Ray Charles
Starr Parodi, has actively made beautiful music for the masses in all sorts of venues. As a pianist, synthesist, composer, producer, arranger, and conductor Starr has worked on a bevy of projects with headliners including Carole King, Stevie Wonder, Seal, Mariah Carey, Ray Charles, Whitney Houston...
Bill Crow had a long and successful career as a jazz bassist for such Bebop pioneers as Stan Getz and Gerry Mulligan. In later years he joined the board for the New York chapter of the Musicians Union, which led to his second career as a writer. He was asked to write a regular column for the union’...
Rocky Peoples is the saxophonist heard on hit recordings such as “Will We Go Round In Circles” and “Nothing From Nothing” by Billy Preston, as well as his own composition “Driver’s License.” Rocky has also worked with Ray Charles, James Brown, Pat Boone, and Stevie Wonder. Rocky’s passion for music...
Randy Dorman joined Kenny Rogers' road band in 1977 and worked with the legendary country singer until his last tour in 2017. Along the way Randy performed with each one of Kenny’s guest artists (including Willie Nelson, George Burns, Dolly Parton and Ray Charles) and also appeared on Kenny’s many...
David Durben grew up in Fargo, North Dakota where he forged a career as a piano technician. After forming Durben Piano Services, David worked with area schools and churches as well as the local Baldwin dealer to repair and tune their pianos. His passion for the craft led to his involvement with the...
EveAnna Manley grew up around music and played several instruments. Attending college she discovered that she preferred the more mathematical side of music theory after she was introduced to electronics and developed an interest in audio. Hearing Bill Graham speak in one of her classes inspired her...
Ellis Hall is a man of many talents. This singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actor, and composer may have lost his sight at the young age of 18, but he quickly found inspiration by looking to Ray Charles. After moving to Boston at a young age, Ellis started piano lessons despite knowing that...
Glen D. Hardin had the opportunity to play alongside his favorite performer, the artist he most admired as a young music fan, Ray Charles. Glen grew up in Lubbock, Texas, and began playing the piano when he heard a family member play. He went on to become a well-known arranger and pianist in the...
Henry Stone wanted to record musical artists that were not able to sign deals with the large record labels of the late 1940s. As a result, Henry found a string of artists and provided the setting to be recorded. This list includes Ray Charles and James Brown. As his own company grew, both as a...
Miriam Bienstock was one of three founders of Atlantic Records, which set the stage for over 60 years of recordings of primarily black artists. In the early years this was one of the only labels giving opportunities for the likes of Ruth Brown and Ray Charles to be heard! Miriam ran the office and...