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Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
A NEW musical tribute to one of the industries all-time greats
and fittingly entitled, The Genius of Ray Charles,
opens at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on June 21, 2005 (previews
from June 16) for a limited eight-week period - to August 13,
2005.
In spite of overwhelming odds (blinded at the age of six and
orphaned just nine years later) Ray Charles became one of the
major influences on both black and white popular music in the
20th century.
Singer, composer and pianist, his repetoire was endless and embraced
not only blues, gospel and jazz but even 'pop', Broadway classics
and country and western.
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He continued performing until the
last years of his life and in 2004, at the age of 73, died of
acute liver disease. His last album, Genius Loves Company,
was posthumously released and went on to win numerous Grammy
Awards.
The Genius of Ray Charles follows close on the heels
of last year's Hollywood biopic, Ray, which saw Jamie
Foxx, in the title role, pick up an Oscar for Best Actor.
The musical had its US premiere only last month in Eldorado,
Nevada and the 32-strong American company of singers, dancers
and musicians are expected to reprise their performances in the
West End.
Amongst the Charles' songs featured, are Georgia on My Mind,
Hit the Road Jack, I Can't Stop Loving You and Unchain
My Heart.
The Genius of Ray Charles follows Victoria Wood's Acorn
Antiques and will itself be followed, later this summer,
by Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men, the vehicle for Rob
Lowe's West End stage debut.
Buy
tickets now
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