SONGLIST

Mess Around (1953)

I Got a Woman (1955)

Hallelujah, I Love Her So (1956)

Night time is the Right Time (1959)

What'd I Say (1959)

Georgia On My Mind (1960)

Let the Good Times Roll (1960)

Hit the Road, Jack (1961)

I Can't Stop Loving You (1962)

Chicken Shack (Intro)

Sinner's Prayer (1962)

Bye Bye Love (1962)

Unchain My Heart (1962)

You Are My Sunshine (1962)

You Don't Know Me (1962)

Busted (1963)

Drift Away (1979)

Shake a Tail Feather (1980)

634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)

Sweet Home Chicago

Sweet Soul Music

Respect

Shake a Tail Feather (1980)

Seven Spanish Angels (1984)

Baby Grand (1986)

Song For You (1993)

Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word (2004)

... and many more

Frank Rondell, born Frank Anthony Chiarelli, has been in the music business professionally for over fifty years.  One of his first recordings, for Golden Triangle records out of Bay City, Michigan, included two self-penned originals:  ‘Tru Gee’ and ‘Ain’t Goin’ Home’, released in 1964 with his then band, The Chancellors.  By 1965, Frank had signed in Motown to the Motown Record Corporation (Hitsville, U.S.A.).

He continued recording with various labels throughout the 60’s and by the early 1970’s, together with his sister Rita Chiarelli (who would go on to a very successful career as a Canadian blues artist), he formed the Canadian band, Magic Bubble, recording for Columbia Records.  Many of the songs on this album were written by Frank.

As a career full-time musician, Frank moved through the 70’s from band to band, recording with a number of labels, CBS Records in Canada and Epic and Bell Records in the States, to name a few.  By the time the 80’s rolled around, he’d taught himself to play guitar and was doing a solo act and recording with the Roto Noto label.  From there, it was off for extensive world travel working on cruise ships.  And it was there, while working as a headlined front man with different bands, emulating whatever singer he was portraying, that the idea for a Ray Charles tribute was born.

“Part of my show [on the cruise ships] was to do impressions, and Ray Charles was always my best”, says Frank.  “People would come up to me suggesting that I do a full Ray Charles tribute, and one day I was in downtown Toronto on Yonge Street with Al Ross, an Elvis impersonator.  He was looking at wigs and I noticed a sample display case in the store with every colour make-up that could be found.  A light bulb went off in my head and I asked the salesgirl if I could try a few.  I left the store with a few shades of make-up under my arm, went home, and from there the act evolved.”

That was in the early 90’s.  Frank spent a number of years, working on his act, watching tape after tape of Ray Charles, learning all his nuances and physical gestures, as well as learning all the music.  And Frank has taken his tribute show to the level, as is said on one of the many places on the internet that talks of his show, to the point that "he is now one of the best Ray Charles Tribute Artists in the world.”

In the past few years, Frank has taken his Ray Charles show all over the world:  the Giallino Theatre during a month in Athens; Hamburg, Germany; a full month tour of Australia, covering every major city;  in Japan at all the U.S. Naval bases, Hong Kong and all over Canada and the U.S.A.  In 2004, Frank was working with a Blues Brothers show in Berlin when Jamie Foxx’s movie, ‘Ray’ was released.  The Berlin Film Palast hired Frank to do a promo shoot for the theatre (pictured above).  Frank recalls:  “The crowds built into the hundreds in front of the theatre on one of the busiest streets downtown, with everyone yelling ‘Jamie Foxx’.  They all thought I was him.  When I was working with Koko Taylor at a show in Chicago a few years ago, she kept calling me ‘Brother Ray’ all night long.”

In 2003, Frank linked up with some old friends from the Powerhouse band and it was suggested that the band learn his show and try a few shows.  The band had already completed their Chicago Transit show, and just finished their Rod Stewart show.  So within weeks, the band had added a Ray Charles tribute to their expanding repertoire and Frank Rondell had added an eight-piece band to his.  By far, the biggest hightlight of the band's work with Frank Rondell (to date) has been a two-week tour of Portugal and the Azores Islands in the fall of 2006.

We have included a rather encompassing four-page pictorial spread of this tour on this website.  The link is at "Portugal Tour."  Further information about Frank Rondell and his Ray Charles tribute act can be found at his personal website at:  http://www.raycharlestributeshow.com/bio.html

Frank Rondell, the three-piece back-up choir, the Roulettes and the eight-member band, Powerhouse waving good-bye in the 1st Ponta Delgada Coliseum, on Sao Miguel Island in the Azores Islands.

The RAY CHARLES SHOW Stage Plot and Input List (above and below) are also available in improved resolution, downloadable ppt (Microsoft Powerpoint) and pdf (Adobe compatible) versions by clicking  HERE or by contacting the band at cdn_musicman@hotmail.com