*I first met him in 1984 through his family. It was a wedding, and his family was eager for us to meet. I got close enough to shake hands with him as he quickly left the church heading for the airport. Mr. Ray Charles Robinson! I had just touched greatness!
This is not a story about Ray Charles’ life – Jamie Foxx took care of that in his great depiction of him in the movie “Ray.” This is about my personal encounter, and how he affected me through his music.
As an aside, although he and Smokey Robinson are not related, read the history of how Mr. Charles saved the day at The Apollo in the early days for The Miracles.
Not long before he died, I was invited to his show at the House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard. After the show, a group of us went backstage to his dressing room. When I walked up to him, I busted out singing, “whiskey and walls…”- as he joined in clasping my hand – “don’t talk, anybody with the blues knows!” He said, “Hey man…how you doin’?” Here I was singing one of his recordings with him, “Anybody With The Blues Knows.”
June 10, 2019 marks the 15th anniversary of his passing. It was 2004, and I happened to be at a golf course in Jacksonville, Florida when I heard the news. All along, from the airport, to the hotel to the golf course I kept seeing signs pointing to St. Augustine where Mr. Charles attended school for the deaf and blind. It was a sad flight back to Los Angeles. That same week President Ronald Reagan died. Two months later, my grandmother – to whom Mr. Charles sent a recording singing happy birthday Ms. Martha for her 90th birthday – died. Our family is ever grateful for his thoughtfulness.
Well, after I had signed an exclusive songwriter contract with Motown Records, Mr. Charles called me one Saturday afternoon. It was like talking with the president of the United States! He asked about one of my songs that he liked titled “How Can I Ever Get Ahead” (now titled “Things Are Gettin’ Outta Hand”). He told me he liked my style, and mentioned something about singer/songwriter Percy Mayfield. I was a changed man after that call. Although I was meeting a lot of stars at Motown, nothing compared to this! Here’s the great Ray Charles calling me about one of my songs!! Next to signing with Motown, the closest thing to that was when David Ruffin acknowledged me from the stage as an up and coming songwriter back in Detroit!
Note: I made an effort to get Mr. Ruffin and Mr. Charles together in the studio. They had similar world-weary voices that I thought could really work and blend together well. Mr. Charles said he really liked Mr. Ruffin’s “You’re My Peace Of Mind” among others.
So, for months and years after that, I kept submitting songs to him. Then he called me one day at work (I was working at a prestigious law firm downtown), and told me he liked my song “I’m So Tired Of Waiting” that he wanted to record with Gladys Knight for his new album. He said, “I know you’re at work right now, so what time can I call you at home?” We agreed 7PM. Right on the dot he called me at 7PM and we talked for about a half hour. He said the song has two verses and he wanted a third. I asked if he wanted to write it. He declined saying he did not have time to write like he used to. He also said I need it by Saturday (it was Wednesday as we spoke). By Saturday, I had written five more verses for him to select from. I could not wait to tell all of my peers, co-writers etc.…what was happening! Motown writers like Louis A. Johnson who had a hit with Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love,” and Greg Crockett who had soundtracks on “Berry Gordy’s: The Last Dragon,” so hey…this is my time!!
In 1988, the album “Just Between Us” was released. When I got the news, I drove straight to Tower Records on Sunset to get it. When I put my hands on the album, I remember shaking as I scrolled front to back looking for my song title; my name. I must have mulled over it for about an hour, just knowing there had to be an overlook. I bought the album; took it home and played it hoping that the song was there, but someone screwed up and did not list it in the liner credits.
To my disappointment, it was not included. I was very hurt; I left a very curt message on Mr. Charles’ answering machine. I was later told that he actually did record the song, but decided not to include it on the album. I’m hoping “Tired Of Waiting” – among others that I submitted to him – will surface someday. That experience is what really prompted me to start singing my songs, myself.
Meanwhile, I’d like to celebrate his life and legend in this song I wrote called “Ray Of Sun” that’s on iTunes. I wrote it shortly after his passing. I recorded it in the style of his hit tune titled “Don’t Change On Me.” There’s also a country male singer’s version of it that I have available for the country music audience.
Here’s the song (and lyrics) from my CD “One More Time”:
https://www.jango.com/music/Larry+Buford/Ray+Of+Sun+Tribute+to+Ray+Charles+
RAY OF SUN
© Larry Buford
We never would’ve let you go
but Heaven saw different
and though we miss you so
our time together was well spent
And we thank you, thanks Brother Ray
for what you gave in song
thanks for the inspiration
to help us carry on
our Ray of sun.
Knowing where you started from
is so amazin’
your vision from the sun
sparked a trail a-blazin’
And we thank you, thanks for the love and joy
you gave in song
thanks for the inspiration
to help us carry on
our Ray of sun.
(CHORUS)
RAY OF SUN, RAY OF SUN
YOU LIGHT UP THE WORLD IN YOUR SONG
RAY OF SUN, RAY OF SUN
THE WORLD’S A BETTER PLACE
FOR WHAT YOU’VE DONE!
Written June 12, 2004 in memory of Ray Charles Robinson
(P) DerShawn Music/BMI
Larry Buford is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer. Author of “Things Are Gettin’ Outta Hand” and “Book To The Future” (Amazon). His CD “One More Time” is also available online. E-mail: [email protected]
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