Leon Russell, Willie Nelson and Ray Charles performing Leon's hit - "A Song For You". Live at willie's 70th birthday concert in New York's Beacon Theatre 2003.
Yes we were. I was 17 in 1971 and heard this song for the first time. This and many others. What a privelege to come of age with this magical music. I doubt that there will ever be another explosion of creativity like that, at least not in my lifetime.
Willie knew Ray was dying and at 415....You can see what a Love and Friendship looks like.......They were friends for over 30 yrs...Ray was really speaking directly to Willie and Willie knows it and almost breaks down...What a grand moment...
After hundreds of hours listening to great music on RU-vid, this is my favorite live performance. Ray Charles and Willie Nelson had an intimate friendship, and both knew this concert would be Ray’s last time to express their closeness publicly. (Ray died soon after.) So they chose Leon Russell’s classic “A Song for You.” Leon kicked it off, then Willie took a verse. And then Ray took over Leon’s lyric and with his voice recreated it as a testament to Willie. Ray’s vocal might have been directed to one person, but it broke every heart in that concert hall. Being loved by Ray Charles is something every human with a heart would aspire to. The next best thing is to witness it, and here we are treated to this great artist’s most heartfelt declaration of affection for his friend. It’s a historic moment and the audience picks up on it, and so does the band. We lucky RU-vid viewers are the recipients of a one-time declaration of his deepest feelings for a friend as expressed by a great artist. That it is performed in real time in the company of Ray’s treasured friend provides all of us with the understanding that yes, we are here for something, and all we have is each other. There are no easy answers, but that doesn’t matter when with beloved friends we only need to let them know how much they mean to us.
I'm crying watching Willie Watching Ray...... Oh my God... so much emotion in both their faces... knowing that this would probably be their last time together on stage... And Knowing too that even though Leon wrote this song, Ray Charles owned it... The respect that both Leon and Willie were paying to Ray Charles is evident in Willie's face, he's having a hard time holding it in...... Leon Russell, Ray Charles and Willie on the same stage.... It doesn't get any better than that! Now if you'll excuse me.. I need to finish crying ❤
Ray takes over a song meant to be shared by all three, but it ends up being and emotional tribute to all three, Leon as the songs creator, Willie as everybody’s friend, and Ray himself, whose emotional rendition of any song fills it with soulful, loving energy. Who’s going to complain about that?
They all knew it was Ray’s last performance. That would be a hard few minutes to stand there and watch him sing this song. Mr. Charles was in fantastic form considering his health and age. A true legend. Rest In Peace sir! You brought joy and love to millions of people the world over.
@@josephwitkowski6665 yes it was his last performance. It was far from his best performance but it was adequate considering liver cancer is painful. I would suspect he was in pain here. His voice was not steady but it’s so incredible for him to even be performing. Probably one of the most instantly recognizable persons to ever live. Of course that is subjective to opinion but is there anyone more recognizable than him by sight or sound? Maybe Muhammad Ali and a few others. The movements, the teeth, the glasses, the voice. If you turned out the lights and could only see a silhouette of him, you couldn’t mistake him. To hear only his voice, is unmistakable. He had a very hard start to life, and was blasted under pressure like a diamond to become a true gem.
OMG! That is so emotionally draining. Why do we have to grow old? Why can't this last forever? Well their music will never die. That is for sure. Thank you Ray and Leon and Happy 91st Birthday Willie!
Halfway through this, Willie and Ray are completely alone together in that room full of people. And you can see it happen on Willie’s face. And in his eyes. As close as these two men were, I’m sure Willie was aware of Ray’s health and that time together was precious.
A few days ago was Willie's 91st Birthday. CRAZY!! I am SO SURE Leon and Ray are watching over him, keeping him going and strong. What a beautiful performance this was. Tears streaming down my face over here. What a special time we were able to witness huh?! God bless us all
I’m probably going to cry like a baby when we lose willie Nelson. Watching Willie get emotional puts a lump in my throat. Unbelievable how much talent is on this one stage.
Me too. Legends die fairly often. Like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Marty Robbins, Ray Charles and Merle Haggard, but Willie Nelson is unique. In my opinion, Willie has always been the greatest country singer, clearly in a category by himself. The first time I thought of him inevitably dying was many years ago and it affected me deeply. If it was up to me Willie would live forever. It's hard to imagine Country Music without Willie. It's easier to imagine heaven's music with Willie.
@@timharper4246 it sure is, I’m a Brit 👍🇬🇧and my family love him..I’m so blessed to be able to see him as I’m sure how long he’s going to do concerts for hope you have a fab time, it’s going to be memorable ❤️
Leon Russell, a musical genius, shared his talent with the world. He, Ray, and Willie were great friends and some of the best the best this world has ever seen and heard.
Willie is so moved by Ray's performance. I met Willie on the day he was flying out to go to Ray Charles's funeral. He was so kind and laughed and joked with me even though he was heartbroken. I'll never forget our conversation as long as I live.
Ray going down those octaves and it just not seeming to end is impressive. Willie learned classical Guitar and has been around a lot of good piano players. I've never seen willie look someone in awe like that in my 40 decades watching him.
This was one of Ray's last performances, Willie knew that. Willies admiration, and his facial expressions, for Ray always get me. This video brings a tear to my eye.
I felt the same. To see a grown man, and one hard as nails like Willie, cry is a powerful thing. There was such a humility to it. As if he didn't feel worthy to even share the stage with Ray. In that moment he was just another fan watching the performance of a lifetime.
@@oilyshoes9969 This was April 2003. Ray Charles died in June 2004 after canceling performances beginning in March 2004. He had closer to 7 months to perform, not 7 years.
Love Leon and I'm one of Willie's biggest fans but Ray took this song over and made it his own! It's almost unbelievable the amount of talent those three possess. God speed Ray and Leon.
They understood what was going on. That's real honor and respect right there brother. When Ray took the fore even Nelson and Leon, legends in their own right, stepped back and let the legend speak.
Played every relevant song when going through painful break up. Makes No Difference, The Band, This Old House by Nancy Griffith( or covered), You Are Not Alone by Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweety. Played them over and over because they explained what I was feeling. Thank you for all the great musicians!
God damn it! I hate that LEON RUSSELL takes a back stage to these guys, even though it is his fucking song they are performing!!!!. Here in the comments, no one acknowledges him as an awesome musician, equal too these guys and it pisses me off. His whole career was spent in someone else's shadow, even though he was often far more talented . RIP big man, my love flows eternal to you.
We were indeed blessed to have lived in a time when music absolutely came alive and offered us the opportunity to choose the music that brought the best melodies to our ears and joy to our hearts as well as a bond with so many people of our great generation. I have no problem listening to the music that I hear today, but I am very happy that technology has been able to continue to keep the music alive that I grew up with and shared with friends, whether it was at live concerts, at home or riding in my van, I enjoyed it all.
My family's name is Charles. And my Dad was a big music fan. When he would play Ray Charles music, he would tell us that was our Uncle Ray. Now we were just little and we thought it was pretty cool!! And he would laugh while we all sat there listening or dancing around a little to the music. We are a White family and it was a few years before I knew that Ray Charles was a Black man. When I asked my Dad about it he would just laugh and say it was a joke he just couldn't resist. (My Dad was an only child). And I have called the man Uncle Ray ever since.
My uncle Mike played music and him and willie could have been twins literally. Mike passed away back in 2012. But the love that Willie makes me think of the way I loved Mike and yes! This made me bawl like a baby. But also because I'm a huge fan of all three of those guys! Lol
I got to see Ray Charles before he died ..a blessing....Jesus loves in a place where there is no space or time and came into our space to die on that cross for our sins..We are in the final days!!!
It is heart-breaking that this was basically Ray's way of saying goodbye to Willie, like he knew his time was soon. Even Willie knew it, and even cried from how emotional he got from it.
@Willie Nelson 🔵 I grew up listening to your music since I was a child. My father would play your records frequently on our old record player, so your music was a part of our home always. My father and I love music dearly, and we often went out to venues across the state to see live shows together, even attending more than a few of your picnics. We actually had the pleasure of meeting once, at a show you were playing at the Arena Theater in Houston. My whole family managed to get front row seats to the show, and had a wonderful time. My grandmother, who has since recently passed, met and talked a while with your sister Bobbie, Bee was egging me on to sing louder during "I'll Fly Away", and even getting to talk with you and Mickey before and after the show. Your music has always been a part of my life, and I still love and listen to it often. I am no longer a young boy as I once was, but now I am a grown man with a wife of my own, and maybe one day I can pass on your music to my future children as well. I just want to say thank you for giving us all so many great memories, simply by doing what you love and sharing it with us all.
This is one of the greatest live performances of a song I've ever seen or heard anywhere at any time. Ray Charles showed why people in the music business called him a genius. What a stunning performance. The look on Willie's face says it all.
We all knew the song was special thats how it became a classic but this performance makes it without place or time true to itself and these very special gentlemen are now immortals.
I saw him several times in Tulsa Brady Theater he was always great and I loved the smaller venue. I saw Leon and wife Grace together at Brady they were great together! Love Leon!
This video should be preserved in a museum. Leon Russell is not idle; he is performing motionless, Willie Nelson facials tell a thousand stories watching this semi-god's flawless performance. Art & Art History at its highest moments ...including tears and goosebumps
That band never missed either. When it was Ray's time to take the lead melody and play, they all quieted down, provided texture, and kept whatever tempo ray was on. Even in his twilight years, master class musicians understood implicitly that they had a responsibility to step back and allow a legend to take the fore.
I watched an interview with Ray and he said Leon's Song For You was one of his favorite songs. Willie said it too. They were all tight friends for decades. This was Ray's last performance and they all knew it. This recording is a national treasure. Pure soul between three genius musicians who were long time friends. It was personal and they shared it with us. A blessing.
@@Lee-ot5esWell said, Lee!! Thank you Ray, Leon and Willie for sharing your gift of music with us! We are better for it! This ole world is better for having known you!! Peace, joy and love!!
I worked for WN in West Palm Beach 30 yrs ago and he kissed my hand and was so gracious. He was there until everyone in line after the show got to go into his motor home and met him and got an autograph photo . I just know it is one of my very very best memories. ❤
I lost respect for Ray Charles when I saw him speaking horribly about Elvis Presley. I know for a fact that Elvis would NEVER have said ugly things about Ray. I'm just glad Elvis never heard Ray's hateful words. Elvis was a kind, generous, loving, Gentlemen. Too bad Ray felt the need to speak so hatefully about Elvis. I was a huge fan of Ray Charles ...and I wish I had never seen the video from the 80's, but that's what you find on RU-vid ...the Good, Bad ...and the Ugly.
@@jessiem276 2 SIDES TO EVERY STORY!...I too loved Elvis, but he too made derogatory comments also. Bottom line, both were young still growing, evolving, learning!...we All have said or done some things!...watch the interviews with Priscilla Presley...no one is perfect!....MUST show mercy, forgiveness, maturity!
watching Willie's emotional response to Ray was as good as it gets. THAT is why music is magic..it has the power to bring you to your knees. The best version of this remarkable song.
I'VE BEEN A FAN OF ALL 3 FOR 25 YEARS, BUT AS SOON AS RAY STARTED SINGING, I GOT FULL BODY CHILLS AND STARTED CRYING. IT HIT ME REALLY HARD KNOWING THIS WAS ONE OF HIS LAST PERFORMANCES. THE WAY WILLIE LOOKS AT HIM KNOWING HIS FRIEND OF 30+ YEARS WAS DYING, CRUSHED ME.
This makes me cry each time. The power of life inside Ray Charles voice is just so overwhelming. It cannot get more soulful than this. Its like a full life of memories and moments condensed into a few minutes of singing... and it keeps building on, as if Ray himself could see his own life review flashing before his mind right there as he was singing... all the beauty, friendships etc... he was leaving it all there through each notes, each words. All his love and joy. Sang purely from his heart...its just too beautiful and grand. I mean you can feel it in Willie's face. It transcends. Makes you wanna live
Happens the same to me. I've seen this video at least a hundred times and each time I've cried. Nothing can compare with the feeling of that moment right there
Love Leon Russell.. sometimes when I hear songs like this that were a part of the fabric of my life back in 1973 - , I am amazed at how much we had...great songwriters, musicians, great lyrics,great voices. So lucky!
I agree, wonderful gifted musicians. Miss that time in my life. Remember seeing willie in Tahoe in the 80's. He shared his bottle of wisky with our table.
Can we all just take just 3 simple seconds and callobrate that Ray Charles is hitting Melodies on the piano and singing like that at 72 years old, RIP legend one of a kind man♥
This always makes me cry. Ray Charles was dying of liver cancer at the time and Willie knew this was gonna be the last time he'd play with Ray. Leon and Willie both sang a verse but they let Ray have the floor. You can see Willie getting choked up but smiling at the same time. Powerful stuff.
Watched so many times & always tears my heart to pieces. No egos -- all hearts. Willie breaks my heart & Leon steps back, never touching the keyboards, THIS IS LOVE !
it was respect. and knowing when theyre outclassed. the look on willie's face said it all. it was reverence. all the sudden leon and willie were in church.
People think that a gifted person just stands up and writes a song like this like this, because he is gifted. That's not how it happens. Leon russell was an extremely talented, thoroughly musically educated person who could have played sonatas for high-brow audiences but he became the man behind the Mad Dogs and Englishmen. A golden talent with megatons of hard work. Thank you. Leon!
I have seen Willie many times in concert. Never had the privilege to see Ray Charles or Leon Russell. We all know Ray was dying at the time. The song belongs to him. His emotional performance as he is obviously directly sing to Willie is both spellbinding and heartbreaking. I have to say, Willie held up like the trooper that he is. However, in all the times I have seen Willie, whether it be live or otherwise, I have never seen that kind of look on his face.
This is my aunts fav song. She cried so much when she was here. I hated to see her go, I had to move her with her daughter. At 102yrs she said she was needing a playlist. I love her where no Space In Time. Songs filled with love👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏💅💅💖💖💖missing you aunt vi💞💞💞💞
Oh my goodness I'm just seeing this now. I loved Leon Russel may he RIP . Of course I love Willie Nelson and Ray Charles . I cried thru the entire song along with Willie. What a blessing to see all 3 together.
Agreed. I think a measure of greatness is longevity. I began listening to the great Bishop Ray Charles (as he was often called in the early days) in the 1950s. He remained popular and relevant decade after decade. No small accomplishment.
They're all three like demi-gods to me but Ray is just the best I've ever heard. I love how Leon and Willie kind of bow out and give it over to him... the Grandmaster. the looks on Willie's face are so respectful. Great video!
Absolutely. I don't care who you are, when Ray Charles is on the stage, you just be quiet, step aside and let the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) do his thing.
I agree, but I also feel a bit bad for Leon. After all, he actually wrote the song, but was never able to convey it the way Ray was able to. Had to sting a bit...
Every single time I've cried watching this (at least a hundred times). Nothing in life can give a feeling so overwhelming as this song and this particular moment
I myself came to watch again because I just listened to the carpenters version and it kills me when she sings "and when mylife is over" ugh tears and now hearing Ray sing that part more tears , and the way Willie is holding back tears oh man.... a great rendition especially since it is Leon song
There was a distinct moment in this version where it was painfully obvious that it must end - but some irrational part of me wishes it could just continue on forever...
Scarlet B. The sheer look on Willie's face and fighting back tears should tell you why Ray Charles sang the major part of the song. This was shortly before he died. Respect !
Has there ever been a singer like Ray Charles? Will there ever be another one? I think so much emotion came from him into every line he sang, that it would be impossible for another to recreate that. As a naive little boy, I heard Ray on the radio and knew he was special. Over the years, I have come to understand he was more special than I realized. Rest in Peace Ray Charles. You brought peace and beauty into my life.
You definitely find the best Howard thank you for sharing all those different memories and my favorite opera music I hope one day we can go to the offer together Howard thank you
It takes a lot of guts to continue playing after Ray Charles starts singing. That band is really something. To be honest after Ray starts singing it gets hard to look at something else besides Ray. For sure one of the best moments in music history I've seen.
As I watch the video again, It will always be a treasured classic, a keepsake, and fond memories of great American singers and musicians, RIP Leon and Ray,
Three very talented men singing for a very special audience. An audience that cared for their fellow man, they knew that, that was why they were there 💝
I won't lie Willie is talented as hell, but I'll never forget my dad saying he went to his concert the backup band played 45-60 minutes then Willie came on drunk and played for bout three to five minutes and sucked.
there are singers and there are musicians and Then there’s RAY CHARLES 🤷🏼♂️💯❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 My favorite of All Time❤️❤️❤️🙌thank You God for RAY CHARLES 🙏
It's unfortunate when people do not understand the nuances of art, dignity, respect and love that make life moments special and priceless. Ray Charles was singing this song TO Willie Nelson as an expression of the mutual love they had for each-other as friends, especially given that Ray was dying and both Willie and Leon knew that. It was Ray's homage to Leon and his tribute to Willie, it was not Ray hogging the song. If you can't look at Willie and see and feel and understand this, and if you cant listen to Ray and know this - you are missing some major ish in your life.
@@timothylewis2450 actually, what makes Art as produced by Leon, Willie and Ray work is the fact it is REACHING for people on a universal level, as much and as many as possible. Statements about how somebody “does not understand” flies in the face of the evidence before you- people do get it. That is the whole point, not some faux elitism.
@Willie Nelson 🎵 For me it was watching you work... working at the music. I was a big rock-n-roll fan, living in Vegas, went to concerts just about every week, from the Ice Palace then the casino's Concert stages.. one day I had to see what this 'cowboy music' was all about and went to a show.. was impressed. You set the Cowgirls up and I would knock-em over... first time I wore a Kaboy hat. Seriously, you were a fav of us in Vegas.. Up there with Frank with style, through the rough times you had... Vegas people were behind you 100% of the time. You worked at the music, not just played.
I lived 5 blocks from Leon's house in Tulsa when I was a small kid, early 70's, and my best friend and I use to ride our bikes to his house, ring his gate bell and have conversations with his staff and band members. To this day, 40+ years later, I still remember how kind they were. Though I live 6,000 miles from there I still have a place in my heart for Leon. RIP and thank you for contributing your art to this world.
He was a real person, good human being, but I was so shocked by how small he was, very small hands. My first husband toured with Leon in the mid 70s and he was a very interesting guy
What was in the water in Tulsa. I can't believe how nobody connects the dots and gives credit or recognition to the AMAZING group of musicians that came up at the same time. Some get credit some don't but none get their just desserts
@@bigblueslover Part of it has to do with the fact that Tulsa is insignificant. They had a long history of music and let it slide away as they embraced Tele Evangelists and to become one of the centers of that movement and the oppression that comes with it. Now? It continues to be one of many has been cities in the US.
