September 17
“A CityFolk Salute to Ray Charles” celebrates the iconic “genius of soul,” who changed the course of music history with his pioneering combination of gospel, blues and jazz.
Two decades after his death, Ray continues to influence and inspire artists to this day. Among them is Ottawa’s Jeff Rogers, who has assembled a 12-piece band—featuring the city’s finest musicians and singers—to pay homage to a music legend.
Jeff takes us on a musical journey, tracing Ray’s incredible career, from his early Nat “King” Cole inspirations to embracing his gospel and blues roots to the invention of soul music in “Mess Around” and “I Got A Woman.”
Through the Atlantic years—“Lonely Avenue,” “Hallelujah, I Love Her So,” “What’d I Say”—to his landmark recording of Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music. From “Georgia On My Mind” to “Hit The Road Jack” to “Unchain My Heart” to a string of fabulous duets in his later years, the spirit and soul of Ray Charles comes to CityFolk Sept. 17.