[Dixielandjazz] Ray Charles, a question !

[TCASHWIGG at aol.com]

Hi Dave:

Yes he was indeed Ray Charles Robinson,

He changed his name so as to not be confused with Sugar Ray Robinson the 
prize fighter just before moving to Seattle Washington.

As to how or why he may have changed his Soc. Sec. #  One can only guess, If 
indeed he actually did so.  Could have been an impostor trying to cash in on 
his name and success somewhere back then.

It has not been an uncommon practice in Black musician circles for guys to 
assume the identity of a person becoming or who has already become famous and 
book themselves as that act and collect money for doing so until they are 
actually caught and stopped if they are.

Hence so many versions of the Drifters, The Coasters, Shirelles, Supremes, 
Platters, Ink Spots, Blind Boys of Alabama and Mississippi.  Not to mention all 
the Blues Jrs in the business, and guys claiming to be the sons and daughters 
of famous Blues and Jazz and Gospel singers.

I once sat at the Bar in a club in Mississippi with John Lee Hooker and 
watched a guy collect $3,000.00 in admissions to see and hear John Lee Hooker 
perform.  I had booked him at a college about thirty miles away and we had finished 
the show.  I saw the posters on a pole and drove over to the club to check it 
out.

I introduced John Lee Hooker to the Club owner who was mortified and agreed 
to wait till the guy had sold out the house then went up to the front door with 
a gun and took the money away from him, introduced him to the Real John Lee 
Hooker who along with me had paid him $10.00 each to get in the front door for 
the show.  The guy about crapped his pants, but gave up the money without a 
fight, and then asked if he could at least stay for the show before we called 
the cops.  We did not even call them since we got the money and we let the clown 
stay to see the show and thanked him for working so hard to promote the show, 
but told him if he ever did it again we would see him in jail.

The club owner went up on the stage at show time and told the people what had 
happened, but that they were in for a real treat, because the Real John Lee 
Hooker was here and will perform for you.  John went up and played three sets 
for them, and when we got back to our hotel he was rolling on the floor 
laughing about it.

Cheers,

Tom Wiggins