Tampa Bay musicians — and world famous, Tampa-based soul-singer, Latimore — paid tribute to Ray Charles at the Palladium Theater Saturday night. Some of Charles’ first performances happened at St. Pete’s Manhattan Casino on 22nd. Although he was born in Georgia, Charles spent most of his childhood in Florida and found “the girl of his dreams” in the “The St. Pete Florida Blues,” which is now the official song of St. Pete. The St. Pete Florida Blues Band — featuring Roy Peter Clark and Paul Wilborn on keys, vocalist Lillian Dunlap, Eric Deggans on drums, and guitarists J.J. Pattishall and Dave Scheiber — opened the show singing “Hit the Road Jack” and “Unchain My Heart” before Latimore got the crowd out of its seats for the duration of the evening.
At a time when local-based reporting is critical, support from our readers is essential to our future. If you're able to, please support Creative Loafing today.
Browse Galleries
The 20 most-anticipated new Tampa Bay restaurants opening this spring
20 Tampa Bay rooftop bars with incredibly scenic views
Former Carrabba’s president selling his waterfront Tuscan-style home in St. Pete
Don Jr. and Eric Trump are selling their Florida ‘Beachouse’ for $49 million
Proud Boys, neo-Nazis and everything else we saw at the CPAC freakshow in Orlando
Photos of Sienna Queen and Ken Apperson playing Tampa’s Hooch and Hive