A Song For You-Leon, Willie, and Ray

[TheMarijuanaNinja]

Ray had recently told Willie, by that time, that he probably would die from his liver disease .. I once sat on the bus, at 10 years of age, whilts looking at my hand, thinking ''I wonder how my hand will look 10 years from now?'' - that some what gave me an instant-forward to now .. looking at my hand now I see a scarred hairy mitt .. time goes by in an eye-blink so remember to love those around you and remember the simple most important rule in life: people must be good to one another ..!

[TheSpamtheman]

Three Wise Men!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[deepfreezefilms1]

It was good, in fact almost too good to bear, to see Leon get this honor.

Ray always did love that song and Leon wrote it with him in mind.

So Ray getting the bigger spotlight really is the ultimate tribute to Leon as the songwriter.

In essence, Ray was painting the masterpiece that Leon inspired.

[racewalkking13]

YOU GO WHOOPIE

[TheP00pBandit]

no human has or will ever be able to elicit the kinds of emotions that ray charles did. its like he takes the melody and just lines it around your heart. greatest vocalist of all time.

[monte2352]

goose bumps and tears of elation.

[66badsign]

Yes, he is. he knew at this point how ill Ray was and hadn´t much time left. One´s must love these musicans and Willie´s heart of gold.

[wizardofwaste]

It's a terribly overused term, but here are three true icons of American music performing together.

[kathleenb1947]

I'm sorry. I know this won't be a popular post but as beautiful as it is, I wanted more Leon and Willie. Gorgeous Ray but too much talent to not be more evenly divided. But then I'm a Leon fanatic too so I ALWAYS want more Leon.

[redsox50270]

@kathleenb1947 Yes indeed, Leon is the master of space and time!

[TheIrishlad12]

willie is near tears as ray sings

[dmjkg]

Ray and Willie were life time friends, Ray was dying and they knew this would be the last time they played together, watch Willie try to hold the tears back. God Bless you Ray, you never sounded better. Thank you to all three legends for all the great music.

[cooldork68]

Best version of this song ever!!!

[ChimeraAZ]

Oh God,..when I heard that Piano I got goosebumps!!! I love Leon soo much.He's always had a rough time with the high notes tho,..I dont care.( Oh,..love Willie n Ray too) This is some kind of a great video.

"you taught me precious secrets,with holding nothing,..

[dealerswild]

Leon is one of my favorite artists, but Ray owns this one.....

[Z51Chevy]

I feel bad for Shania, Toby, and Mellencamp... They had to follow THAT..... A timeless performance by three music legends. Awesome.

[alinn71]

ah memories ;) unforgettable

[balldlocks]

every man who is old enough, has someone in his life that this songs pertains

[acf148]

Thank you for posting this. I love this and I had never seen this before. Three of my favorite artists doing one of my favorite songs

[oxhart3]

Bigger Goose Bumps bc he has has been so many places and made so many bad rhymes  WE STILL HAVE HIM LOVE Peace PROUD

[peelumba]

Yes brother Leon is the man from Tulsa Oklahoma!

[BertBorth]

Incredible! A classic performance of a classic song. As a life long Leon fan, I've seen countless covers of this song - Leon and Willie do great versions but Brother Ray tore it up! Thanks for posting!

[rsull422]

What an amazing performance! You can't get much better than that! To watch Willie get emotional made it even better! I think sometimes we forget that these performers are people too and to see this just reminds us of that! Thank you for posting this.

[gruvqueen]

What a moment. What a song.

[WrongwayBobby]

This performance is DIVINE!!! 3 MUSICAL GODS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was lucky enough to speak to Willie on SIRRIUS Radio and he said this was the most emotional performance he was involved with........because of the the late GREAT RAY CHARLES. Ray was touring Europe and he flew into New York for this SPECIAL Performance. MAN!!! These 3 guys are HOLY!!!

[rockncleve]

if this song doesn't move you....throw some dirt on your ass and push up a petunia

[magdaszabo]

@rockncleve oh yeah...u said it brother. i still cry, 40 yrs later....perfektion. goosebumps all over & i really only like to listen to music that moves me, & then i cry...it cleanses the soul...what a death song..too good. watch Around The Bend with Christopher Walken. & oh, one of my other favorites. sheissa, his name on the tip of my tongue, its like that all the time now i hate that!! this song in a very special place in the movie...........

[johnh94]

he made Willie cry here!

[195511SM]

I get the feeling that willie or Leon were going to "jump back in" on a chorus or something, but Ray's just so AWESOME...they decided..."Ya' know what? Let the MASTER have it." Even Willie had some glistening in his eyes there toward the end...

[creoladee1]

Godd collective effort. Enjoyed Ray's performance especially....As art/music is subject, for me... I like the Temptations version best.....

[GRISTLEONEANDONLY]

One awesome, touching song. Willie's feeling it, and Ray is making me feel it.

[Chino2339]

5:18 I Cry......

[MorganHillChristine]

Who forgot about Leon? I never did!

[LETITGO1977]

Words escape me as to how beautiful this song is! Pure genius on display

[Chino2339]

Ray Charles always in my heart......, The best in heaven

[atfshow]

fantastic performance!! Ray brought it home!!

[daillestetever]

I've been watching covers of this song forever, and its a tie between Ray and Donnie!

[pugez89]

*sobs* Geez, this is so great.

[harmonkeyfokker]

Goose bumps, I'm a grown ass man.But this gives me goose bumps like I was a 12 year old schoolgirl. Thanks for posting.

[deepfreezefilms1]

@harmonkeyfokker That's how you know it's the good stuff, yes? :-D

[c00per69]

All those years leon was forgotten, then in 5:55 minutes God gave him back all that love. Leon guided by the holy spirit wrote this song, and we bare witness to a true gift of three inspired men. This is the way I see it anyways.

[wdchefdave56]

@c00per69

You know Leon.

And, Elton didn't hurt.

Some people are gonna RESPECT this man of music and God before he dies!

He is one of my music heroes for life.

(However, my ex-wife and Rita Coolidge used sing on "Asylum Choir" albums and she called him "The Evil Dwarf".)

I'm sure somebody stole someone's pot!

[c00per69]

@wdchefdave56 Hate is much easier then Love, but the rewards of love will reward us in Heaven. Hate will burn you in the fire that will never end.

[RingoShort]

Ray Charles- R&B star

Willie Nelson- Country Star

Leon Russell- music star

All three- Miscategorized Blues singers

[SantaCruzOM]

It's hard not to be moved by this. 

[vesna1100]

Only Willie admire the Ray's performens! Very nice !

[bigmikevt]

thanks for posting. this is one of the most powerful performances I've ever seen

[tomtompataygutom]

thanks to Leon Russell for creating one of the most beautiful songs of all time.

it had to take three grown men to even tackle this gem that he had created for us.

and we as an audience, are all the better for it.

[wizardofwaste]

OK, folks, congratulate yourselves. You've now seen the finest music video on youtube.

[zenmind100]

This rendition tugs at your heart-strings. Absolutely beautiful.

[CdnChar]

This gives me shivers to my soul...............! RIP Ray Charles you are missed!

[tredogg23]

IN 4:48, is willie crying?

[wagb282]

Seriously now... There are three people who do not like this? How is that possible?

[lonsterdawg]

ray could say more with a grunt or a squeal than all the lyrics in the world. the look on willie's face says it all.

[RudiKelle1]

Leon wrote a perfect tune ... he sings it best ... Ray sings it better .

[DaMusicful]

Leon wrote this song and sings it best!! If you don't know his history and think you know music history in this country... you need to research his work. He wrote songs sung by the greatest including himself. Go LEON! Search for Leon Russell on Wikipedia and you will be shocked at all the music he is responsible for. He is one of the great music talents in this country who has not recieved his just rewards. He won't go without notice. Tulsa loves you Leon.

[Lefferable]

far out everytime i watch this song it sends up an overwhelming snese of butterflies in my stomach it's so powerful i can't describe it!

[senbonaratora]

I've got to know such a great harmony used be there previously.... Really really impressive one ever. thank you so much for uploading !!

[ishta]

After watching this it is obvious how much Celine Dion butchered this song!

[spankywzl]

How in the world could John Mellencamp have felt, knowing that he had to follow this triumph? The house has been brought down!!!  You're up next, John! ouch.

[miramargo]

ray cgarles brines it home !!!!

[ladykingel]

gut wrenching Ray Charles...he simply captures every painful nuance of life...and the piano piercing the air with its finality...

i love you in a place where there's no space or time...

[walman87]

And don't forget the great Brent Mason throwing down some great jazz licks behind Ray!

[stepshan]

Who is the ahole who dislikes this!!! lolol

[mflindustries]

This is the reason for you tube. This is a moment of performance perfection. Such incredible feeling imbued into this by some of our greatest talents. I know when this is seen by someone 100 years from now they will still feel what was written on Willies face. Amazing feeling, amazing song. Again perfection.

[Ottosongs]

 Oh GOD....... they makes me cried...

[TheOutrider69]

OMG This realy touched my heart at a time in my life where I didn't think I could feel anything

[mvbgb1943]

Absolutely THE best! Impossible to watch this without tears....

[JRTyler2007]

Thank you so very much for the post, It touched my heart and soul to the core. I could only imagine how Willie felt and what was going thru his mind but I could see the gratitude in his eyes. and Thank you Leon, Willie and Ray for the memories of a lifetime......God Bless ......

[wagb282]

Thanks Kingblade, That's incredible!

[rastafarigenuino]

ESTO ES CALIDAD, PEDAZO TEMA.

[Jebbi1956]

Leon wrote the best song EVER!!!!! Genius!!! These three gentlemen were just precious together!!!

[ttekcupycnan]

Close your eyes and FEEL the Music Baby it's for real !!!!!

[SMDMFA]

4:54 into the song, priceless...

[moses1999]

miss you brother  RAY!!!!!

[pieceofcake125]

i watched this about 8 years ago when ray charles was alive and the way he sang it and willie's expressions kind of gave me a feeling that he wouldn't be around much longer. i don't know, it was weird but i can't watch it with a dry eye.

[ttekcupycnan]

It moves me , to tears but they're good tears ! Thanks !!

[zeronova77]

I guess I have a heart of stone

[ttekcupycnan]

Ohh Baby , Rock My World , Tears are Here , Close Your Eyes And Feel The Music . So Fine you guys Thanks Best EVER , LOVE YOU GUYS

[ttekcupycnan]

Ohh Baby , Rock My World , Tears are Here , Close Your Eyes And Feel The Music . So Fine you guys Thanks

[rockncleve]

Mercy....Leon you wrote it......Ray you sang it......and Willie and all of us cried......this is perfection !!.........Ray you are a special treasure a very special treasure......

[MrJulescl]

A Song For You Carla :)

[RobLives4Love]

Holy Shit Leon Russell is white?

[ttekcupycnan]

@RobLives4Love Yea think he's been that way all his life and he's got soul , don't he !!!

[lgrovewitch1]

@RobLives4Love

Hahahahahahahahahahaha. YEP!!!!!!!!! Easy mistake...LOL

[davidgarrison]

@RobLives4Love only on the outside

[alihewitt32]

Would have much preferred it if it was just Ray. Leon and particularly Willie can't sing anymore.

[packrattic]

Back for another "fix" - so D@mn moving!

[TheLogicalGod]

maaaan I just cried

[highemp]

Incredible, amazing, fantastic, and the most beautiful song in the world....

[1chelleann]

The most beautiful and moving version. 

[fritgirl]

amazing. Some of the best there are together.

[jhowardkelley]

Beautiful

[TheTulsaBoyz]

I think willie does have tears in his eyes, I believe when they did this, they all knew Ray had Liver cancer

[enrique60033]

I love how Ray Charles shows how this song its supposed to be singed, even Willie cries....

[tombradley]

I'll kiss you ass in Macy's main window if you find a prettier song..

[robbylmp]

You've heard of SOUL, right? If this doesn't hit home - see a doctor. Ladies and gentlemen, ..... This is 'SOUL'.

[MegaHuddleston]

One person doesn't know great music when they hear it.

[Annagrace13]

The most moving, quality, best live performance I have ever seen, ever. And those words don't do it justice...thanks for posting this gem.

[wizardofwaste]

This should be beamed into space, just to show that for at least one moment there was culture in America.

[egglady]

Amazing, moving version of this classic, one of the greatest songs ever written. It's a shame Donny Hathaway and Karen Carpenter couldn't have been there to sing it with Leon, Willie, and Ray.

[DrVandertorren]

The best video ever!

[nir1971]

ah how Ray differs from the rest. wonderful.

[MrTeddyBass]

Music as it should be...

[sweetnpeachy1]

@MrTeddyBass ..Indeed

[edmame]

Thank god for the joyful lift @ the end or i'm gonna start howling:P Ray lifts it to heights of King Lear such that you think the required age to interpret this song should always be 60 or older:P

[rockdaddie]

Oh yes, I cryed. How beautiful this is...

[alphonse6570]

A beautiful song, written by a master craftsman and terrific session musician.  A moving performance here, to be sure, but Karen Carpenter's rendition remains the gold standard, IMHO

[vfigueroa1]

Willie knew the end was near for Ray,best friends forever

[lurchthing]

@vfigueroa1 as you can see toward the end of the song Willie could no longer keep the tears in

[tdish1101]

makes me cry so moving

[ringgiant1]

Willie had just lost his wife around that time I believe. That was a wonderful moment to watch how much it touched Willie. Kind of like the stage was just there for him and Ray.

[3chrds]

bodhisattva willie. good to be blessed by him. rip ray~

[marksworld12]

You can hear the age in Leon's voice, and willie is just choked up with emotion. There was a reason Ray was featured here... everyone knew he was dying, but he still stole the show. He literally brought willie to tears... that's quality that can't be replaced. Ray Charles is pure fucking gold. A jewel in the sky. RIP Ray.

[anikimitsurugi]

you see willie tearing up! greatest ever!

[c00per69]

We were old and I was singing this song for you. The Holy Spirit is strong withn these men. Sing your song Loud and proud.

[wdchefdave56]

@c00per69

You saw it too.

People don't seem to see it that way these days.

Ain't no magic to it... this is HOLY!

[carlonelytoons]

estos es musica ...aprendan chavos que se hacen pasar por estrellitas..todo en la vida requiere de constancia y preparacion....esto es el resultado de años de trabajo y constancia ..............ray charles..sin duda maestro de maestros

[netw52]

Wow. I've never seen this clip. A-m-a-z-i-n-g.

[brinjalibrinjali]

ray charles... what a legend. sad to think he was gone just over a year after this performance.

[wvwm1]

Its Leons song but how do you top Ray?

[monkeypsi]

Im a grown man and can shed tears like a baby to this one... beyond the talent between these 3, and knowing this is leons song, ray knows what or how this one had to be sang this night... simply wonderful

[rockncleve]

KingBlade...great post....sometimes in our lives.....great musicians come together and create a moment.....tho short. in time........will be remembered long and forever...this is such a moment...Leon you wrote a beauty...Ray you sang a beauty............ and Willie I cried along with you........... RIP Ray

[MrPernell27]

this is an amazing song. It seems it was writte for Ray Charles. I've seen Leon Russel live several times and this song has never sounded so good or been so moving as when RAy Charles sings it.

[BrushApe66]

"Blind" though he might have been, at 0:44 - the end of the song (PARTICULARLY @ 1:36-1:46), Ray is staring through Willie's soul.

[firemtga]

some of the greatest being great, and ray was singing right to willie

[mariotom1]

if you can watch this video without crying, you have a heart of stone.

[BrushApe66]

@mariotom1 - lol...I know what you mean. I can normally get through about the first 39 seconds or so...

[ohen]

Great version though I still think the Donny Hathaway cover is the best.

[mkpbmw]

At 2:45 minutes, is that Chelsea Clinton?

[1000hdm]

Entirely too much musical talent and creativity on one stage.

[GreenDaveDefoeSt]

No doubt.

The song itself is in it's own league of greatness (nice one, Leon... you wrote one hell of a tune here).

Ray on the Grand with the intro, Leon on the first verse, Willie second verse, then Ray brings it home like nobody else ever could, or likely, will. Ray.

This is in fact, "The Baddest of the Bad" song, all time!

[fullmountain]

So anyone know what year this was? I imagine '03 or '04...anyone who can help me out??

[jarlvik]

I will guess in '03, because that was when Willie turned 70.. If this show is from that time :)

[zem1272]

It was for Willie's 70th Birthday, April 2003.

[rick4adk]

This was Willie's party, but you can tell that this song was for Ray. Willie and Ray were very good friends, and by this time Ray's health was seriously declining (he died about a year later.) You can tell from Willie's emotional reaction that this one was for Ray, and he knew his friend wouldn't be here much longer. No doubt in my mind that Willie was crying. But the good thing is that friendships like this really DO last forever.

[savagegolfer]

WOW BRAVO BRAVO

[pembob27]

this is one of the best videos i've seen. so emotional. Great song, three legends.

[dallas2alice]

One of the greatest songs of all time! It's hard to find a version better than Leon's original (and I've checked out many!)... this one is so touching... Ray stays true to the original, yet puts his own spin on it, as only Ray can. Notice how touched Willie is... I think they all know Ray's days are numbered and it's so hard to accept. AWESOME!!

[84443985]

Wow. Painful, truthful, and raw about a piece of life many adults know well.

The poetic and hard moment says all that one can only feel.

Thanks.

[batfan903]

One of the best versions of the song period!!!! God bless you, Ray Charles!!!!!!

[halfzwareshagg]

4:47-4:52 and 5:45-5:47 willie cries...and it's so understandable...if you have friends like ray...

[cjonesplay]

This is one of the most moving moments I have ever experienced in filmed music. I've been looking to find this for a long time, and now I finally get to see it again. Thanks YouTube, but more importantly - thanks to Ray Charles's spirit. This song was made for this moment. I hope they play it at my funeral!

[KINGBLADE117]

i think it took all three of them to play the song how it should be played. I think its fantastic.

[kristlkrost]

@cjonesplay Me too I come back often and cry like a baby every time!!!!!

[sweetnpeachy1]

@kristlkrost ..So touching watching the others..watching the Master! Willie looked as if he was in tears...they were in the company of Royalty....RIP Mr. Charles xx

[specialfreakingk]

@cjonesplay

I agree entirely.

I remember when this aired. It's wonderful to experience it again. Thank you.

[justbekindtooall]

Just so GREAT!!!

[yopersonaltraina]

Thx!!! This version gives me goosebumps!!! One of the best performances on the Net

[Zero117472275]

I love this.

It almost brings a tear to my eye.

<3

[amcuruguay]

Almost?? I cry every time I watch it. It's Ray saying goodbye to his friend...

[mspatti]

It made Willie cry, I agree with you.

[oneyelloweric]

I love you in a place where there"s no space or time,my darling karenxxxxxxxx

[Chefdeangolf]

To see legends as these preforming such a beautiful piece, is definately an opportunity too few have had the privledge.

[KINGBLADE117]

It is a great version and performance. Glad folks like the stuff I post some times.

[amcuruguay]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I thought I was only one getting goosebumps when watching this one. Legends like these come very rarely; it's up to us, their audience, to pay this tribute: watch and enjoy their legacy, their music...

[pattipie100]

@KINGBLADE117 Thank you so much. a Viking with a Longboat :) :) :)

[sweetnpeachy1]

@KINGBLADE117 ..The best!

[allensteck]

There are no words to explain the feelings you get from these guys doing this song!

[eamonosu]

Thanks for putting this back up for everyone.