# Did Ray Charles ever meet Stevie Wonder? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2006, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817 "2006-02-10T04:29:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/1 "2006-02-10T04:29:46Z")
If so, on what occasion, and did they ever play music together? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/2 "2006-02-10T04:30:51Z")
> [@DaveRaver](#): > > If so, on what occasion, and did they ever play music together? I think so, I’m trying to remember where and when but I would think the Grammies at least. Try IMDB search for both actors. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/3 "2006-02-10T04:34:17Z")
From [http://www.swingmusic.net/Ray\_Charles\_Biography.html](http://www.swingmusic.net/Ray_Charles_Biography.html) > [@](#): > > Also in the 1970s Charles made a stirring guest shot on Aretha Franklin’s album Live at the Fillmore, and a hallmark pure-funk rendition of America the Beautiful on his 1972 collection A Message From the People. His output during this period also included work with singers Randy Newman and Stevie Wonder. Jim ---
**Author:** ![\_Ava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/43a26b/32.png) [@\_Ava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Ava)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/4 "2006-02-10T04:46:41Z")
Probably not what you’re looking for, but they both participated in We Are The World. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/5 "2006-02-10T04:49:22Z")
> [@\*Ava\*](#): > > Probably not what you’re looking for, but they both participated in We Are The World. That was the one I was trying to remember. They both sang on the Christmas song from this. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/6 "2006-02-10T11:11:10Z")
**Did Ray Charles ever meet Stevie Wonder?** There’s a really tasteless joke in there somewhere, but I haven’t quite figured it out… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/7 "2006-02-10T13:13:04Z")
Assuming that the question was answered. I want to add this link. [WWWF GRUDGE MATCH: Stevie Wonder vs. Ray Charles](http://www.grudge-match.com/History/stevie-ray.shtml) Enjoy, Jim ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/8 "2006-02-10T13:26:09Z")
> [@Hail Ants](#): > > **Did Ray Charles ever meet Stevie Wonder?** > > There’s a really tasteless joke in there somewhere, but I haven’t quite figured it out… 😃 A really tasteless _sightless_ joke in there. Straight to Hell for that one. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/9 "2006-02-10T13:40:40Z")
> [@Hail Ants](#): > > **Did Ray Charles ever meet Stevie Wonder?** > > There’s a really tasteless joke in there somewhere, but I haven’t quite figured it out… 😃 Obviously: No. They just couldn’t see eye-to-eye about it. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/10 "2006-02-10T14:34:39Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Obviously: No. They just couldn’t see eye-to-eye about it. Crap! Exactly the “Go To Hell Free” card I was going to play! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/11 "2006-02-10T14:42:31Z")
> [@Hail Ants](#): > > **Did Ray Charles ever meet Stevie Wonder?** > > There’s a really tasteless joke in there somewhere, but I haven’t quite figured it out… 😃 Throw in Jose Feliciano, and it practically writes itself. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/12 "2006-02-10T14:51:50Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Throw in Jose Feliciano, and it practically writes itself. Ronnie Milsap would make it a quartet. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/13 "2006-02-10T14:53:49Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Ronnie Milsap would make it a quartet. Andre Botticelli for a quintet ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/14 "2006-02-10T14:55:52Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Andre Botticelli for a quintet I don’t think there is room in this joke for [a whole choir](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_with_visual_disabilities#Blind_musicians) > [@](#): > > Amadou and Mariam > Frankie Armstrong, English folk singer and voice teacher, sight degraded in late teens onwards from glaucoma > Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750), became blind in later life. > Blind Blake > Andrea Bocelli, (born 1958), barely sighted at birth became completely blind at 12. > Archie Brownlee (of The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi) > Henry Butler > Jessica Callahan (1986– ), singer, blind from retinopathy of prematurity > Clarence Carter > Ray Charles, (1930–2004), blind from glaucoma after age 7. > Arizona Dranes > Blind Gary Davis > Blind John Davis > Blind Willie Davis > Jose Feliciano (1945– ), blind from birth due to congenital glaucoma > Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996), jazz singer, went blind as a result of diabetes in her old age. > Blind Mamie Forehand > Clarence Fountain (of The Blind Boys of Alabama) > Blind Boy Fuller > G.B. Grayson, old timey fiddler from Ashe County, North Carolina, recorded in 1920s > W.C. Handy, (1873–1958), Blues composer, went blind in middle age > Jeff Healey > Heather Hutchison (1988– ), teenage pop-singer > Blind Lemon Jefferson (1893–1929), Blues musician & singer > Blind Willie Johnson > Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1935–1977), blind jazz saxophonist, perhaps best known for his ability to play more than one saxophone at once. > Kuzuhara Koto > Stalebread Lacombe, Jazz musician, went blind in middle age > Francesco Landini, 14th century Italian composer; blind from childhood, from smallpox > Corinna May (1970– ), German jazz singer, blind from childhood > Blind Willie McTell (1901–1959) > Ronnie Milsap > Moondog (1916–1999), musician and composer, blinded as a young adult > Ginny Owens, Gospel singer, totally blind from age 2 > Paderevski > Maria Theresia Paradis > Conrad Paumann > Marcus Roberts > Joaquin Rodrigo, composer, blind from meningitis at age three > Gerlinde Sämann (1969– ), German soprano, blind from childhood > Diane Schurr > George Shearing (1919– ), jazz pianist. > John Stanley, composer, became partially blind as the result of a domestic accident at age 2 > Surdas, a Hindu poet, saint and musician of India > Blind Joe Taggart > Alec Templeton (1909–1963), jazz musician > Lennie Tristano > Kelvin Tan Wei Lian Singaporean singer, became almost totally blind after late-teens > Art Tatum > Sonny Terry > Doc Watson, folk guitarist, blinded by a childhood eye infection at the age of one. > Stevie Wonder, blindness from retrolental fibroplasia caused by high oxygen concentrations in the incubator in which he was placed because of his premature birth. > Joana Zimmer (German singer and marathon runner, blind from birth) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/15 "2006-02-10T14:58:48Z")
What has four legs, a tail, eats oats, and sees equally well out of either end? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/16 "2006-02-10T16:14:24Z")
> [@Hail Ants](#): > > **Did Ray Charles ever meet Stevie Wonder?** > > There’s a really tasteless joke in there somewhere, but I haven’t quite figured it out… 😃 They wrote the song “Endless Love”, after a three-hour tennis match. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/17 "2006-02-10T16:21:50Z")
I thought the obvious “Go to hell free” response was “how would they know?” But I can SEE the humor in the other jokes ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/18 "2006-02-10T16:28:50Z")
Don’t forget Blind Lemon Lipschitz, who gouged out his eyeballs with a spoon just so he could be called Blind Lemon…it’s true, don’t laugh! okay, so it’s not ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/19 "2006-02-10T16:35:47Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > A really tasteless _sightless_ joke in there. How about yes, but they didn’t recognize each other. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817/20 "2006-02-10T23:31:36Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > They wrote the song “Endless Love”, after a three-hour tennis match. Dammit, you beat me to it. 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ray-charles-ever-meet-stevie-wonder/343817.md?page=2)