Courtesy photo
By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — Brandon Victor Dixon has been entertaining audiences for decades.
The Tony-nominated singer and actor is no stranger to high-profile, well-established Broadway shows which include “Hamilton” (Aaron Burr), and “Motown: The Musical” (Berry Gordy).
Dixon’s first major role was as Simba in the national tour of “The Lion King,” which he calls the biggest challenge of his career. He has also appeared in “Hell’s Kitchen” (2024), “Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed” (2016), and “The Color Purple” (2006),
The Emmy-nominated actor also has appeared in NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Rent” on Fox, Amazon’s “Modern Love,” “Power” on Starz, and “The Best Man” on Peacock. That is just a sampling of Dixon’s works.
Up next for Dixon, a Gaithersburg, Maryland native who now lives in New York, is “According to Ray: Ray Charles’s Message to America,” at the Mark Taper Forum, March 21-23.
The show, the season opener of “MUSE/IQUE 2025, Make Some Noise: Music and Stories of American Defiance and Hope, Transformative American Artists and Thinkers,” is led by artistic and music director Rachael Worby in association with the Center Theatre Group.
“According to Ray,” which features Dixon and the DC6 Singers Collective, explores how Ray Charles’s diverse musical genres, influences and collaborations all culminated in his landmark recording of “America the Beautiful.”
Charles was celebrated for the first few decades of his career for his genius knack of blending gospel, blues, jazz, rock and soul. Then, in 1972, he did something even he’d never done before: he infused his work with an anthemic message of empathy at a time when it was needed.
With his album, “A Message from the People,” and his cornerstone reinterpretation of “America The Beautiful,” Charles expressed his vision of America by confronting contradictions.
In 1986, Charles was among the first musicians inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He received a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement in 1987 and won a dozen Grammys for his recordings. Among his numerous awards were the Presidential Medal for the Arts in 1993 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986.
MUSE/IQUE brings to life Charles’s remarkable career with genre-spanning hits like “Hit the Road Jack,” “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” and more. It explores his music’s crucial role in shaping America’s collective vision.
Dixon, a gifted artist with a long and storied career on Broadway, has a rich voice that lends itself to jazz interpretations — just ripe for “According to Ray.”
I recently caught up with Dixon, a theater vet who played Charles in the musical, “Ray Charles Live!” at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2007, to discuss “According to Ray: Ray Charles’s Message to America.”
DD: Tell me about the show. What will audiences see and hear?
BVD: The audience will see and hear songs we know from Ray Charles’s genius. We also do songs by people who influenced Ray, like Cab Calloway and Nat King Cole. I am singing all of them, along with the DC6 singers.
DD: What songs are you singing?
BVD: We sing “Route 66,” “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” “Hit the Road Jack,” and “What I Say.” I don’t want to give away the show.
DD: What drew you to this project and what do you hope audiences take away from the performance?
BVD: I have worked with the organization MUSE/IQUE a number of times before. I am always drawn to not just the artist they choose but also the reinvention of some of the tunes and the rearrangement of the music. I appreciate the musicianship. The audience will get a wonderful take on these known hits and a wealth of information on Ray.
DD: Tell me about your role in “Ray Charles’s Message to America.”
BVD: We are all on stage at the same time. The orchestra, the DC6 singers, and the artistic director — the narrator and conductor — are all on stage together. This is a concert.
DD: Why did you want to be part of this show?
BVD: Because it was about Ray. I have a love for Ray and his legacy.
DD: Do you have a favorite Ray Charles song?
BVD: Ray’s rendition of “America The Beautiful.”
DD: What do you think Ray Charles added to the musical canon?
BVD: He added a true musical genius. Although he has not written a great deal of his famous songs, they are his arrangements. He interpreted them through his musical instrument. His artistry and musicianship created a legacy that shines through.
DD: How does “According to Ray” pay homage to Ray Charles’ legacy, and what do you think sets this performance apart from other tributes?
BVD: The unique musicianship of the performers who are involved. Worby’s approach to the collaborative nature of the artist. People will learn something. They will have a wonderful time.
DD: What’s it like working with the DC6 Singers Collective, and how do their vocals enhance the overall performance?
BVD: They are a wonderful group. They are an a capella group. They create fantastic arrangements. These are all songs we know and love. We give the audience the music they love with a twist.
DD: How does Rachael Worby’s direction influence your performance? Could you talk about working with Worby?
BVD: She sets the tone and sets the show. I appreciate Rachael’s passion for music and its history.
DD: What do you think Ray Charles’ music means to contemporary audiences, and how does his legacy continue to inspire new generations?
BVD: We will have to see. Let’s see how we will be stewards of education in the future. It’s our responsibility in that arena. We don’t have to worry about the music going anywhere. The music lasts. It gets sampled. Ray’s legacy will remain.
DD: Do you have any personal anecdotes or connections to Ray Charles?
BVD: We have the same birthday, Sept. 23.
DD: Why should audiences see this show?
BVD: You can’t beat seeing this orchestra and these singers doing this show.
DD: What’s next for you after “According to Ray?”
BVD: I’m releasing some music in June, and a full CD will be released in the fall.
“According to Ray: Ray Charles’s Message to America,” takes place March 21-23 at the Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Information: muse-ique.com.
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
