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Permalink Reply by Markus Brandes on August 20, 2015 at 2:04am

Sorry... have troubles with the postings as I get error message when I connect scans directly to my message

Further reference examples

Scan 2 ) additionally signed on the reverse by Harry Secombe

Attachments: No photo uploads here

• 5041870.jpg, 340 KB
• 5041870 - 1.jpg, 50 KB

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Permalink Reply by MG on August 20, 2015 at 3:05am

Indeed, Ray did sign early on in his career. Later on (probably mid 70s onward), however, he refused categorically saying "I cannot see what I sign", he told that to me personally in the 1980s. This particular example with the Orchestra is authentically signed from early on his career, and as one can see, it is even signed in the same ballpoint pen as the many members of his Orchestra used.

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Permalink Reply by Paul on August 20, 2015 at 4:26am

One off the band members could have used the same pen to sign rays name.

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Permalink Reply by MG on August 20, 2015 at 4:32am

I would say having band members autographs alongside Ray's autograph is a strong asset, much better than having just Ray's autograph in terms of provenance purposes, and not the opposite. Also, did you notice that Ray always signed on two separate lines (top: Ray, bottom: Charles)...this has been the case in all examples that Markus supplied as well. I cannot imagine any band member having so much sophistication in signing Ray's name on two lines, and then even in a way that matches other known examples.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on August 20, 2015 at 9:58pm

Hi Marc,

It's great to see you here! Thanks for joining the discussion.

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Permalink Reply by Markus Brandes on August 20, 2015 at 4:29am

Dear Marc

Thank you very much for your confirmation and I highly respect you as knowledge collector of rare music autographs and remember that you had been quoted as well on the early Autograph Magazine article "Is it really Ray ?" on Ray Charles autographs. 

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Permalink Reply by MG on August 20, 2015 at 4:33am

Thanks, Markus -- yes, indeed, that was a long time ago already!

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Permalink Reply by Paul on August 20, 2015 at 8:33pm

Steve C. What do you think now?

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on August 21, 2015 at 7:28pm

Paul,

I am a big fan of Markus. I think he's highly knowledgeable and reputable. So reputable that he removed the piece from sale until authenticity concerns have been addressed.

I believe the Ray Charles signature is secretarial, and I can make a strong case for my position. I may not be able to make my case until sometime next week though. I hope everyone can bear with me.

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Paul on August 21, 2015 at 9:26pm

Thanks Steve and Markus and Mark.
Ill keep an eye for any further developments on this thread.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on August 27, 2015 at 10:26pm

Here are two Ray Charles autographs that I believe are genuine, and they are quite similar. The top one was signed for Miss Cupertino in 1961, when she met Ray Charles when he performed in Cupertino with his orchestra. The program it's on is signed by members of his band on the back. She wanted to use it to raise money for a charity she's involved in, and I made the donation she requested directly to the charity, so she had nothing personally to gain by selling it. I have photos of her with the program in 1961 before Ray signed it.

The bottom one was posted by Bjarne Soderholm, who said this about it:

This autograph was signed in 1962 for the artist manager at a Swedish amusement park. The picture is in his biography. I have only seen the picture in the book and never the actual picture. But I met the gentleman a lot of times, so I know exactly who he was. Sadly he passed away 2009 and I don't know if the autograph is still in the family or what happened to it. I have never seen it for sale.

He even mention in his book that this is a very rare picture that is signed by Ray and not his manager.

The one in the book is more polished, and signed in pen where mine is signed in pencil, but I think the similarities between the two are obvious. I've also seen a third that is similar to both of them.

I enhanced the contrast on the top image to bring out as much as I can from the scan. It really needs to be photographed instead, but I haven't gotten around to it.

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Permalink Reply by Paul on August 27, 2015 at 10:31pm

They look like the real deal. Where as The other one I posted looks to be signed by someone else.
This isn't a witch hunt on a reputable dealer who we know has a great reputation. This is for th3 collector.

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