June 13th, 2003
Hello and welcome to this site. On this page I will write and share some of my experiences and thoughts on Music, my travels, and any other thing that strikes my fancy. Some will be nice, some not so nice but I welcome your response. Email me at osotriart@aol.com. Here goes.

I am very happy to be part of the Summit Record company. They have been a good partner in my recorded work. If you are a musician with a project consider them for release. I am currently producing a CD for alto great Richie Cole. It features Tyrone Brown on bass, Jim Miller on Drums and myself on piano (I could not resist joining this great band for the date.) Look at this site for further info soon.

Thanks for reading this.

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June 13th, 2004

Goodbye to Ray

Dearest P,
I am writing this to you, my oldest friend, as I know you will understand.

In 1960 I was walking past my neighbors house with my little radio glued to my ear. It was WIBG in Phila and They started to play Ray Charles' What'd I say Part 2.
I never heard anything quite like this! The music had great piano playing and a voice that just spoke of soul.
That was my first intro into the world that was Ray Charles.
The next week I went down town Trenton to the Woolworth's and bought "Genius Plus Soul = Jazz" It was a Revelation! All the music was straight from this guys heart. I started to get every Ray Charles Record I could find (In those days some of the Race records [Black Artists] were hard to find, but find them I did!)

I met Ray in 1963 after a concert at the Arena in Phila. I approached him and the Raelet's closed arms around Ray until a musician from the band that I knew said I was OK.
They let me through.
Ray was tired, had a wrinkled jacket and stubble on his face. The face itself had almost an empty look, kind but without any real emotion.( I guessed it was the blindness..The Lack of eyes that always show the soul) I was introduced by my friend and shook his hand. A small conversation took place and he went out to the bus.
In 1966 I took you for the first time to see Ray at the war memorial in Trenton. I was very proud that you came with me. After the show we went backstage to Meet Ray. As we went under the curtain It started down and a big laugh came from behind the curtain. It just missed your arm and there stood Clifford Scott the tenor sax player just roaring. I was so pissed! Also Ray had just Left the building
But It didn't matter. You saw Ray and I shared that with you.
In that period of time I spent many a night down at the "Latin Casino" when Ray Played there. I hung with the band and studied the charts (Music). Billy Preston and Curtis Amy took the time to show me what went on with the music.( Also They shared a lot of stories about the road and working with Ray)
Well over the years I have seen Ray about 1,000 times. We have met and spoke on many occasions and I have learned a lot from this genius. Maybe the biggest lesson was to be true to your self and take chances with your music. But always feel what you are doing, not in a surface sense but Deep in your heart down in your very soul.

He is now gone. The world is a little smaller tonight.

Today I went to say good bye to him up in La.
He was laid out in the South hall of the LA Convention center. It was the pubic viewing of the body of this man who changed my life. The body was there but there was no energy. It has left and I believe that it is in the air waiting to sing and play again.
And It will! Ray's music will live through us who saw him and those who hear his records. It will Reverberate through time.( Because The soul is forever)

Today thousands of people were there to say good-bye. All ages! All colors! and all with tears in their eyes!( None as much as me). It was the way He would have wanted it. His music was playing and there was a piano right next to his coffin and his people, his fans, all came to see him for the last time. It was a great way for a musician to go out! and I hope when my time comes I will go like Him, Playing until the end, with friends coming out and saying good-bye.
So as I sit here (Again with more tears) I wanted to tell you about this day. It was very hard for me and thank God Kelly was by my side, for I'm not sure I would have quite made it.

I am copying this to some of my other friends as tonight I do not have the emotional strength to write all these emails. Please forgive me, those whom I have copied, I don't like to do that But I am sure you will understand.
P,
I hope you are well and I want you to know the "Bear" is OK, sad but OK.
Tomorrow I will play for all of you and especially for my friend, Ray Charles.
Good night and may your night and your life be filled with Ray's song.
B.