Ray Charles Sensational In Presentation at SPAC

by Marilyn Nason, The Post-Star, June 27, 1968

It may have been damp and cold at Saratoga Performing Arts Center last night when the show started but the “heat” of a fantastic performance onstage by Ray Charles and his group brought the place alive.

As sensational an entertainer as the theatre offers anywhere today, the blind pianist-singer-composer-arranger presents a fantastic show and surrounds himself with equally versatile singers and musicians.

Offering all his famous hits, as well as several oldies and some unfamiliar ones too, Charles is a study in perpetual motion at the piano. His entire body sets the beat and maintains it throughout each and every number. His vocal range, his unique style, his showmanship add immeasurably to every song.

Backed by a 17-piece band, whose style is reminiscent of the best of the “big band” era cleverly mixed with the modern beat, Charles performed for the entire second half, then acknowledged the standing ovation with several encores.

His star vocal group, the Raeletts, four very talented young ladies, appeared with him in several numbers. Last night, the girls really earned the title of true troupers. Obviously freezing to death in sleeveless evening gowns, the girls largely grinned and carried on, although visibly shivering and shaking much of the time.

Tonight, Dinah Shore will appear at 8:30 and was in the audience last night with a large party.

Despite the rain and very chilly evening, over 3,000 braved the weather for last night’s concert, although very few selected the lawn, in contrast with the several hundred there Tuesday evening for the Folk-Rock Festival.