With eight-time GRAMMY Award-winner Philip Lawrence in the audience, the celebratory revelation of Ray Charles’s evolution as an enlightened musical performer proved genuinely inspiring.
By John Lavitt
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 03-26-2025
Led by Artistic and Music Director Rachael Worby of MUSE/IQUE in association with Center Theatre Group, ACCORDING TO RAY: Ray Charles’s Message to America proved to be a resounding success at the Mark Taper Forum. With a talented orchestra supporting them, GRAMMY Award-winner Brandon Victor Dixon, backed by the DC6 Singers Collective, did a fantastic job of bringing to life the musical legacy of Ray Charles.
From the singer’s childhood and evolution to his inspiring rendition of “America the Beautiful,” the show perfectly realized MUSE/IQUE’s theme for the 2025 season: Make Some Noise: Music and Stories of American Defiance and Hope. Focusing on “Transformative American Artists and Thinkers,” the show reflects MUSE/IQUE’s values by being entertaining while also being educational and in-depth.
As the guest of The Hollywood Times, eight-time Grammy Award winner, Philip Lawrence, was a vibrant part of the happy audience. As a musical entrepreneur, Philip is best known for his work with the songwriting and production team The Smeezingtons, alongside Bruno Mars and Ari Levine. After the show, Philip explained what Ray Charles’s legacy meant to him as a modern musical artist and performer. Expressing himself with care and focus, Philip said:
“Ray represents the power of overcoming life’s obstacles despite how insurmountable they may seem to be. Indeed, nothing can keep you from your purpose. Ray is a consummate reminder of what’s possible if you pursue your goals with passion, dedication, and an unwavering belief in your artistry. When you honor a power and a vitality that you sometimes may not fully understand, the music still breathes within you. Ray describes this sensation as what was in his bones and blood from the day he was born. As a fellow songwriter and performer, witnessing his strength inspires me. Ray and all the greats that have come before me have given me an authentic platform to explore my creativity.”
In line with Philip’s take on the man who reshaped American music for half a century, the performance revealed the expansive reach of Ray’s musical journey. At the same time, it provided revelatory insight into the mechanics and intricacies of Ray’s creative process. For example, it was incredible to learn that Ray first met Quincy Jones as a teenager living in Seattle in 1948. Quincy was fourteen years old, and Ray was sixteen when their lifelong friendship began. Together, they walked a musical path of challenges, eventually leading to the seminal album, “The Genius of Ray Charles.”
Discussing the impact of the show, Philip Lawrence could not stop smiling. As he explained, when a show touches your heart and soul, it is a moment to celebrate. Indeed, Philip expressed these feelings when he said:
“I almost cried when I heard Ray’s voice in the performance explain where the music came from and how he felt it burning within. I don’t know how this drive, this lifelong passion, was ignited within me, but I know that once it was lit, it never went out. Like Ray, I am overflowing with gratitude for the gift of that fire. I also am thankful that the show does justice to the legacy of Ray’s gift. The three-fold combination of Brandon Victor Dixon’s incredible vocals, the precision orchestration of the band, and Rachael Worby’s passionate storytelling is dynamic and empowering.”
From the beginning to the end, watching MUSE/IQUE’s ACCORDING TO RAY was a delight. It was inspiring and deeply moving. Moreover, watching it side-by-side with the musical magnitude of Philip Lawrence helped to illuminate the outstanding performances of Rachael Worby and Brandon Victor Dixon. Together, with a talented team of singers and musicians supporting them, they brought Ray Charles back to life for a beautiful moment on the Mark Taper Forum stage.
Photo by Haoyuan Ren courtesy of MUSE/IQUE
