David Vest plays Ray Charles

David Vest and his band revisit one of their all-time most popular themes: the music of Ray Charles, the artist Frank Sinatra called "the only true genius in our business." Before he became The Genius, Charles was often called The Bishop, because of the way he brought elements of the gospel tradition into popular music. Later he became known as the High Priest of Soul, and of course he recorded jazz albums as well as rock, soul, blues, country, and pop hits. But it took him a while to find his own voice and create his own sound. His earliest recordings reveal the influence of first the Nat "King" Cole Trio and later Charles Brown. He doesn't really emerge as a unique singer (and a truly great piano player) before signing with Atlantic Records. David Vest has been playing this music since it first emerged in the 1950s. He even bought an early Wurlitzer electric piano after hearing "What'd I Say" on the radio, so he could "get that sound." This music is deeply engrained in him, and he's got the band for it, with Tom Bowler on guitar and vocals, Ryan Tandy on bass, Damian Graham on drums, and special guest Ryan Oliver on sax.