ABSTRACT
Della Beatrice Howard was home one afternoon listening to the King Bee Show on
radio station WCOH, when the King Bee, dj Clifton Smith, welcomed popular blues
singer Ray Charles to the show. In chatting, Ray said he loved gospel music and that
one of his favorite groups, the Cecil Shaw Singers, came from right here in Houston.
Della Bea knew all about the Cecil Shaw Singers-she sang with them herself. Some-
thing in Ray’s voice overcame her usual reserve, and she called the station. Would Ray
like to meet Cecil Shaw? Yes, he would, but he’d also like to meet the young lady who
called. They met a day or two later, and Ray was instantly taken with quiet Della Bea.
