This document outlines key details about the musical production "GENIUS", which pays tribute to legendary musician Ray Charles. It introduces the creative team behind the production and some of the main cast members, all of whom have a strong connection to Ray Charles' music. Furthermore, it provides information on Ray Charles' extensive career achievements and influence. The production aims to promote the musical through television, radio, press, and viral marketing channels.

1. OUR CAST/ KEY CREATIVES

3. Ray’s the only serious genius in music today
Frank Sinatra.
Pop music is unthinkable
without Ray Charles.
Willie Nelson
The Big Brother I never had..
Aretha Franklin
No-one’s ever done a better version of
‘Yesterday’. Sir Paul McCartney

4. A true soul brother in every sense of the
word. One of my greatest inspirations.
Van Morrison.
One of the greatest
voices of all time…
Elton John.
A legend in his
lifetime and mine.
Gladys Knight
I can’t tell you what a thrill it is to sing with Br Ray.
BB King

5. There’d be no Cocker
without Ray….
I know it’s
sacrilege but I
think he’s more
important than
Elvis..
Billy Joel.
My greatest
inspiration
…
Norah Jones

6. RAY CHARLES
The Only Musician In History
 To be an original inductee into the
Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame, inducted into
 The Jazz Hall of Fame
 The Rhythm & Blues Hall Of Fame
 And The Songwriters Hall of Fame.
 He won 18 Grammys including a Lifetime
Achievement Award and influenced more
performers than you could poke a stick at.

7. RAY CHARLES
MORE MILESTONES
 He’s won the Kennedy Centre award for lifetime
achievement in the arts
 Congressional Medal Of Freedom for the Arts
 Voted #10 in magazine’s ‘50 Most Influential
Artists Of All Time’.
 And one of magazine’s “100 Entertainment
Icons of The 20th Century”

8. Craig Wilkins
CREATOR/ CONVENOR/ DIRECTOR
My first work in ‘the biz’ was as a Channel
9 publicist for the classic Australian
drama ‘The Sullivans’. Then for 25 years I
wrote drama for most of Australia’s
major TV production companies. One of
‘Home & Away’ and ‘Neighbours’
original writers. From Young Doctors to
Flying Doctors, from Cop Shop to Blue
Heelers….
 I’ve also written breakfast radio comedy
in the 90’s for 2DayFM, Adam Hills,
Doug Mulray, Keith Scott & also dabbled
in the dark arts of ad copywriting for
George Betsis @ Saatchis, George
Patterson, Hello Testing, The Hale
Agency, The Hopkins Agency. A closet
muso all my life (The Heartstarters,
Chock Full of Cocker), I’ve shared a flat
with Stevie Wright, (The Easybeats
would be a great rock opera if Harry and
George would do it) and jammed with
Ian Moss.I’ve had this idea for 7 years -
about a year before the excellent ‘Ray’
movie was announced.

9.  Jeff Duff began his trail-blazing career in Melbourne in
the mid 1970's as lead singer of the chart-topping rock-
fusion band Kush. His voice – honey over hot gravel, a
soulful instrument which many of his peers aspired to.
Jeff toured extensively throughout Europe and gained
a reputation for his flamboyant live performances.
 He returned to Sydney in 1988 and found instant
success with an award winning video, which
accompanied his recording of the song 'Walk on the
Wildside'. He has recorded 25 albums to date. 2008
has seen the release of an album, which Jeff recorded
with members of legendary British bands Deep Purple
and Black Sabbath.
 Jeff is a regular performer on Australian TV’s SPICKS
& SPECKS and RockWiz and continues to headline
some of Australia's leading music festivals including
Melbourne Jazz Festival , Manly Jazz Festival, Darling
Harbour Jazz Festival
(Ray Charles has been a fundamental inspiration to
Jeff and he loves the GENIUS concept and we hope to
have him on board regularly subject to his availability
due to other commitments. Doug Parkinson is another
Ray Charles aficionado. Nicco Gazanna , Andy
Anderson, Bobby Valentine
.
"I don't think it's
overstating the case
to say that, had Jeff
Duff hailed from a
country in the top
half of the world, he
could now be as
acknowledged and
acclaimed as a David
Bowie, or Lou Reed,
or Iggy Pop.”
Glenn A Baker
OR JEFF DUFF- LEAD SINGER

10. Chris Kirby plays the Very Reverend
Frederick Douglas Jackson. African
American early 40s….. Chris has been in
constant work in Australia for the last 10
years. Highlights include a ‘one man show’
on the life of legendary blues guitarist
Robert Johnson for 6 nights at the Sydney
Convention Centre, playing Rocky in one of
the touring companies of Rocky Horror,
appearing in ‘Festen’ for the MTC, working
with George Lucas on the ‘Aussie Star
Wars’ trilogy and he has just wrapped
filming on Bruce Beresford’s latest film
“Mao’s Last Dancer”. Chris’ sixth grade
teacher lived down the street from Ray
Charles and once brought the legendary
performer to meet Chris’ class. Chris
couldn’t stop asking Ray questions leaving
an indelible impression on Chris. When
Chris first saw the script for ‘GENIUS’ he

11. WYLIE J MILLERActor, motivational speaker, poet,
musician. Son of a Jamacian musician,
vocalist Wylie J Miller began his music
career in the US navy, then developed into
song-writer, recording artist, bass player.
After leaving the marines, Wylie
freelanced for a decade, doing extensive
tours and recordings in US and through SE
Asia, Japan and China with American
bands like Touch of Fire, Bobby Brown’s
Black Night and Wendi Koh & 66 Jam. For
10 years, lead singer of The Grand Wazoo,
a funk/soul institution begun by legendary
Melbourne muso John MonteSantos 25
years ago… Wylie J reached a career
nirvana in Oct 08 when he won a GOLD-
FM singing contest – and the Prize was
singing ‘SUPERSTITION’ with Stevie
Wonder at Rod Laver Arena!
WYLIE
STEVIE

12. RAYONS – PRIMA DIVA
 May Johnson
 The powerhouse voice of hard hitting
Hammond funk outfit Deep Street
Soul May Johnston is known for her
super charged high energy
performances. Signed to iconic UK
label Freestyle DSS’s second album
‘Look Out Watch Out’ featured May’s
snappy co-writing skills for the first
time, scoring the band a coveted slot at
Glastonbury festival UK, St Pauls Jazz
festival in France and a spot on Craig
Charles Charles Funk & Soul Club
(BBC) compilation album. Her live
show embodies the essence of an
original funk revue with showmanship
reminiscent of James Brown or Tina
Turner yet her voice can be as raw as
Betty Davis or as smooth as Sarah
Vaughn.

13. RAYONS #2 – SAMANTHA MORLEY
Samantha is an Australian singer and actress. Her versatility
as a performer has given her a career that has spanned 20
years, both locally and abroad.
As a jazz and soul vocalist, Samantha has worked with many
of Australia’s finest musical talents in line ups including
Grand Wazoo, B Sharp Big Band, Daryl McKenzie Orchestra,
John Montesante Quintet, as well as her own jazz ensembles.
Samantha was a member of the acclaimed vocal trio, The
Funky Divas, who’s concert, corporate and television
performances are numerous. The girls were the support act to
the legendary Barry White in his final Australian Concert
Tour.
A seasoned stage performer, Samantha has toured nationally
in musicals including ‘The Boy From Oz’, ‘South Pacific’,
‘Chess’, ‘Fiddler On The Roof’, ‘The Sound Of Music’ and ‘Cats’
(International Touring Company). Samantha played the role
of Billy’s mother in the Original Australian cast of ‘Billy Elliot’.
Samantha’s vocal compositions feature on the soundtrack to
the film.
Samantha’s debut jazz album ‘The Nearness of You’, recorded
in 2012 at ABC studios Melbourne, is distributed through
Newmarket Music.
www.samanthamorley.com

14. 1/12/08
1/03/09

15. TV
 COMPASS
 Jeff Duff’s a regular on ‘Spicks & Specks & RockWiz.
 The Morning Show (Channel 7)
 The Project., Studio 10
 Angela Bishop – Channel 10 Entertainment
Reporter
 Richard Wilkins – Channel 9 Entertainment
Reporter
 James Tobin – Channel 7 Entertainment Reporter
 ABC’s Stateline
 ABC’s Sunday Arts
 Tracee Hutchinson on DIGTV (ABC 2) and/or 7:30
Report
 Jeff Duff on Talking Heads – Peter Thompson

16. RADIO
 774 Morning Show Conversation hour.
 ABCs Richard Stubbs is a huge Ray Charles fan
 Sunday Morning radio arts program
 Mike Brady on 3AW – huge Ray fan.
 ABC’s Saturday night Country
 PBS FM (Blue Juice etc, Soul show ), Gospel Show
 RRR FM, DIG radio, MAGIC 1278, LIGHT FM (set in
church)

17. PRESS/ INTERNET
 Robin Usher,, Age Green Guide Networking (‘ TV Writer takes leap of
faith to church’, Age’s Good Weekend Upfront: Things To Do (Brigitte
Barta), Sunday Age (8 Days by Annalisa Giudici),
 Religious editors.
 Sara Mulcahy, Editor, Sunday Magazine, Sunday Herald Sun
 Jane Hutchinson , Sunday Best, Sunday Herald Sun
 Fiona Byrne, Society page editor, Sunday Herald Sun
 HeraldSun Theatre and music crits.
 Rolling Stone,
 Melbourne Weekly, Melbourne Observer
 Bill Perrett @ The Age’s Monthly magazine
 New Idea
 Who Weekly
 Woman’s Day, Women’s Weekly
 MX
 The Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society newsletter
 Posters up in Jazz clubs (Manchester Lane, Bennetts)
 ‘Theatre Alive’, Oz Musicals website
 VicTourism website.
 I’d also target local newspapers and churches with press kits as well.

18. VIRAL MARKETING TARGETS
 Community Music Victoria’s website has links to 130
community choirs though they estimate their could be 4
times that number. Allowing for conservative number of 20
per choir that’s approx 10000 people that could be easily
targeted via CMV’s email reach… serving as potential
participants in the choir and as ‘word of mouth’
ambassadors.

19. MORE INFO?
 Call Creative Director
 Craig on 0401 624 663
 Email: geniusmusical@gmail.com
 Or PR Director