Danny Ray, ‘Cape Man’ by James Brown and Emcee, dead at 85

Danny Ray, ‘Cape Man’ by James Brown and Emcee, dead at 85

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Danny Ray, James Brown’s former emcee and “man of the cape”, died at the age of 85.

Ray, an important character at the Godfather of Soul’s legendary live shows, died on Tuesday night of natural causes, the Richmond Country coroner confirmed Augusta Chronicle.

“James Brown’s estate mourns the passing of Mr. Danny Ray, James Brown’s legendary emcee and foreman.” the property said in a statement. “Ray worked with Brown from 1960 until the death of the music legend on Christmas Day 2006. He became famous for putting a cover on Brown at the end of his signature song ‘Please, Please, Please. ‘ Mr. Ray was the second man who worked the most in show business ”.

Rev. Al Sharpton tweeted from Ray, “I was saddened to hear that Danny Ray, the famous MC and cover man for James Brown, died at age 85. He was like an uncle to me as I traveled the world years ago with the godfather of the soul. Danny will never be forgotten. Rest in peace and power, family. “

“He was very helpful in keeping the machine running,” said former Brown guitarist Ronald Laster to the Augusta Chronicle. “Danny was in charge of everything. He was very defensive; he was very close to James. “

In what has become an iconic part of Brown’s shows, Ray would go up on stage in the middle of “Please, Please, Please” and dress Brown in a cape, only for the singer to blow out of the cape with a second wind. Ray and Brown faced each other effortlessly; with Brown’s theatrical pseudo-pains, giving rise to Ray’s offers of assistance followed by Brown’s burst of energy. The routine was captured in episodes of TAMI Show and the Ed Sullivan Show.

Ray met Brown at Apollo in 1960 and originally served as the singer’s valet before becoming Brown’s emcee. “The next thing I know is that he made me make live albums for his show on stage,” Ray told Augusta Chronicle in 2011. The first time I did a live show, it scared me to death. It was in Maryland. The guy who used to go out to do the show, he didn’t show up. Then he asked me, ‘Have you ever been on stage?’ I said, ‘No, man.’ He said, ‘Well, uh, this is yours tonight,’ I said, ‘What do you mean, tonight is my night?’ “

Ray, whose voice can be heard in introductions to several of Brown’s live releases, remained a member of Brown’s touring unit from 1960 until Brown’s death in 2006; at Brown’s memorial, Ray covered the open coffin with a “Godfather of Soul” cover. Ray similarly put Brown’s cape into a microphone after an In Memoriam salute at the 2007 Grammy Awards. After Brown’s death, Ray remained in Augusta, GA, presenting several events until old age and traveling the east coast touring several times a year.

In an interview five years after Brown’s death, Ray could still recite his famous introduction: “Now, it’s time for a star. Are you ready for the time of the stars? Yes! Featuring, ladies and gentlemen, the man who gave the world more than 44 golden soul classics, songs that will never die. Songs like “Try Me”, “Please, Please, Please”, “I Feel Good”, “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”, “Sex Machine”, “Big Payback”, “Get Up Offa That Thang”, “Don ‘T Be a Dropout’ and ‘Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud.’ I present to you the man who works the most in show business, ladies and gentlemen, the Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown. ”

Former JB bassist Bootsy Collins tweeted on Wednesday, “We lost another legend, Mr. Danny Ray,“ Some called him the cover man because he put the cover on for James Brown, but for me when a man didn’t need your head rubbed to activate others, it becomes bigger than yours [perceived] appearance! Thank you, Mr. Ray. Bootsy baby !!!. “

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