Soulful DetroitArchives - July 2004 � MARGIE HENDRIX - RAY CHARLES Previous Next

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Rodmann (rodmann)
5-Doyen
Username: rodmann

Post Number: 256
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 12.221.46.59
Posted on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 2:36 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Am I the only person on Earth that's fascinated by this woman?

I first heard about her years ago when I purchased Michael Lydon's excellent Ray Charles biography "Ray Charles: Man And Music". Not only did Mr. Lyndon do a great job of letting us know who Ray Charles really was but he painted a vivid portrait of one of the original Raelettes, Miss Margie Hendrix. For anyone who doesn't know, Margie Hendrix aka Margie Hendricks was an original member of The Cookies and then became an original Raelette when Ray took over the group and changed their name in the 1950's. Margie sang many duets with Ray (including 'Hit The Road Jack') and also became his lover. They had a child named Charles Wayne sometime in the early 60's.

Margie was fired by Ray in 1964 and then recorded for the Tangerine, Mercury and Sound Stage 7 labels before she passed away in 1973. Her life was short but she left some wonderful records behind. The lady could BLOW! Here's a few of my favorites:

'MY BABY ( I LOVER HER, YES I DO)' - Excellent early 60's duet with Ray. Both of them really belt this one out.

'RESTLESS' - This one was recorded for Mercury Records. It's a nice midtempo and I think I read somewhere that it's a Northern Soul favorite.

'JIM DANDY' - Margie recorded a soulful remake of LaVern Baker's 1950's classic 'Jim Dandy' for Sound Stage 7 Records in the late 60's.

'I CALL YOU LOVER BUT YOU AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT A TRAMP' - This is my hands down favorite by Miss Hendrix. Recorded for Mercury, it's a very sassy uptempo number with a kick azz band. I'll never understand how records like this failed to make the charts.

I haven't even begun to scratch the surface of her recorded material but this is what I've heard so far and I've liked them all. I'm sure that she recorded several other gems that I'm not familiar with. I'm always on the lookout for a good record by her. Does anyone have a discography of her work?

Actress Regina King plays Margie in the upcoming Ray Charles movie "Ray". (Jamie Foxx plays Ray). I read an article where Regina was saying that she didn't have much to go by when preparing for her role as Margie because there is almost no info available about her anywhere. Not even by Classic Soul artist standards! Hopefully we can all put what we know about this amazing vocalist together and change all that!

I'm anxious to know a few things about Margie. I've heard conflicting reasons for her death in 1973. The main story is that it was a drug overdose but I've also read that she died of cancer. Someone else wrote on another forum that it was a car accident. What was her real cause of death?

I'm also curious about her son with Ray, Charles Wayne. In Michael Lydon's biography of Ray he mentions all of Ray's children with different woman but says absolutely nothing about Margie's son Charles Wayne except that he was born in the early 60's. Is Charles still living?

Margie Hendrix fans or anyone else should feel free to share anything they know about this tragic and talented woman. :-)

(Message edited by rodmann on July 18, 2004)
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mel(andthensome) (mel)
5-Doyen
Username: mel

Post Number: 337
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 81.153.212.78
Posted on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 4:56 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

One great voice
and then some
always loved her classic
'restless'
a big rare/northern soul dancer in its day on the uk all nighter scene.

also her
'one room paradise' is a fave of mine.

yeah
a true gifted hell of a voiced Lady
and then some........

mel
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Rodmann (rodmann)
5-Doyen
Username: rodmann

Post Number: 259
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 12.221.46.59
Posted on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 5:51 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey Mel. I forgot about 'One Room Paradise'. I've heard that one before as well but I didn't like it as much as the others I mentioned. Margie of course gave an amazing vocal performance but I just don't care for the song. I remember reading somewhere that there are several other versions of 'One Room Paradise' by different artists.
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mel(andthensome) (mel)
5-Doyen
Username: mel

Post Number: 340
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 81.153.210.166
Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 12:47 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There was a rare cut and
a good uptempo dance version that was played at the all-nighters in the 80's of 'one room paradise'
cant recall who it was at the moment though.
cheers
mel
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Randy Russi (randy_russi)
4-Laureate
Username: randy_russi

Post Number: 116
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 169.139.180.100
Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 12:12 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I saw her perform in 1969 on the Sam & Dave Revue.
She was fabulous! I don't remember everything
she sang, but I do remember she opened with
Aretha's "Baby I Love You". My favorite too is
her Mercury recording "I Call You A Lover...".
However, she did not perform it at this show al-
though it had been out and received heavy airplay
on the local R&B station. Another good one was
on S. Stage 7 called "Don't Destroy Me".
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Rodmann (rodmann)
5-Doyen
Username: rodmann

Post Number: 278
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 12.221.46.59
Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 5:09 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Wow Randy! You witnessed Miss Hendrix live! Not to mention Sam & Dave! You lucky man. :-)

I've heard that 'Don't Destroy Me' was pretty good. That's the next single by her that I'd like to get my hands on.
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Rodmann (rodmann)
5-Doyen
Username: rodmann

Post Number: 300
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 12.221.46.59
Posted on Saturday, July 24, 2004 - 1:03 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hmmmmmm, I guess I really am the only one who's fascinated by Margie Hendrix. LOL. That's a shame because the woman had a set of lungs on her! Anyone who's read Michael Lydon's "Ray Charles: Man And Music" can't help but to curious about her. Mr. Lyndon created such a vibrant image in the book so I'm guessing the real thing must've been something else!

Maybe more people will be interested in her recordings and who she was after the new movie "Ray" comes out? Sort of like how "What's Love Got To Do With It" sparked new interest in Ike & Tina Turner.
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Dinelle (dinelle_watson)
4-Laureate
Username: dinelle_watson

Post Number: 154
Registered: 3-2004
Posted From: 67.35.243.138
Posted on Saturday, July 24, 2004 - 11:05 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I remember who Margie Hendrix is now. She did a duet with Ray Charles on not only "Hit The Road Jack", but also on "Nighttime Is The Right Time".
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Randy Russi (randy_russi)
4-Laureate
Username: randy_russi

Post Number: 121
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 169.139.180.100
Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 12:11 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I would really like to get "I Call You Lover But
You Ain't Nothin' But A Tramp" on CD! Surely
there's enough material by Margie for a CD
release.
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Rodmann (rodmann)
5-Doyen
Username: rodmann

Post Number: 309
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 12.221.46.59
Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 9:41 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Oh I totally agree with you Randy. I'd LOVE to see a compilation of Margie's Tangerine, Mercury and Sound Stage 7 sides with detailed liner notes. I won't hold my breath for it though. Judging by the lack of Margie Hendrix information available and the overall lack of enthusiasm for this topic about her I doubt that a Margie Hendrix compilation would sell 10 copies! That's a damn shame because she was a hell of a singer and had quite a colorful personality from what I've heard!
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Randy Russi (randy_russi)
4-Laureate
Username: randy_russi

Post Number: 124
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 169.139.180.100
Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 1:02 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well, you never know. Maybe one of the reissue
companies in Europe will take an interest. I do
believe it's there and probably will come to
light after the movie or documentaries on Ray
Charles that go in-depth enough to include info
on Margie.
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Rodmann (rodmann)
5-Doyen
Username: rodmann

Post Number: 317
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 12.223.151.165
Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 2:30 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I hope you're right Randy. If a compilation of Margie's work is created I'm sure that it will be on a European label! It seems as if they appreciate deep, undiluted soul singing much more than Americans.

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