Longtime guitarist of Eagles, Joe Walsh, has collaborated with many artists through the years. Outside of his solo work and guitar work with Eagles, he played with the likes of Ringo Starr, B.B. King, America, REO Speedwagon, Keith Moon, and many, many more. He’s an absolute legend. However, there is one individual whom Walsh wishes he could have collaborated with. Sadly, that individual passed away in the early aughts, leaving behind a legacy that could rival Eagles easily, though some might debate that. That individual was the incomparable Ray Charles.
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Joe Walsh Wishes He Could Have Collaborated or Played Guitar With Ray Charles
Back in 2023, ahead of a performance for VetsAid, Joe Walsh spoke with California radio station The SoCal Sound about his musical journey. When asked if there was another artist out there that he wished he could have collaborated with, Walsh was quick to name the famous singer and pianist, Ray Charles.
“Well, I’ll tell you the one that got away,” said Walsh. “I want to say John Lennon. But the one that got away that I really wanted to play with was Ray Charles. I really wanted to play guitar for Ray.”
Walsh went on to say that Charles was an “American treasure” and “so great.”
“And his life, if you read his book, his life and all of the different chapters in it, and he was just so funky,” Walsh continued. “He was just as pure spiritually R&B as you can get. And I really wanted to play guitar for him, but I didn’t make it.”
For reference, Charles passed away in 2004 at the age of 73. He was an immense talent known for pioneering soul music in the 1950s by implementing new elements of jazz and R&B. He has also been associated with country music’s eventual merger with other genres, such as R&B and pop in the 1960s. Some of Charles’ biggest hits include “I’ve Got A Woman” and “Georgia On My Mind”. His work is purely unforgettable.
I can imagine that if Joe Walsh had the chance to play guitar for Ray Charles, it would have been a match made in heaven. Sadly, sometimes, things just don’t work out.
Photo by R. Diamond/Getty Images for VetsAid 2022
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