The show will run for approximately 2 hours including one 15-minute intermission.
Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.
This concert/theatre work brings the music and the story of the great Ray Charles to vivid life! Portraying Ray, master pianist/vocalist, Kenny Brawner leads his 11 piece orchestra and three sultry vocalists (a la the Raelettees), performing this American legend’s most popular hits: What’d I Say?, I Got A Woman, Mess Around, Georgia On My Mind, a blazing hot duet on Baby It’s Cold Outside, and many more! The music is interwoven with monologues depicting how gospel, blues, jazz, and country-influenced Ray’s style, while also reflecting on American social history, his epic battle with drugs, and his triumphant return home to Georgia.
Ray On My Mind assembles an orchestra of profoundly accomplished musicians whose performances are ingrained in American popular culture. Members of the orchestra have been heard prolifically on Broadway, Off-Broadway, film, and television. They have performed all over the world and recorded with a diverse range of influential musical giants, including the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Darius Rucker, Jennifer Hudson, Sonny Rollins, Big Daddy Kane, Bo Diddley, the Sun Ra Arkestra, the Mighty Sparrow, Roy Ayers, Sam & Dave, Ashford and Simpson, Gregory Porter, Boy George, Wilson Pickett, Percy Sledge, David Murray, Eric Benet, Larry Coryell, John Popper, Lester Bowie, Shaggy, Ron Carter, and Rihanna.
Dear Arts Patrons,
Welcome to the Viterbo University 2022–23 performing arts season. Whether it be for a Bright Star, Conservatory for the Performing Arts, or Weber Center series event, we are very pleased to have you join us for what surely will be an outstanding production.
The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration have always cherished the arts, and we are proud to continue the legacy of our founders. Viterbo is truly blessed to have incredibly talented Conservatory students, faculty, and Fine Arts Center staff. Every show is painstakingly crafted and selected to offer the highest quality and culturally enriching entertainment possible to our community.
To all Viterbo arts patrons, benefactors, sponsors, volunteers, and artists, allow me to express my sincere gratitude for your support. Enjoy the show!
“Pace e Bene”
Peace and all good
Rick Trietley
Viterbo University President
is a critically acclaimed keyboardist, vocalist, composer, and actor, who as a musician, plays his own distinctive style of jazz, funk, R&B and blues. For nearly a decade Brawner led and composed for a jazzfunk recording band called Raw Sugar. During that period, his funk composition Whups it on Me was chosen "Showstopper of the Week" on WBLS in New York and featured with the band on the television show, Soul Train. He presently leads a group called the Brawner Brothers Band known for its old-school sweet soul music, blues, Latin, African and jazz modes and volcanic funk. He has been featured with BB King and has dazzled in Blues Suite live on stage with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Brawner has also recently played lead theatrical roles as a blues man in both Dan Dietz’s Clementine in the Lower 9 at Theatre Works in Mountain View, Calif., and a blues based musical called The City Club, Off Broadway in New York. He played a leading role in Canadian Stage’s production of What Makes A Man, a show about the life and music of the legendary Charles Aznavour, one of the world’s best showmen. Most recently, he played a soulful organist in Stew and Heidi Rodewald’s The Total Bent at New York’s Public Theater. He can be seen in the classic movie musical Hair. Brawner is now leading and touring with a 12-piece band and three sultry female vocalists doing a concert/theatre work in which he brings the music and the story of the great Ray Charles to life..
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