i can't stop loving you...

We went to a phenomenal show this evening. The Fine Arts Center at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville is relatively new and amazingly beautiful. They have worked hard to bring top-notch shows to a city that sorely needs more culture.

Tonight's scheduled performance at Lazarra Hall was, "I Can't Stop Loving You: The Genius of Ray Charles". I noticed this production way back in August when the 2006-2007 season was released, and I knew the minute I saw the listing that this was a show I wanted to see.

My love affair with the music of Ray Charles goes back as far as I can remember. My mother used to remind me that no one needs to hear a four-year-old sing "Hit the Road Jack" four-hundred-eighty-seven times in a row. Four-hundred-eighty-six times? Not a problem. It's that last one that pushes you right over the edge apparently.

They say that what goes around comes around. This is another instance where "They" are evidently correct. When my own son reached the age of four or five, he, too, fell under the spell. At the time we would drive from our then-home in Silver Spring, Maryland, to Delaware on a monthly basis. The trip usually took about two hours, sometimes two-and-a-half. The entire ride we would listen to Ray's "Anthology" album. And I $#!+ you not, we had to listen to "Hit the Road Jack" at LEAST four-hundred-eighty-seven times a trip... but I loved every minute of it! :o)

"Can't Stop Loving You" is an amazing revue. There is no story line, just back-to-back knock-you-on-your-ass performances of Ray Charles' most popular songs. There are incredible dancers... a jaw-droppingly-talented 15 piece on-stage band... and vocalists that left you wishing you had half the talent they each had in their pinkie fingers!

The show was definitely stolen by powerhouse Nedgra Culp. Her show-stopping Ray-inspired performance of John Lennon's "Imagine" was unbelievable. I have to believe Ray and John were somewhere together, smiling as she sang. Former "Raelette" Regi Brown also gave an incredible performance with her rendition of "America the Beautiful". What better tribute to Ray, and to our country, than to have his version of "America" sung so splendidly. Truth Hurts turned in a wonderful performance as well, but it did appear at several times throughout the evening that she was "somewhere else" tonight. Chris Murrell's vocals were a joy, as were those of Terrence D. Forsythe. Both gentlemen took turns narrating the evening. Forsythe's voice had an ethereal quality to it, and if your eyes were closed, at times you would think Stevie Wonder himself had landed on the stage (I was not surprised to see that Stevie is one of the performers Forsythe had worked with previously). Ensemble productions of "Shake A Tail Feather" and "What'd I Say" were a blast, with the dancers coming into the audience and the cast getting everyone up on their feet. At the end of the night, we all agreed we had seen some amazing performances. We also agreed that our favorite song of the night was Mike Davis' "Busted". Mike definitely has Ray's sound down, and while everyone put on a fantastic show, his was the voice that most took you back to the first time you heard Ray Charles sing. With a deserted alley scene behind him, and no one else on stage, Mike sang it when he performed "Busted" . And that's exactly how you felt while you listened... THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is a performance. (To see photos and bios for all vocalists, click here.)

The only disappointment of the evening was the audience. I couldn't believe how sparse the crowd was. They were also mostly old and white. Poles seemed to dislodge across the theater by the time the second act started... possibly because after really sexy performances of "Minnie the Moocher", "Makin' Whoopee" and "Fever", the cast threw in several numbers by the Beatles and John Lennon?? Not sure if there was a connection or not, but I felt REALLY sorry for the cast up to that point. At times they must have thought they were performing for a lukewarm can of sardines. I got a couple of stares for "Whoooing" while clapping. I stared right back. It was that kind of show. It's not like we were at the symphony... although truth be told, I would probably "Whoooo" there too.

An added bonus to the evening that has to be mentioned was the pre-show lobby performance by Outtasight, a group of talented student musicians from the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine. (Note: Ray Charles attended FSDB as a young man.) I was absolutely blown away by these kids. The musicianship was amazing, but vocal performances by two young women within the group were unbelievable. I was literally moved to tears. Ask Michael.

Take a minute to see if "Can't Stop Loving You" is coming to your city soon. If it is, make a point to be there. And "Whoooo" for me, will ya?