The best show of the week will be live streamed Wednesday from the White House of all place. That’s when the Smithsonian tribute to Ray Charles takes place, to be shown on Friday night on PBS.
“Soul Man” Sam Moore is the only performer on the guest list who actually knew Ray, so he’ll be leading a bunch of young -uns including Usher, Yolanda Adams, Anthony Hamilton, Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes, Leon Bridges, Andra Day, Jussie Smollett from “Empire,” and, hmmm…. Demi Lovato through the massive Ray Charles songbook. Rickey Minor is musical director.
Moore, a youthful 80, and Howard ripped it up last fall at Eddie Murphy’s Mark Twain prize concert for PBS, so this will be a happy reunion.
