Still enjoying the buoyance of her current success, Cassandra Wilson recently made her Radio City Music Hall debut. Simultaneous with opening for the notable Ray Charles, Down Beat Magazine announced her the "Female Vocalist of the Year," in its 41st annual critic's poll. She is also the winner of the magazine's 1995 and 1996 Reader's Poll for vocalists.

Her one-hour opening set was enthusiastically received by the capacity audience which responded with a standing ovation. Her repertoire was drawn primarily from her best-selling compact disc, New Moon Daughter.

Nonetheless, it was Ray Charles' show. Undeniably, a living legend, Charles came on bursting with energy as is his wont. His performance was a nostalgic journey through his collection of signature songs such as "I Can't Stop Loving You," "I Got A Woman" (his first chart-topping tune), "Georgia On My Mind," and Percy Mayfield's "Hit the Road, Jack."

The second half of Ray's Music Hall set was shared with his Raylettes and, to the delight of the audience, included "Hallelujah, I Just Love Her So," "What'd I Say" and "A Song For You."

Today, after a series of affiliations with a variety of record companies, Ray is comfortably nested with Quest, the Quincy Jones label. Jones and Charles enjoy a friendship which dates from Charles' early years in Seattle which is also Q's adopted home.

As testimony to his legendary status, Ray Charles has been honored with 12 Grammy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). He was also among the first inductees into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, no meager recognition or accomplishment for a career which has spanned six decades.

Author: Atkins, Clarence
Publication Name: THE NEW YORK BEACON V.3; N.34 09-04-96