Ray Charles at Junior Pioneer Hall – Twin Cities Music Highlights

Ray Charles at Junior Pioneer Hall

July 3, 2025

The Ray Charles Orchestra made an appearance at the Junior Pioneer Hall in St. Paul on January 16, 1958, announced the St. Paul Recorder.

This huge event was not covered in the Minneapolis papers.

More Events

“Twist” Night: 1962

1971 Blues Pioneers at Northrop

20th Annual Hennepin County Fair: 1926

30th Anniversary of Rock ‘n’ Roll: 1988

31st Annual Scott County Agricultural Society Fair: 1928

5th Annual Rod and Custom Show: 1961

A Different Breed of Cat: 1968

A Night in Spain: 1936

A Song for Minneapolis: 1963

Adelina Patti and Ole Bull: 1856

Alan Freed’s Big Beat: 1958

All Star Home Talent Minstrel Show: 1915

Allman Brothers: 1971

American Familiar Music: 1953

American Outdoor Hootenanny Festival: 1963

Andrews Sisters: 1941

Annual Christmas Party: 1968

Annual Tomahawk Days: 1973

Aquatennial Beach Party/Rock Festival: 1973

Aquatennial Shows

Association: 1969

Association: 1970

Auto Show: 1959

Auto Show: 1964

Bacchanlia (sic) Revival: 1970

Bach to Rock: 1969

Back to School Dance: 1967

Bandwagon: 1944

Battle of the Red Barn

Beach Boys at Danceland: 1963

Beach Boys: 1972

Bear Cat Dance Marathon: 1928

Beatlemania: 1964

Beatniks in the Cities: 1959

Bel negre with Voodoo to Jive: 1946

Big Al’s: 1964

Big Daddy Wagg: 1968

Big Daddy Wags Night: 1969

Big Jazz Show: 1951

Biggest Show of 1952

Biggest Show of 1952

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson: 1946

Bill Haley: 1972

Birdland Stars of ’57 Show: 1957

Black Sabbath: 1972

Black Sabbath’s Volume 4 Tour: 1972

Blackboard Jungle: 1955

Blondie and Dagwood: 1962

Blood on the Tracks: 1974

Blues and Folk Marathon II: 1972

Blues and Folk Marathon: 1971

Bob Dylan: 1965

Bobby Vee: 1959

Boston Symphony Orchestra: 1890

British Invasion Reunion: 1973

Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters Annual Dance: 1952

Bruce Dybvig‘s Big Band: 1946

Builders’ Show: 1965

By the Waters of Minnetonka: 1921

Caravan of Stars: 1959

Certs Breath Mints: 1971

Chancellors: 1963

Club Friday: 1949

Coming Out Party: 1936

Concert at Mazourka Hall: 1855

Count Basie and James Rushing: 1946

Crazy Man Crazy: 1953

Cream at the New City Opera House

Creedence Clearwater Revival: 1969

Crossing the Desert: 1914

Dance at Opera Hall: 1915

Danceland: 1962

Dances from the Minneapolis Spokesman: 1935

Dancing in Tonka: 1959

Dancing Parties: 1928

Danny’s Reasons: 1967

Dark Moments: 1927

Dave Clark Five: 1964

David Soul: 1977

dee jay Magazine: 1956

Del Counts: 1967

Demonic Dance in Red: 1928

Dick Clark Caravan of Stars: 1965

Dinner Dance at the Community House: 1924

Dinner with Drac: 1958

Disc and Needle Record Store: 1954

Disk Jockey Convention 1: 1958

Disk Jockey Convention II: 1959

Dixie in St Paul: 1858

Don Leary’s Record Shop Top Hits: 1955

Don’s Records and Hi-Fi: 1958

Doobie Brothers: 1963

Doobie Brothers: 1971

Doris Hines: 1963

Double Victory Dance:1942

Downtown Bloomington: 1970

Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show: 1973

Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: 1946

Dylan Party Tape: 1960

Early Twin City Radio R&B: 1954

Easter Fair: 1968

Eau Claire Peace Festival: 1970

Edina Shop: 1948

Elton John: 1971

Elvis Brings His Pelvis: 1956

Eric Burdon and War, Crow, and White Lightning: 1970

Eric Clapton: 1981

Ethel Waters: 1935

Events at Mazourka Hall: 1850 – ?

Events: 1980s-1990s

Everything from Bach to Boogie Woogie: 1943

Faces, Deep Purple, and Southern Comfort: 1971

Fair Minneapolitan Waltz: 1886

Fake Buddy Miles Fiasco: 1971

Fantasy Park: 1975

Favorite Songs: 1956

Festival of Hope: 1970

Festival of Modern Jazz: 1953

Festival of Music: 1973

Fifth Annual Negro Newspaper Week: 1946

First Phonograph Recording

First Rock ‘n’ Roll Record: 1954

Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids

Fleetwood Mac: 1973

Flinthill Singers: 1966

Floating Dancing Pavilion: 1908

Folk Music Revival Has America Singing – And Minneapolis Strums Along: 1963

Football Jamboree

Four Laddies: 1958

Fourth of July Picnic: 1942

Frank Cammarata: 1965

Frank Sinatra: 1942

Gene Vincent in Forest Lake – 1958

Go For a Goal, North Stars: 1970

Gopher Gunners’ Carnival: 1921

Grand Exposition and Style Show: 1923

Great Kiss-Off Contest: 1974

Great U of M Panty Raid: 1952

Guessing Party and Dance: 1922

H.T. Three: 1965

Happening ’67

Harlem Globetrotters: 1962

Harvest Moon Ball : 1945

Hazel Scott: 1945

Hellraising in Hopkins: 1915

Hennepin County Fair: 1955

Hootenanny For Dancers: 1963

Hootenanny TV show: 1963

House of Leather: 1969

Humphrey Campaign: 1968

Hurry Down to Bleecker: 1960

Illinois Jacquet and Ella Fitzgerald – 1948

Inter-University Hootenanny: 1963

International Auto Show ’71

International Student Strike: 1969

Jack Costanzo and Gerrie Woo: 1973

Janis Joplin: 1969

Jazz at the Philharmonic: 1944

Jazz at the Philharmonic: 1946

Jazz at the Philharmonic: 1946

Jazz at the Philharmonic: 1953

Jazz at the Philharmonic: 1954

Jazz at the Philharmonic: 1956

Jazz Festival: 1960

Jazz for Moderns Tour: 1957

Jazz for Moderns: 1958

Jefferson Airplane: 1970

Jimi Hendrix: 1968

Jimmie Lunceford’s Orchestra: 1940

Jimmy Rogers: 1957

Joe Cocker: 1969

Joey Dee and the Starlighters: 1966

Johhnie Ray Goes to Jail: 1952

John Denver at the Guthrie

John Mayall: 1972

Johnny Cash and The Fendermen: 1960

Johnny Cash: 1967

Johnny Mathis: 1963

Jose Feliciano – 1971

Journeymen at the Padded Cell

Katherine Dunham: 1944

KDWB DJ Earl L. Trout III Jailed: 1967

KDWB Underground Show: 1969

KDWB-a-Go-Go Dance Party: 1965

KDWBeach Boys: 1965

Kennedy Assassination: 1963

Key Club Shows: 1954

Key Club Shows: 1955

Key Club Shows: 1961

KSTP Studios: 1936

Larry Lyons: 1935

Leon Russell: 1971

Little Richard at Junior Pioneer Hall, 1956

Loring Park Festival: 1971

Lots More Blues, Rags and Hollers: 1964

Louis Armstrong: 1948

Love-Ins at Loring Park: 1967

Mamas and Papas in Minneapolis: 1966

Mankato State: 1973

Marathon III: 1973

March for Peace: 1970

Marigold Ballroom: 1966

Married Folks Dancing Club Events: 1915

Married Folks Dancing Club Opening Ball: 1916

Matt’s Sweet Shop: 1927

Meade Lux Lewis: 1963

Meade Lux Lewis: 1964

Melodee Record Shop: 1947

Mercury Records: 1963

Merry Men of Rhythm: 1946

Merrymen of Rhythm: 1946

Michael’s Mystics: 1969

Midwest Rock Festival: 1969

Mighty Tiny: 1970

Minneap’lis Minnesota

Minneapolis Ain’t Talkin’ to St. Paul: 1945

Minneapolis Auditorium: 1968

Minneapolis Journal March, 1899

Minneapolis Musicians Union Local 73: 1891

Minneapolis Spokesman: 1934

Minneapolis: 1953

Minnesota Cadet Lancers: 1883

Minnesota Folk Song Society: 1961

Minnesota Mine: 1918

Minnesota Orchestra Summer Pops Jubilee: 1969

Minnesota Theater: 1928

Minnesota’s State Centennial: 1958

Minnetonka Record: 1931

Minnie from Minnesota: 1921

Minstrel Shows: 1891

Modern Jazz for 57” Show: 1957

Modern Jazz Piano Lesson

Modern Jazz Quartet: 1963

Moody Blues: 1971

Moonlight River Excursion: 1922

Moonshiner’s Dance Part One: 1927

More Dances from the Minneapolis Spokesman: 1935

Mr. Lucky’s: 1964

Mr. One-Man Riot: 1967

Nat King Cole Refused Service

National Dance Contest: 1959

New City Opera House: 1969

New Orleans Rhythm Kings: 1928

New Year’s Eve: 1968

New Year’s Eve Party: 1967

Night of Stars: 1967

Ninth Annual Upper Midwest Auto Show: 1963

Norman Granz’s Jazz: 1948

Norman Granz’s Jazz: 1952

Norman Granz’s Jazz: 1955

Northern Light: 1974

Northtown Mall Opening: 1972

Northwest Boat, Sports and Travel Show: 1962

Northwest Radio Show: 1927

Norwegian Independence Day: 1897

Olson’s Hall Free Public Dance: 1928

Open Air Celebrations

Open Air I: 1971

Open Air II: 1971

Open Air III: 1971

Open Air Pop Festival 1970

Open Air Rock Festival: 1970

Open House: 1959

Oscar Socks: 1956

Panorama of Folk Songs: 1944

Peacerock Festival: 1971

People’s Fair: 1970

Percy Hughes: 1946

Perfect Records: 1926

Performances: 1920

Performances: 1921

Performances: 1929

Performances: 1932

Performances: 1940

Pete Fountain: 1966

Pete Seeger: 1972

Peter Rabbit: 1966

Phantasmagoria: 1969

Platter Chatter: 1943

Play it Cool: 1963

Pop Concert Committee: 1956

Psychedelic Soundburst: 1967

Public Dance: 1928

Rare Earth with Poco: 1972

Ray Charles at Junior Pioneer Hall

Ray Charles: 1963

RCA-Victor: 1957

Rebel Without a Cause: 1955

Red Foley and his Ozark Jubilee: 1957

Republican Talent Show: 1950

Return of Adelina Patti: 1887

Rhumboogie Club Christmas Night and New Year’s Eve: 1943

Rhythm and Blues Revue: 1956

Rock ‘n’ Roll Show

Rock ‘n’ Roll Revue: 1955

Rock Around the Clock Film: 1956

Rock Festival: 1973

Rock for Freedom: 1958

Rock Rock Rock: 1957

Rock, Pretty Baby! Film: 1957

Rod McKuen: 1970

Rollie Williams: 1959

Route 66 in Minneapolis: 1963

Royal Arcanum: 1944

Sam Cooke Show: 1963

Sangerfest: 1889

Save Big Money at Menard’s: 1972

Scott County Fair: 1927

Second Annual State Basketball Tournament Dance: 1956

Service Center Dance: 1942

Shawn Phillips: 1973

Shores of Minnetonka: 1921

Six Days on the Road: 1963

Ski-U-Mah, an Indian Intermezzo: 1908

Snookum Russell: 1946

Social Dance in the IOOF Hall: 1915

Sonny Without Cher: 1967

Soul of a City Festival: 1970

Sound Storm Rock Revival: 1970

Sounds of the ’40s Show: 1974

St. Louis Park Echo: 1955

St. Louis Park Rockers: 1964

St. Paul Auto Show: 1958

Stage Bars: 1941

Stephen Stills and Manassas: 1972

Stepin Fetchit: 1941

Steppenwolf: 1969

Sterling Minstrel Show: 1936

Sugar Chile: 1946

Summer ’68 Action Tour for Teenagers: 1968

Super Colossal Midsummer Hop: 1964

Super Dance Attraction: 1933

Super Sunday Spectacular: 1969

Super Sunday: 1967

Surfin’ Bird: 1964

Sussman Lawrence: 1978

Swing Show: 1940

T.C. Atlantic: 1967

Teenagers Underground Music Society: 1963

Teensters! Here is what’s next in YOUR Music: 1967

Ten Years After: 1971

Thank-Going Hop: 1962

Thanksgiving Hop: 1963

The 1956 Contest Craze

The Appeal: 1892

The Biggest In-Person Show of ’56′

The Biggest Show of Stars for ’58: 1958

The Coronados: 1965

The Crusher: 1965

The Doors: 1968

The Eagles, Yes, and Gentle Giant: 1972

The Four Notes: 1941

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan: 1963

The Gestures: 1964

The Ike and Tina Turner Revue: 1967

The Lady from St. Paul: 1932

The Loon Club: 1962

The Mashed Potato: 1962

The Melodee Record Shop: 1946

The Minneapolis Journal Waltzes: 1890

The Minneapolis Song: 1903

The Minnesota Boat Club March: 1891

The Ravens: 1947

The Replacements: 1981

The Rolling Stones: 1964

The Southernaires: 1946

The Suburbs: 1977

The Twist: 1962

The Wild One: 1954

They Named it Minnesota: 1958

To Know Him is to Love Him: 1958

Toast-and-Jam Session: 1950

Tommy Dorsey: 1944

Tooth Of Crime: 1974

Top Flight, a Musical Fantasia: 1944

Twin Cities Jazz Musicians Awards: 1946

Twin Cities Shuffle: 1927-1930

Twist Around the Clock: 1962

Twist Show: 1962

United Artists’ Symphony Orchestra: 1920

University Two-Step: 1897

Untamed Youth: 1957

Up With People: 1967

Vine Hill Tavern: 1935

War-related Events: 1942

WDGY and The Advent of Top 40: 1956

WDGY Thanksgiving Holiday Spectacular: 1969

WDGY/Minnesota Vikings Huddle Club: 1967

What the World Needs Now is Love: 1966

What Was the First Rock ‘n’ Roll Record: 1945

What Was the First Rock ‘n’ Roll Record: 1946

What Was the First Rock ‘n’ Roll Record: 1949

What Was the First Rock ‘n’ Roll Record: 1950

What Was the First Rock ‘n’ Roll Record: 1951

What Was the First Rock ‘n’ Roll Record: 1952

What Was the First Rock ‘n’ Roll Record: 1953

What Was the First Rock ‘n’ Roll Record: 1955

White Heat: 1935

Williams and June: 1935

Winter Carnival

Winter Dance Party: 1959

Wolfman Jack: 1965

X-Navy Band: 1946

Year of the Folk Boom: 1960

Zimmy at Gaity: 1959

Zoot Suits: 1944