Get ready for an unforgettable night of soulful melodies and timeless classics as the Occidental Center for the Arts proudly presents: The Ray Charles Project LIVE in concert!
Join us for a musical journey through the legendary hits of the iconic Ray Charles, as this talented ensemble pays tribute to the genius of the "Genius." Immerse yourself in the soulful sounds that defined an era, performed with passion and authenticity that will transport you back in time. From "Georgia on My Mind" to "What'd I Say," experience the magic of Ray Charles' music like never before. The Ray Charles Project is not just a performance; it's a celebration of the enduring legacy of one of the greatest musicians in history.
Tickets are $35 GA, $28 for OCA members. Doors open at 6:30 PM. Beer, wine and refreshments for sale, art gallery open during intermission. OCA is wheelchair accessible.
Pre-sales have ended, tickets will be available at the door. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
The Ray Charles Project has been impressing audiences throughout the Bay Area and features some incredible performers:
Danny Caron, Guitar
Kevin Hayes, Drums
Eamonn Flynn, Keyboard
Glenn Walters, Vocals
Fred Ross, Vocals
Dewayne Pate, Bass
Secure your tickets now for an evening filled with soul, rhythm, and the timeless tunes that continue to resonate across generations.
Don't miss this extraordinary musical celebration – be there to witness The Ray Charles Project bring the house down at the Occidental Center for the Arts!
About the band:
Originally out of Silver Spring, Maryland, Danny Caron moved to Austin, Texas and cut his teeth on the Crawfish circuit playing with singer-pianist Marcia Ball. He then moved to Lafayette, LA and worked for a year with Zydeco king Clifton Chenier and his Red Hot Louisiana Band with whom he recorded the Grammy Award winning Album, “I’m Here” in 1980. Relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1981 he continued to freelance and eventually teamed up with the legendary singer and pianist Charles Brown.
Danny served as guitarist and musical director for Charles Brown from 1987 until Brown’s death in 1999. He has played on numerous CD’s and sessions with Charles Brown, Clifton Chenier, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, Van Morrison, Ruth Brown, Etta Jones, John Clayton, Teddy Edwards, Gerald Wilson, Donald Fagen, Dr. John, Little Milton Campbell, John Hammond Jr. and many others. Danny is the featured guitarist on the Van Morrison produced John Lee Hooker album, “Don’t Look Back” which won two Grammy Awards – one for Best Traditional Blues Recording, and the other for Best Collaboration, Van Morrison and John Lee Hooker. He has played for President Clinton’s first Inaugural Ball, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, numerous jazz festivals throughout the US and Europe, several tours to New Zealand with great artists like Robben Ford, Charlie Musslewhite, Duke Robillard and Bettye LaVette. Television appearances include the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Danny wrote the film score to the Scott Silver directed motion picture ‘johns’ for which he and Charles Brown composed music, and for which he composed the title song, “The Promised Land.” The movie stars David Arquette, Lukas Haas and Keith David. He keeps up a busy schedule touring and performing most recently with Tom Rigney, Barbara Morrison, Maria Muldaur and others. And he is presently teaching courses at The Jazzschool in Berkeley, California.
Glenn Walters sang lead for two sensational Bay area bands, The Hoodoo Rhythm Devils and the Zasu Pitts Memorial Orhestra. The San Francisco Examiner called his voice “as warm, furry and comforting as a mink coat. You just wanna wrap it around you.”
Bassist Dewayne Pate graduated from the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, moved North, and has since worked with a wide array of artists including Huey Lewis & The News, Box Scaggs, Maria Muldaur, ROBBEN Ford, Arturo Sandoval, and Tower of Power. Reviewer Andrew Gilbert called his album Melting Pot “an impressive array of grooves.”