.

Magical and Marvelous
This may be the concert of a lifetime. A 73 year old artist who is in his "prime". The riches of Rays' vocal interpretation, as well as his spiritual commitment to each song, makes this a rare offering. Here is an old, seasoned veteran that uses all his tricks without overstatement at any level.
The stunning orchestra and beautiful lighting, set an impressive and unforgettable scene.
For those who know Ray's life, the songs are an articulation of the high and low moments of his career. "This Songs for You" is filled with pathos. One senses Ray singing it to his wife. In many ways, this offering is his final testament.
For those who know the young Ray, this offering of the older Ray will distance them from that immature and searcing voice, and make them wish for more of the old Ray. Wow. Buy two. One to play, and one to keep for your grandchildren.