Arts & Entertainment
Remembering Ray
British Jew brings
Ray Charles revue
to Fisher Theatre.
Suzanne Chessler
Special to the Jewish News
I
nternational producer Dave King saw
the film Ray, walked away with the
lingering strains of the song "Georgia
on My Mind" and went to work on a musi-
cal revue about legendary singer Ray
Charles.
King, sticking to his production formula
of evoking the pleasure principle, left out
the vocalist's problems with women and
drugs and stuck with the Charles song-
book.
I Can't Stop Loving You — The
Music of Ray Charles has gone on tour
and stops Feb. 13-March 4 at the Fisher
Theatre, where "Hit the Road Jack;' "You
Don't Know me and "What'd I Say" will
be among the hits performed by six sing-
ers, 10 dancers and a 15-piece orches-
tra. Vocalists include former Detroiters
Terrence Forsythe and Regi Brown
"The music just grabbed me during the
film, and my shows are incredibly enter-
taining," says King, 55, who currently logs
about 10 revues with different companies
around the world. "People are not going to
any Dave King show and coming out edu-
cated or with any message other than the
[importance] of having a great time
Charles, born in 1930 Georgia and
blind by the age of 7, started his record-
ing career in the 1940s and experimented
with many musical styles, ultimately win-
ning 17 Grammy Awards over his lifetime.
He was featured on more than 250 albums,
appeared in film and on television and
was one of the original inductees into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
The songs he performed that are
recalled in the revue include some
by Jewish composers — "Alexander's
Ragtime Band" by Irving Berlin, "Come
Rain or Come Shine" by Harold Arlen and
Johnny Mercer and "Makin' Whoopee" by
Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn.
"Ray Charles had a strong connection to
the Jewish community and to Israel," says
King, who maintains offices in New York
I Can't Stop Loving You — The Music of Ray Charles features hits performed by six singers, 10 dancers and a 15-piece orchestra.
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During his lifetime, Ray Charles was a
big supporter of Israel.
and London and has a home in Israel.
"He constantly gave money to Israel, and
I think that's because he saw the Jewish
people as a minority.
"I believe he saw that Jews had a lot in
common with the black people in terms of
persecution, and it was something he took
to his heart. He also was surrounded by
Jewish managers and promoters."
A 2004 article in our sister publica-
tion, the Atlanta Jewish Times, recalled
Charles performing in Israel and sing-
ing "Havah Nagilah" with former Prime
Minister David Ben-Gurion
Charles revue, is married to a
in 1973 Tel Aviv.
doctor and has a blended family
"Even though I'm stingy
of children. He says he supports
a variety of Jewish charities in
with my bread, Israel is the
England and plans on celebrat-
one cause I feel good sup-
ing Passover in Israel.
porting:' Charles is quoted
as saying in the AJT article.
"I have a different feeling
Among the close profes-
in Israel than I have in any
other place in the world," says
sional ties with Jews was
King, whose family traces their
one with Jerry Wexler, who
heritage to Russia and Poland. "I
advised the singer at Atlantic British impr esario
Dave King
really feel it's my homeland and
Records.
where I belong."
King, who has produced shows with
Although King has no desire to appear
Yiddish songs in London, is behind the
in piano performance, he does find the
success of Spirit of the Dance, The 12
keyboard relaxing, particularly when
Irish Tenors, Le Grande Cirque and
losing himself in George Gershwin's
Frank, Dean and Sammy. With a father
Rhapsody in Blue.
who was a Jewish comedian and a mother
"I always have two or three shows in
who was a chorus dancer, King felt show
the planning stage, and now I'm thinking
business was in his blood and started out
about producing a Latin dance show and a
as a pianist and composer.
"I always wanted to be in the business
jazz festival;' King says.
"There's so much badness in this world,
as an agent or manager," says King, at the
but coming to see one of our shows is a
helm of Spirit Productions. "I was doing
two-hour release from all that. We take our
smaller shows and wasn't getting rich.
audiences on a roller coaster ride and spill
Then, 10 years ago, I came up with Spirit
them out happy." 1
of the Dance.
"I was a real Jewish sob story trying to
I Can't Stop Loving You – The Music
raise money. I knocked on doors and kept
of Ray Charles runs Feb.13-March 4
getting turned down, but it was my Jewish
at the Fisher Theatre, 3011 W. Grand
determination more than anything else
Blvd., in Detroit. Show times are
that kept me going. All of a sudden, people
8
p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 and 8
took notice of me."
p.m.
Saturdays and 2 and 7:30 p.m.
King, who wrote the score for The
Sundays.
$32.50-$67.50. (313) 872-
Spirit of the Dance and was involved
1000.
with the musical arrangements for the Ray
February 8 2007
41