Columbus, Ohio – October 06, 2026 -- The Palace Theatre will mark its 100th anniversary with a single-performance concert honoring Ray Charles, who played the venue throughout his career. CAPA announced that Palace 100: The Genius of Ray Charles takes place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, at the Palace Theatre in downtown Columbus, with tickets starting at $62.50.

Country and jazz artists join a genre-spanning lineup

Country artist Jackson Dean and jazz trumpeter Etienne Charles, a Guggenheim Fellow known for blending jazz with Afro-Caribbean traditions, join a roster that includes Patti Austin, Aloe Blacc, Blessing Offor, Lisa Fischer, Monica Mancini and Columbus native Billy Valentine. The lineup spans R&B, jazz, gospel, country and contemporary music, reflecting the range of styles Charles explored over his career.

Paul Shaffer and Gregg Field carry direct ties to Ray Charles

Paul Shaffer, David Letterman's longtime musical director, will host the evening; he performed alongside Charles on Saturday Night Live and Late Night with David Letterman. Gregg Field, a former drummer for Ray Charles, produces the concert. CAPA Vice President of Marketing and Sales Peter Keiser said Charles' music "transcends genres, generations and boundaries" and that returning it to the Palace honors both his legacy and the theatre's history.

Charles last played the Palace in 1992

Created specifically for the centennial, the concert will be performed only this one time in Columbus and will not tour. Charles performed at the Palace Theatre throughout his career, most recently on June 6, 1992.

Columbus musicians join national names onstage

The program includes a rendition of "America the Beautiful," one of Charles' best-known interpretations, performed with musicians from the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Jazz and The Ohio State University School of Music. Conductor Chris Walden leads an orchestra featuring guitarist Dean Parks, bassist Nathan East, Columbus organist and former Ray Charles band member Bobby Floyd, saxophonist Tom Scott and keyboardist Matt Rollings. Billy Valentine, who co-wrote the title track of Charles' 1993 album "My World," returns to his hometown stage for the show.

The Palace opened in 1926 as a vaudeville house

The Palace Theatre opened Nov. 8, 1926, and the centennial concert arrives six days after that milestone. Tickets are available through the CAPA Ticket Center at the Ohio Theatre, online, or by phone at 614-469-0939.