The Friends of the Bernardsville Public Library will host a free concert, “Forever Ray: Honoring the Music of Ray Charles,” at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 24, in the library’s Community Room. Doors open at 2:45 p.m.
Forever Ray has been performing to sell-out audiences throughout the New York metropolitan area. They perform the exciting and uplifting music of Ray Charles, which includes a wonderful blend of musical styles ranging from jazz and blues to country and R&B.
Members of Forever Ray have performed or recorded with Ray Charles, Alicia Keys, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Prince, Stevie Wonder and Christina Aguilera, to name a few.
Forever Ray was first discovered by the Songwriting Hall of Fame winning team Ashford and Simpson at their club, the Sugar Bar, in New York City, when lead vocalist Shulton Whitley sang at their open mic night. Nick Ashford asked Whitley, whose voice sounds amazingly like Ray Charles, to put a band together and offered to showcase them. The rest, as they say, is history.
Performing at the library will be Whitley, the sound of Ray Charles; Angela Workman, vocals, who toured with Ray Charles for 14 years; Bobby Deitch, drummer and musical director; Eddy Bishai on keyboard; Joe Macaro on bass guitar; and Mitchell Endick on saxophone.
This is a free concert funded by the Friends of the Bernardsville Library. Light refreshments will be served. No sign-up is needed.