Roger Ridley

Milton Lee "Roger" Ridley Jr. born in Lumpkin County on April 30, 1948, Los Angeles, sadly deceased on November 16, 2005. Died at age 57. He was an American singer and guitarist, known as "the voice of God" for his performances of the street artist in Santa Monica, California. He is also known for his collaboration with the "Playing For Change" foundation. His musical period is between 1964 and 2005. Her career began in elementary school, when she sang on a school show just to get out of English classes. His goals were to share his music and songs around the world. She moved to New York City in 1964 and began her professional career with Maley and the Islands as a singer. At the age of 26 he married and was the father of two girls and a boy, who are also in the field of music. Born in rural Georgia as Milton Lee Ridley, Jr., he was the son of Milton Lee Ridley and his wife Lessie White Ridley. Besides Roger, he had numerous nicknames: "Buh-Buh", "Ajax" and "Big Man". He received worldwide attention as an American Rhythm and Blues singer in the 20th century by performing the song “Stand By Me” for “Playing for Change,” a non-profit multimedia music project. In a deep, hoarse voice, he gives the introduction to the song saying, "This song says that no matter who you are, no matter where you go in your life, at some point you will need someone to accompany you. When he became an adult, he moved to New York City, where he sang with his sister at church concerts and other performances. After all three of his children were adults, he committed to a full-time music career. He eventually had club appearances, such as the Baby Grand and the Cotton Club, being a part of Harlem's nightlife. As an early member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Art and Design Program, "Music Under New York," he sang on the subway for commuters. It was the opening act for Millie Jackson and Clarence Carter, he performed at the US Open in New York City and at the wedding of former US Attorney General Bobby Kennedy son Douglas. He appeared in stage productions, "Blues for a Gospel Queen" and "No Place To Be Somebody" in New York City, as well as in "Madhattan" in Las Vegas, Nevada, where in 1997 he had moved. Finally, he received reservations throughout the United States and on stages in Switzerland and Italy in the project "Blues To Bach", and in Japan in the production of "Liberty on The Street". He had a "Musical Gumbo", taken from Ben E. King, Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, creating his own style. On March 29, 1997 he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he performed at a street musicians show called Madhattan, produced by Kenneth Feld. After a year in the show he stopped playing in public, then a close friend introduced him to the "3rd Street Promenade" in Santa Monica, California, invited him to return to the world of music, suddenly he returned to perform in front of millions of people, with a diverse audience and with only one thing in mind, making good music. His dedication to acting on stage has allowed him to travel all over the world, including places like Milan, Bologna, Lugano (where he was part of blues music leading a solo musical career) and in Japan, where he performed. his own musical tour in freedom (solo), on the street stage, on his tour of Japan. He continued to pursue music until his untimely death on November 16, 2005. Following the publication of the page, the indefatigable Greg Burgess has been in touch with members of the Ridley family and has discovered important new information about this talented family. He writes, "Roger Ridley and Ridley", the sisters were Charles's from a crossroads near Lumpkin, Georgia. At the time of the "Del -Pat" recording the Ridley sisters consisted of Julia Van Matre, Dorothy Pitman Hughes and Mary Cunningham (in the Ridley century). They came from a solid Church belief and this was a rare foray into the secular world of recording. Dorothy Pitman Hughes later recorded a blues music album, as Jean Myers. She is a well known civil rights activist and feminist polemicist, her extraordinary book is available for purchase. Roger Ridley moved to New York in 1970, where in recent years he could be found playing tourists and commuters on the subway (playing on the street stage). In 1998 he presented the CD "Subplay" a compilation of the musicians of the New York subway, the realization of "the subway station". His sister Alice Tan Ridley also joins. He also recorded a CD covered with voice and guitar of songs that most came from his soul, which are also available. I was in contact with Lakisha Ridley, Roger's daughter and he said, I am very grateful to Greg for the research and to the Ridley family not only for their wonderful "45" but also for their interest. Tony has written the news that Roger Ridley appear on the website "Playing For Change" the version of "Stand By Me" is incredible there is no doubt, this song was sung in 2005, the same year he sadly passed away. Related to the Family Group > Roger And The Ridley Sisters