Ray Charles & The Raelettes (feat. Billy Preston) "What'd I Say" on The Ed Sullivan Show

Ray Charles & The Raelettes (feat. Billy Preston) "What'd I Say" on The Ed Sullivan Show, December 3, 1967. Subscribe now to never miss an update: ume.lnk.to/EdS...
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The Ed Sullivan Show was a television variety program that aired on CBS from 1948-1971. For 23 years it aired every Sunday night and played host to the world's greatest talents. The Ed Sullivan Show is well known for bringing rock n' roll music to the forefront of American culture through acts like Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones. The entertainers each week ranged from comedians like Joan Rivers and Rodney Dangerfield, to Broadway stars Julie Andrews and Richard Burton, to pop singers such as Bobby Darin and Petula Clark. It also frequently featured stars of Motown such as The Supremes, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5. The Ed Sullivan Show was one of the only places on American television where such a wide variety of popular culture was showcased and its legacy lives on to this day.
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#RayCharles #EdSullivan #EdSullivanShow

[@lawrencelewis2592]

"Ray Charles is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -Ben Franklin.

[@cedricliggins7528]

Say it again Ben

[@joey_bonin]

That wasn't just a tune, that was an event.

[@haraldkiebist111]

There is no Name for this exceptional Singer.... I would say God sings for us... An absolute Legend

[@tomkroeschell1839]

I first saw in him 1976. The greatest singer I have ever heard.

[@courylanders4142]

I heard stories that Ray Charles was hard AF on his drummers. He would call them out in concert if they weren't tight in their playing. So, that drummer being a badass isn't a shock.

[@magovenor]

Dude on the drums was a monster!

[@rgf0618]

And he's doing it in a suit ... class!

[@bobmichals7651]

Milt Turne worked with Ray Charles from 1957 to 1960 -- long enough to be the original drummer on "What'd I Say" studio recording. But I'm pretty sure the drummer on this video is Billy Moore, who was Charles drummer from 1965 to 1968.

[@brianbonn6534]

Amen

[@claudeabraham2347]

He was good. Nice strong pocket, drove the band very well, & great fills & improv. He had great drumming skills.

[@whodidit99]

I noticed that too. The cymbal work was amazing. Very cool.

[@diamondblue5327]

Billy Preston reached the epitome of his career when he was fortunate enough to perform with Ray Charles.

[@you_tubeslonelyheartsclubband]

Plus: playing on The Beatles Abbey Road and Get back/Let It Be.

[@rickydenotredame]

Yeah... and then he played on Let It Be

[@revpgesqredux]

Will it go round in circles tho?

[@borood1188]

Blind men Ray Charles and Steve Wonder always had the best back up singers because they are choosing them strictly on voice, not on how they look.

[@courylanders4142]

@@borood1188 Not really. In the movie Ray, it was a fact that to be Ray Charles backup singer. A Raylette, you had to have sex with Ray Charles. So, it was more than talent Ray wanted.

[@borood1188]

@@courylanders4142 I’m pretty sure homely women can and do have sex too, so your point doesn’t make any sense.

[@murph3001]

This song written by Ray remains the greatest song in our history. It changed popular nusic forever. Ain't nothin but rock and roll.

[@bigrod8975]

Ray Charles wasn't just a recording artist, he was also a businessman who understood that the music business is just that: A BUSINESS.

[@joeemick1891]

Always some stupid Goddamn comment

[@jerrykitich3318]

He had a lot of people in his musical family to support

[@jennifersman7990]

Yes, very true. When he left Atlantic Records in the 60’s he demanded, and got, full control of his master recordings. Something even Sinatra didn’t have

[@dwightlove3704]

​@@jerrykitich3318Yes he did all the children he had.

[@dwightlove3704]

​@@jennifersman7990Atlantic did not have enough money to keep him like ABC Paramount if they had he would stayed obviously this was stated in the film RAY.

[@claudeabraham2347]

That version of "What'd I Say" had amazing energy! I love it. In 1967, I was 12 years old. That Sunday night, our cousins were visiting. My late cousin Pete, age 13, told me "Ray Charles is on Ed Sullivan tonight". We tuned it in. During that song our living room was silent. Ill never forget seeing this live when it happened. Ray just had that magic.

[@NinaSofia_]

❤

[@CDub-ur1jl]

Surely yall wanted to get up and dance but times were different ❤

[@camiloespinazo]

it's fantastic being able to live that moment, as a young person.

[@bomani7543]

If James brown is the GODFATHER of Soul Music,,then Ray Charles is THE BIOLOGICAL FATHER of Soul Music...facts.............There will never be another Ray Charles....REST IN PEACE KING 😔🙏🏿🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🕊🕊🕊

[@altowatts1325]

Absolutely true 👍🏾💯. Ray Charles is still alive because of his ageless music. Ray Charles is The Daddy of Soul Music. And James Brown is the Daddy of Funk Music. James Brown taught The Funk to Bootsy Collins who then taught it to George Clinton. R.I.P. Ray Charles and James Brown.🕊️🕊️

[@bomani7543]

@@altowatts1325 Yes Sir,,u are absolutely correct...Thank u for Commenting...Peace & Blessings 👊🏿🙏🏿...

[@altowatts1325]

@@bomani7543 Thank you Brother. Continued Peace and Blessings to you and yours 👊🏾🙏🏾. These are some crazy times we're living in. Stay safe.

[@oldbeatpete]

yes the kids like Brown, but when they mature they will see what a genius Charles was!

[@bomani7543]

@@oldbeatpete Yes Sir,,I agree 👍...Thanks for Commenting

[@calvinnewborn8452]

Ray6 have everybody rocking. Bet Ed is rocking back stage

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Just for a moment consider you were able to get a show like this on free television. 📺

[@roxanne5766]

Yup.. this is what we watched back in the day.. and with only 7 or 8 tv channels that stopped broadcasting at 2am or so. Memories 😊

[@Moshe60]

Yeah ! Seriously

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

@@Moshe60 there's no way you could get a A-list Act for Free any more. You don't even get top names on SNL really anymore.

[@akadros310]

I got to see him for free in Atlanta at Centenal Olympic Park. I believe during the Olympics in 1996.

[@johnq.public4252]

Class, soul, funk all rolled into one song. Ray Charles had it all and more.

[@bwalsh6992]

He had the no. 1 country Album, ..

[@lindawilliams8715]

Don't forget gospel rolled in the song too.

[@lubabalomahlombe451]

Billy Preston was the icing on the cake

[@hottub2249]

This had to have been the same show where they performed 00soul!

[@lubabalomahlombe451]

@@hottub2249 yea it was.

[@havefaith4358]

Yass, Sir!

[@ncoisas3760]

Sou a única Brasileira ouvindo essa pedra preciosa?

[@PerhapsTodayInAMoment-yo4xo]

The guy playing tambourine is the doppelganger of actor Tim DeKay, the actor from the hit TV series White Collar. It is eerie. What a performance. Ray Charles dug deep and went to another place within himself with this Ed Sullivan Show performance. Even Sullivan knew it. Magical.

[@telecasteredtodeath]

Fuck off, fastest I've ever hit a like button, I was almost expecting my chair to turn round!

[@R4Love365]

This sounds even better than the original recorded version😳. Ray was a musical genius!!

[@michaelbrandt5416]

Totally agree with you, sir.

[@sheliamccullough1626]

I agree

[@sheliamccullough1626]

@@michaelbrandt5416 Me to

[@musicola7371]

Any Ray is good. This video does not even come close to the original recording in too many ways to mention, but for one example do you even know what a groove is?

[@theeoddments960]

@@musicola7371 this definitely has more energy and sounds less disconnected because all the instruments are actually being played at the same time instead of all of them being recorded separately. I prefer the simple drum groove of the live versions over the original as well this is a raunchy song it doesn’t need all that complexity with the ride symbol also it’s hard asf to play it live so they dropped it.

[@dennispearson9287]

Ray Virtually Took The Church To The World !!!....Complete With Hammond B Organ , And Tambourines , Ray Almost Started A REVIVAL !!!.....

[@theelvisguru9490]

Don’t forget Merry Clayton. Standing nearest to Ray. She sang on “gimme shelter” for the stones and recorded her own fantastic version

[@sawyerapolisentertainment696]

This is rock n roll my friend. Yes it is soul. Yes it is R&B. But make no mistake, this is rock n roll

[@Idcanymore510]

When music was truly king. Ed Sullivan was an authentic pioneer.

[@misskitty2710]

If you wanna be a Raelette, you gotta let Ray!

[@michaelgibson4705]

And I thought I was the only one who had heard that😂

[@paleriedove3333]

​@michaelgibson4705 millions have it was in the movie ray!😮

[@archangelvvv]

The Legendary Ray Charles! He was only 37 when he appeared in this video on the Ed Sullivan Show. Born 9/23/1930

[@evelinadimitri]

Back when people had class

[@vertz4545]

How so? He was a drug addict back then

[@ra-ge]

​​@@vertz4545So? What's your point? Pathetic

[@NevadaBoss]

"There is only one real genius in the music business, and that's Ray"--Frank Sinatra. (and the Raelette standing closest to Ray is the equally legendary Merry Clayton, featured in 20 Feet From Stardom. As good as it ever got.

[@BlackDoveNYC]

You said something there. She is a legend.

[@hanscraig1850]

Billy Preston could really make a Hammond talk!

[@Phillip-i6c]

uncle ray so smooth always wore the best killer sunnies.

[@tagirmuhutdinov4208]

Обалденно! Пребываю в юности! Люблю всех!

[@andysmith6156]

Ray, best vocalist ever and Billy was no slouch on vocals either. Drummer is killing it, love this tempo and you know RAY was the one who counted it off lol........God forbid

[@Janeair41....]

Oh and let's give the cinematographer some credit too! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🌟🌟💯

[@shotty2164]

The greatest male vocalist of all time.

[@murph3001]

Yes my friend and no one close. He sang any genre of music and influenced our music forever.

[@weavethehawk]

Billie Preston, The greatest exponent of what I call "sanctified" organ playing. Didn't hear a note he played here, but I'm sure his earlier contribution, before this little segment, must have shown Billie at his very best.

[@Martiniization]

Ed was even beside himself after Ray's performance. Ray could bring the dead back to life. He WAS music, itself.

[@flewggle]

Ray Charles is a made in America icon. The best of the best.

[@schmatever]

I read his biography and once I'd finished it was so good that I turned back to page 1 and re-read it all over again. The movie about his life is excellent but the book is 10 times better. I highly recommend it.

[@hnc52]

Ed really seemed to enjoy Ray's performance...as he should!

[@zellhudson1830]

RAY WAS BORN WITH PURE SOUL,I THANK GOD FOR HIM, A MIGHTY POWERFUL SOULFUL LEGEND,I SALUTE HIM FOREVER THANK YOU RAY.

[@sj-777]

Such passion and heart. Charles was totally in another world with this performance!

[@FavoriteMovieDate]

Billy got around didn’t he? On the roof with The Beatles and backing up Ray splendidly!

[@woodygould]

And with King Curtis live at the Fillmore, , which means with Aretha…

[@justinpetetson6624]

Milton Turner on those drums 😎

[@bluecrabvintage4270]

Never heard of him but It always cool when ppl in the back get a shout out

[@bobmichals7651]

I don't think this is Milt Turner. He only worked with Ray Charles from 1957 to 1960 -- long enough to be the original drummer on "What'd I Say" studio recording. But I'm pretty sure the drummer on this video is Billy Moore, who was Charles drummer from 1965 to 1968.

[@justinpetetson6624]

@@bobmichals7651 love it. Knowledge much appreciated 🤙

[@murph3001]

What more can be said . He remains even in jan of 2024 the greatesr we ever had. Rip soulman and you too agent double o soulman. Is it possible to put more talent behind the keyboards than Billy and Ray.

[@therealtruetwelfth798]

Ray Charles & Billy Preston, and people wonder if there’s a God

[@lawrencemuga6366]

Used to hear this song play on KBC English service when I was growing up but didn't know the singer.

[@mj99a]

the normally very staid mr sullivan's appreciation of ray's performance is very evident in his hearty hand shake and beaming smile!!

[@andreacheney3593]

Dayum! Billy Preston really “got around!”

[@martinoultonjr8779]

Cyldie King sang for everyone. Lord what a talent.

[@pgh-h4f]

Remember this was recorded LIVE and uncut. Wow.

[@diegos.loayza3706]

Oh yeaaa!!!! Whatd i say. My favourite soul song.

[@murph3001]

I believe it is the greatest song in popular music ever

[@ABALLAM3]

Here's a performance we have all been waiting for. In good quality as well. Ray on a show for the audience, along with band and lovely ladies at the front.

[@stewartfenton7660]

Lovely ladies who didn't really get used that much in this case.

[@b_uppy]

One of my ALLTIME favorite performers! The epitome of cool.

[@helenbestman5338]

Yessssss

[@nelsenadelard802]

I read Ray's autobiography. There's a chapter that talks about writing songs. "What I Say" was written on the spot a live show when they had run out of songs ( that they rehearsed and were willing to perform) and the crowd was asking for more. So Ray just starts this riff on his piano and says to his back up singers "Just follow me" and he started to do that call and response and the back up singers followed and the crowd went nuts! The rest as they say is history.

[@isaiahdorvil1959]

In the movie Ray they showed that pretty incredible

[@bfettrules1239]

Yes definitely a highlight of the film for one of his biggest hits. This song just makes u want to rock out & dance.

[@Spoonology]

He stole material from Margie Hendrix in this song. N pretty much every song he stole either Margie Hendrix or from Lincoln Chase.

[@argotero6545]

This is true, I’m a professional musician and this happen with many artist…

[@TrapTech]

@@SpoonologyMargie didn’t write. She helped arrangements which is what I do but I happen to write and specialize in hooks and bridges. I write in the last 2 Jodeci albums and arranged the vocals and harmonies. Only Devante Swing is credited. I got paid. I didn’t get credit. Doesn’t mean he stole it, because I still get royalties. But some people demand credit for their works or any small contribution that they make. I just require my check by on time😂😂😂

[@bartleywalton1888]

6:12 when the camera goes back and forth with Ray and the Raelettes

[@roboparks]

Ray taken us to Church on a Sunday night !!! (Sunday) December 3, 1967

[@jackieclark2004]

I was 11 years old when my mom took me to see Ray Charles, Billy Preston and Nancy Wilson. I was so astounded by the musical genius of Ray. He Is one of my favorite performers. Nancy Wilson was also amazing. One of my treasured moments with my mom, was going to the Masonic Temple to see many performers in Detroit. I miss her dearly 🙏🏾💕

[@lukata77]

Great comment, I'm from Detroit and I grew up listening to my mom play all of Nancy Wilson's music in the 70s and 80s. She even has a picture that she snapped of Nancy Wilson while she was front stage at one of her shows. Mrs. Wilson saw my mom taking the picture and ordered her to retake it so that she could look directly at the camera and smile, such a class icon!

[@mdhbigdog]

You were fortunate to have a mother who appreciated great music and who shared her love of music with you.

[@DanJosephauthor]

Might be single best R&B performance on Sullivan ever. Might be Ray's best 'What'd I Say'

[@Lee_Plenty]

It is.👍💯

[@ricojames2819]

James brown enters the chat 😏

[@victoriadailey3745]

Makes me wanna shake my tambourine !!!!!

[@kevindigo22]

Wow...what a great performance. The Ed Sullivan show was known for some cheesy lip synch numbers by many artists but this is the REAL DEAL!

[@BongbongA99]

What a fantastic performance! Thank goodness it was recorded so that we can enjoy it today. They don't make 'um, like this today, that's for sure.

[@notinmyUSMC]

This is a timeless performance!

[@RodHargreaves]

So much talent on one stage. Peerless.

[@KevyNova]

Clicked like before the video is even up!

[@b_uppy]

Perfectly understandable. A human force of nature.

[@jcpjean-claude4576]

fantastique version du GENUIS avec le grand Billy Preston et les excellentes Raelettes .

[@sparklebydiamond677]

I've definitely been here before because I am in love with ray and his music, I'm so obsessed. with the whole-time era wish I was there .... OR MAYBE I WAS 🤔🤔

[@NicholasAndre1]

Casual Billy Preston on the organ :)

[@gregoryburton1241]

I had the pleasure of seeing Ray Charles in concert. He was fantastic! The orchestra and the background singers were something to behold. ❤RIP

[@fatimahrahman6158]

When music touches your soul, it gives you hope! 💚

[@aleneaguayo6471]

Ray is the best singer ever

[@BGK2223]

The band, the back up singers, and ray all performing live to perfection! It's so fun to see live performances vs lip synced, massaged in the studio songs!

[@woodswal]

Bring back the bands. ❤❤❤❤ 5! Tambourine players.😊

[@mmb1487]

Ray had a fat sound his music makes you want to get up Genius

[@rougemoonchild9429]

Ray is a savage for this the lyrics alone

[@sandra.oro66]

I can see where Ringo got the influence from on "I Feel Fine". That ride cymbal is GROOVY!!

[@gart9680]

Is this the epitome of cool? Even has Billy Preston on keyboard. Yeah! This the definition...

[@akula11000]

THE BLIND SENSATION..

[@KutWrite]

I love this... and the SNL use of it in a "Beethoven" skit.

[@jrussellcase]

This guy is and always has been, a musical god to me. 🙏

[@peterkemp9374]

Merry Clayton and Clydie King in this Raelette lineup. Vocal queens in their own right.

[@hemtet5500]

One of the Raelettes said in order to become one you had to let Ray!

[@Rayal1979]

*Me randomly watching a Ray Charles video after a Saturday morning KZbin spiral." ME: Wait...is that Billy Preston on the organ? 🤯

[@AbeFroman-zx5hs]

Have mercy. You didn’t expect the horns to just sit there at the beginning ❤️❤️

[@stephenbrower4216]

In the movie RAY, the tall Raelette really captured my heart & soul

[@normanbrown9225]

What Can You Say about PAPA RAY CHARLES. WOOW.

[@robfnmaxwell]

They should make a movie about the Raelettes

[@ronniemoon57]

THEY ALREADY DID!!!

[@voltairebanquirigo1119]

Ray charles compose this song at the spur of the moment during a live performance the band and the back up singers had no idea about the song but they play along and improvise. Man this is so amazing both the band and singers are not only professional performance but truly great

[@Janeair41....]

Thank you, Mr. Ed Sullivan for presenting these Talented artists on your show. For no other program would. 🌟🌟🌹🌹💯

[@DevinS695]

Ray Charles and James Cleveland are my top 2 pianist of the 20th century. Two different spectrums of music but they both knew how to make that piano SING ON ITS OWN

[@byfaithwalking1529]

Ray Charles & the Raelette's plus Billy Preston 👏🎹🎤

[@JosivaldoCorreia-e1e]

infelizmente não tive a oportunidade de assistir um show desse astro . a pobresa sempre me perseguio

[@Feldspar__]

This absolutely smokes.

[@anthonymarshall9978]

Blues rock and Roll FUSION. BAD ASS!

[@sooz9433]

Man this is one of the mist amazing performances I've ever seen Ray Charles give. Just phenomenal... Thank you Ed Sullivan...🤎 (And yeah Billy Preston was one busy player and Ray Charles drummer was outrageous!!🤎)

[@Warp75]

We all need a time machine

[@alanPickering-g4p]

he was a genius

[@nancydean8260]

Nothing like Ray, he was a genius.

[@standaman1963]

Billy Preston is a beast on that organ.

[@mv11000]

One of my all-time favourites, SHAKE THAT THING!

[@deborahclarke3389]

Ray was an amazing singer.

[@RandomMarcus92]

And an amazing Pianist!