Thank you so much for your advice! I followed your suggestions to a T, and got great results. Bought good paint, good brushes/rollers, primed with dark grey (as much black pigment as the mfgr said could be put into the primer) filled the roller and did litterally one (1) stroke from ceiling to floor (sometimes had to go back up to make sure there were no small spots with no red.
I almost could have gotten away with a single coat, but did a second to ensure an even coat and no grey poking through.
A million thanks.
jim