“You wouldn't give me the time of day...”

Joe Hunter, who was Ray Charles' road manager, and his wife, Trudy, a back-up singer, remember falling in love.

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Recorded in Memphis, TN

Credits

Produced by Selly Thiam.

Facilitated by Steven Thrasher.

Transcript

Click here to read the transcript for this story.

Interview transcript

Joe Hunter (JH): The plan was for me to stay at the office and run the road from the office, so I would train managers and send them out. I would sneak out on the road to see if they were doing their job, and I had been trying to hit on you and date you for years, and you wouldn't give me the time of day.

Trudy Hunter (TH): I didn't trust management.

JH: Right.

TH: So I didn't have nothing to do with you. All you did for me was give me information.

JH: Give me my check!

TH: Give me my check and that was it bro. I'm sorry.

JH: I know. It's lonely being a manager.

TH: Right. But our relationship was good as far as being able to hang out.

JH: Well, you were my counselor. When I had women problems, I'd come talk to you. and you'd listen so good and then send me back to my room.

TH: Right.

JH: And I'm like, "No, can I stay? You know, don't you want to hug me and hold me."

TH: No, no, no.

JH: And you're like, "No, let's pray or read some Scripture."

TH: Right.

JH: And I'm like, "Aw no." Well, you remember I trained this guy, and I heard this guy was not doing his job, and he was sitting in the audience while the show was going on and doing different things.

I came out on the road to check up on you guys. And as I was going through the venue, I came upon the Raelettes dressing room. And it was just a law that you don't go in the Raelettes dressing room, especially without knocking.

TH: Right. Exactly.

JH: But the door was cracked, and I go in, and there you were. Our eyes meet, and I kiss you. And you kiss me back, on the lips.

TH: I remember that. I remember that.

JH: And I'm like, It's over! That's it! I got to fire this guy, all right. Even if this guy...

TH: 'Cause you want to come back out on the road.

JH: Even if this guy was doing a great job he was fired that day, okay? It's over.

TH: Okay.

JH: I need your job, man case I'm going to get Trudy all right? And the next morning, I gave that guy his ticket, and I'm standing at the bus waiting for everyone to come and you come to the bus, and I see it on your lips, you're about to say, "That kiss meant nothing." And I looked in your eyes and before you could say anything I said, "It's too late."

TH: Haha.

JH: And after thirteen years of marriage...

TH: Yes, thirteen years of marriage

JH: I just, I just love what we have in each other. I'm thankful to have you in my life. I mean when I wake up and see you, you know, there's not an ugly day, long as you there.