"Three's Company" Theme Singer, Ray Charles, 1918-2015 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 04-07-2015, 09:04 PM

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Ray Charles, an American musician, songwriter, composer, conductor, arranger and leader of the Ray Charles Singers, died Monday at home in Beverly Hills. He was 96 (and was not the soul singer of the same name, who died in 2004).

An authority on American music, Charles served as a musical consultant to the Kennedy Center Honors for 31 years and for “The Muppet Show.”

As a singer, he is best known for the vocals, with Julia Rinker Miller, on the theme song for ABC comedy “Three’s Company.”

The Ray Charles Singers — named so by Perry Como, with whom Charles had a close association — recorded some 30 vocal albums and appeared on Como’s albums, TV series and specials over a period of more than three decades starting in 1959.

His film projects included “Funny Lady” and “Racing With the Moon”; much earlier, in 1947, he conducted the original cast album for the Broadway musical “Finian’s Rainbow” on Columbia Records.

Charles won Emmys two years running, in 1971 and 1972, for outstanding achievement in music, lyrics and special material, the first for “The First Nine Months Are the Hardest,” the second for an episode of “The Funny Side.” He was nominated five more times, including twice for musical direction of “The Kennedy Center Honors” and the final time, in 1993, for a special honoring Bob Hope’s 90th birthday.

Charles Raymond Offenberg was born in Chicago.

During WWII, he served in the Navy but was assigned to Hunter College, where he created a new music library for the Wave choruses and trained Wave choruses that sang on the radio, at bond rallies and at local veterans hospitals.

After the war he sang on radio, including on “Your Hit Parade,” before transitioning to early television.

Charles’ wife, Bernice, died in 2002, and a daughter, Wendy, died in 2004. He is survived by two sons, Michael, a film editor, and Jonathan, a music arranger; three granddaughters, Clover Hicks, Annalily Charles and Claire Acey, a band singer; and a grandson, Jonathan Kaufman.

Marvo301 · 04-08-2015, 02:28 PM

Ray Charles

AB · 04-08-2015, 04:20 PM

Rest in peace.

king of comedy · 04-08-2015, 05:36 PM

That was him? I loved that song. Great singer. R.I.P.

JSP · 04-08-2015, 06:06 PM

R.I.P.

JackJanetChrissy · 04-08-2015, 08:04 PM

I'm sorry to hear that. Can you believe he was 59 years old when he recorded the Three's Company theme?

Mace Dolex · 04-09-2015, 02:42 AM

I wonder if he was ever confused with the black Ray Charles.

TerriFan · 04-09-2015, 02:46 AM

So sad.

04-07-2015, 09:04 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,434	"Three's Company" Theme Singer, Ray Charles, 1918-2015 Link Ray Charles, an American musician, songwriter, composer, conductor, arranger and leader of the Ray Charles Singers, died Monday at home in Beverly Hills. He was 96 (and was not the soul singer of the same name, who died in 2004). An authority on American music, Charles served as a musical consultant to the Kennedy Center Honors for 31 years and for “The Muppet Show.” As a singer, he is best known for the vocals, with Julia Rinker Miller, on the theme song for ABC comedy “Three’s Company.” The Ray Charles Singers — named so by Perry Como, with whom Charles had a close association — recorded some 30 vocal albums and appeared on Como’s albums, TV series and specials over a period of more than three decades starting in 1959. His film projects included “Funny Lady” and “Racing With the Moon”; much earlier, in 1947, he conducted the original cast album for the Broadway musical “Finian’s Rainbow” on Columbia Records. Charles won Emmys two years running, in 1971 and 1972, for outstanding achievement in music, lyrics and special material, the first for “The First Nine Months Are the Hardest,” the second for an episode of “The Funny Side.” He was nominated five more times, including twice for musical direction of “The Kennedy Center Honors” and the final time, in 1993, for a special honoring Bob Hope’s 90th birthday. Charles Raymond Offenberg was born in Chicago. During WWII, he served in the Navy but was assigned to Hunter College, where he created a new music library for the Wave choruses and trained Wave choruses that sang on the radio, at bond rallies and at local veterans hospitals. After the war he sang on radio, including on “Your Hit Parade,” before transitioning to early television. Charles’ wife, Bernice, died in 2002, and a daughter, Wendy, died in 2004. He is survived by two sons, Michael, a film editor, and Jonathan, a music arranger; three granddaughters, Clover Hicks, Annalily Charles and Claire Acey, a band singer; and a grandson, Jonathan Kaufman.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

04-08-2015, 02:28 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	Ray Charles
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

04-08-2015, 04:20 PM	#3
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	Rest in peace.

04-08-2015, 05:36 PM	#4
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	That was him? I loved that song. Great singer. R.I.P.

04-08-2015, 06:06 PM	#5
JSP Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 19, 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,735	R.I.P.

04-08-2015, 08:04 PM	#6
JackJanetChrissy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 18, 2014 Posts: 1,005	I'm sorry to hear that. Can you believe he was 59 years old when he recorded the Three's Company theme?

04-09-2015, 02:42 AM	#7
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,670	I wonder if he was ever confused with the black Ray Charles.

04-09-2015, 02:46 AM	#8
TerriFan Resident of 201 Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 19, 2014 Location: Somewhere Around Houston Posts: 67	So sad.