Singer Ray Charles and the Rayletts performing “What I Say” at the Kennedy Center

Object Details

Photograph by: Milton Williams, American, born 1940
Subject of: Ray Charles, American, 1930 - 2004; The Raelettes, American, 1956 - 2004; The Howard Theatre, American, founded 1910

Caption: Howard Theater. I used to catch them at the Howard Theater in the fifties when they were performing this song. Just when you thought Ray Charles was going to fall off his seat, he would lean into the mike and really get into the music. They Raelettes were always as fine as they wanted to be. May 17, 1980.; Milton Williams, Moments in Time, 1973-1993 (Nashville: James C. Winston Publishing Co., 1996), 45.
Description: A black-and-white photograph of Ray Charles and the Raelettes performing at the Howard Theatre. Charles is seated at a piano, with the Raelettes standing to the right. The photograph is stamped and inscribed on the back.

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Milton Williams Archives

May 17, 1980

Restrictions & Rights: © Milton Williams; Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions: H x W (Image): 9 7/16 x 13 15/16 in. (24 x 35.4 cm); H x W (Sheet): 11 x 13 15/16 in. (27.9 x 35.4 cm)

Place depicted: Howard Theatre, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Photographs and Still Images

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Topic: African American; Jazz (Music); Local and regional; Photography; Rhythm and blues (Music); Singers (Musicians)

GUID (Link to Original Record): http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd51efa7522-abe8-4a92-8f3a-28316c4095b8