Ray Charles on the jukebox: The combo that inspired Tom Waits to follow the music
‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ is a question routinely asked of children all over the world. However, the reality is that most adults are unaware of their true calling in life. The music industry, in particular, is often viewed as wholly impenetrable to those without extensive connections, experience, and, most importantly, money. Ordinary people, such as a young Tom Waits, had to set their ambitions a little lower. For much of his adolescence, the now-iconic songwriter was eyeing up a position as a cook at a local pizza joint in National City, California.
From a very early age, Waits developed an all-encompassing obsession with music. Immersing himself in the world of blues, R&B, and early rock ‘n’ roll, the budding young songwriter found inspiration in the likes of Wilson Pickett, Bob Dylan, and Roy Orbison. It wasn’t long before Waits found himself working on his own material and studying the intricacies of songwriting. However, he never truly believed he could reach the same dizzying heights as some of the artists he worshipped.
Waits went through a range of odd jobs during his younger years, trying his hand at everything from being a firefighter to being a member of the Coast Guard, and he even enrolled in a photography course at a local college at one point. By far, his favourite job, however, was working at Napoleone’s, a local pizza restaurant in California where he spent five harmonious years.
Although Waits was happy in his role at the pizza place, he found himself drawn most often to the jukebox that sat inside the restaurant. According to the songwriter, he would often play records by Ray Charles while working, dreaming of one day becoming a musician in his own right. “I thought I was gonna be a cook. That’s about as far as I could see,” he once recalled.
Being a cook is a noble profession to pursue, but had Waits achieved those early aims, we might have been robbed of some legendary songs. The antidote to his chef dreams came from the jukebox. “But what also happened was that I was mystified by the jukebox and the physics of how you get into the wire and come out of the jukebox,” he shared. “That’s where that came from.”
Seemingly, it was the timeless tones of Ray Charles that inspired Waits to follow his musical dream, albeit give up on his noble hopes of becoming a cook. “I’d listen to Ray Charles singing ‘Crying Time’ and ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You,’ and I’d think, that’s something.” Charles inspired countless artists to follow in his footsteps over the years, making a colossal impact on the development of Motown and soul music, which dominated the American charts during the 1960s.
It makes sense that Waits was receptive to Charles’ message and sound. After all, the songwriter had long since had an interest in styles of R&B, blues, and gospel, all of which went into the distinctive sound of Ray Charles. The pianist and musical pioneer had something of a galvanising effect, which certainly helped Waits pursue his clear knack for songwriting and performance.
Simultaneous to the many nights he spent listening to Ray Charles at the pizza restaurant, the songwriter started to immerse himself in the ever-growing folk music scene of San Diego. Before too long, Waits was performing at shows in addition to attending, leading the musician down a path that would eventually see him become one of the most distinctive and beloved songwriters of the 20th century.
