There’s nothing quite like experiencing an artist perform live—and over the years there have been some performances that withstand the test of time.
Iconic artists like Ray Charles have such a star quality that even a fleeting live performance can translate to a recording and be just as powerful. When SNL kicked off in the late ’70s, he was an early guest star and played one of his top songs, “Hit the Road Jack,” for a live audience. A very lucky audience, I might add. Imagine what it would be like to experience Ray Charles live!
Sitting down at his piano, he has the whole audience clapping along as he sets the scene.
“Hey y’all, listen. Last night I was out with some of the cats in the band. And we were having a good time you know, we were having this little Black Jack game you know what I mean?”
There’s something about his spirit that’s infectious. You can’t help but smile when watching him do what he does best!
His song and story roll into a tale about coming home late to his wife, and her telling him to hit the road!
Not actually written by Ray Charles, “Hit the Road Jack” is one of the most commonly covered songs of all time. It’s been covered hundreds if not thousands of times, but it was originally written by Percy Mayfield in the 1960s.
The backup singers, dressed all in red and looking fabulous, belt the lyrics which echo through the room:
“Hit the road jack, and don’t cha come back no more no more no more no more, hit the road jack, and don’t cha come back no more.”
The band plays the smooth, backup music to support the flawless, bouncy piano.
And the crowd is clapping, hooting and hollering to the tune.
Charles was a regular performer on the show through the years, and his performances are some of the most memorable of all time.
Probably due to the fact that he can connect so well and so effortlessly with a live audience!
And can we talk about that slick silver suit? Absolutely slaying!
In fact, Rolling Stone magazine included his 1977 appearance on their list of the top 25 SNL performances.
And “Hit the Road Jack” made their list of top 500 songs of all time.
He really left a legacy!
He was also one of the first people to act as both a host and musical guest in the same episode.
And acted in memorable skits like “The Young Caucasians” alongside Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Bill Murray, Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner.
In 2020, Ray Charles would have been celebrating his 90th birthday!
But his music has withstood the test of time, and this video alone has racked up nearly 40 million views.
His reputation has lasted more than 70 years, and he’s still one of the most beloved musicians of all time.
Viewers are still inspired to this day—not just by Ray Charles, but by this specific enchanting performance. The comments section of YouTube is ablaze with adoring comments:
“He’s not even singing he’s straight up vibing with a piano.” – RAyeb TV
“I can’t ever watch this without a smile on my face.” – Vishnu Nair
“Man he was the absolute best, truly a blessing to the musical scene R.I.P. Ray you are truly missed.” – David Velkey
You can watch the epic and unforgettable performance by clicking the link below.
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