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Table of Contents
Ray Charles piano: ‘Merry Christmas Baby’ 1979.
Best Sheet Music download from our Library.
Ray Charles piano performance: the story and facts behind it.
It’s from “A Christmas Special… With The Ray Charles Orchestra and The Voices of Jubilation!”
This was a nationally broadcast TV special taped in 1979 and aired in December of that year. The special was so popular that it was re-aired in subsequent years and later released on home video.
Place and Recording
- Location: The special was taped at KQED Studios in San Francisco, California.
- Date: While the exact taping date isn’t widely published, it was in the latter half of 1979 for that year’s holiday season.
The Story and Significance
This wasn’t just a concert; it was a carefully produced holiday special, blending secular Christmas cheer with gospel fervor. Ray Charles masterfully bridged genres and audiences.
- Concept: The special showcased Ray Charles’s unique ability to fuse soul, blues, jazz, gospel, and traditional pop into the Christmas canon.
- Structure: It interspersed full musical numbers with brief, scripted vignettes featuring Ray Charles in a festive, relaxed setting (like by a fireplace or decorating a tree), speaking directly to the audience.
- Legacy: The performance of “Merry Christmas Baby” from this special is arguably the definitive version for many fans. Ray’s playful, bluesy delivery and the tight, swinging arrangement make it a perennial favorite. His spoken intro (“You know, every year I have to sing this song…”) is part of the charm.
Key Musicians and Performers
- Ray Charles: Vocals and piano, of course.
- The Raelettes: His legendary backing vocal group.
- The Ray Charles Orchestra: His full touring big band.
- Special Guests: The Voices of Jubilation: This was a 100-voice gospel choir from San Francisco, which added a massive, uplifting sound to the spiritual numbers. Their inclusion was a central highlight of the special.
Full Concert/Special Tunes List
The special featured a mix of Christmas standards and gospel tunes. A typical set list from the broadcast included:
- Winter Wonderland (often the opener)
- That Spirit of Christmas (aka “The Christmas Song”)
- The Little Drummer Boy
- Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
- I’ll Be Home for Christmas
- What Child is This? (featuring a more classical/instrumental arrangement)
- Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing
- Away in a Manger
- Baby, It’s Cold Outside (a duet with one of The Raelettes)
- Do You Hear What I Hear?
- Silent Night
- Sleigh Ride
- Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
- *And the centerpiece blues number: *”Merry Christmas Baby”
- **The finale often culminated with powerful gospel numbers like *“This Little Light of Mine”* and “Oh Happy Day”, featuring the full force of The Voices of Jubilation choir.**
Where to Find It Today
- Video: The full special has been released on DVD under titles like “Ray Charles: A Christmas Special” or “Ray Charles Christmas”.
- Audio: The track “Merry Christmas Baby (Live)” is available on countless Ray Charles Christmas compilations, most notably on his essential album “The Spirit of Christmas.”
- Online: Clips and the full special are frequently found on YouTube, Spotify and other streaming services, especially during the holiday season.
This wasn’t just a concert, but a major televised event that captured Ray Charles at the peak of his popularity and artistry, creating what many consider the greatest soul Christmas special of all time. The 1979 “Merry Christmas Baby” is the joyful, blues-drenched heart of that production.
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