In Their
Words.
Don Peake’s recollections, and the words of musicians who worked alongside him.
“The day I auditioned for Ray Charles, they called me and they said, ‘Hey, we're looking for a guitar player.’ And I said, ‘I'm white.’”
“You read ahead about four bars. You're always watching ahead to see what's coming.”
“It's when preparation and opportunity meet at the corner.”
“I was about 16 and I was watching these guys, these three kids, and they were playing the guitar and I was fascinated.”
“I was lead guitar with the Everly for three years.”
“I believe that Ray saved my life that night.”
“It will be an authentic experience for the audience. This is not a cover band, we're the guys who played on those hit recordings.”
“Along with the music being played, the heart of the show will be the stories and the visuals, with some vintage film and photos of sessions and performances with the greats.”
“Being in the studio is one thing, communicating with an audience is another. I love to talk to people and bring them into the world of the musicians, tell them the stories behind the music.”
“It became the Ray Charles school of music for me. He taught how to play 'in time' correctly.”
“He could have called anyone. He had the greatest musicians in the world in the studio with him, and he asked me play on those songs. That's earning some stripes.”
“The point of bringing the Wrecking Crew together is to show and teach the younger players our style.”
“What people will see on stage is authentic. What we did in the studio, we'll be doing on stage.”
“When Capital Records would bring in an artist, we were the band.”
“I hope the audience will sing along while we're playing. These are the songs we all grew up on. I want everyone to enjoy, sing along, and feel good.”
“Elvis would come in three nights a week. We'd sit with him in the balcony on the break.”
“On 'I Want You Back,' I doubled the bass line with Wilton. I had to read it.”
“I teach guitar, jazz, and blues.”
“Don was the best reader of the three of us and would help us with any problems reading charts.”
“There are certain guitar licks or solos that always give me goose bumps, and Don Peake's opening part on 'Let's Get It On' is one of those.”
“There were always three guys playing miked Gibson L-5s.”
“Ray was a jazz guitarist who played with the Billy May Orchestra. He taught me to play and mentored me.”
“Play it! Play it 'til it gets good.”
“I have picked up as many hints on guitar playing as I can from Don Peake, who is the Everly Brothers guitarist. He really is a fantastic guitarist and the great thing about him is that he is always ready to show me a few tricks.”
“That boy is serious.”
