Full Version: Another American loss
We lost another fine American this week, Ray Charles. I don't know squat about his politics and frankly, I don't care. I do know I loved his music and I don't think I've ever heard a bad word about him from anyone. I think he was basically a really good guy, and was most certainly a gifted musician. I do think that there must be one helluva a great opening-night concert tonight in Heaven.
A sad day indeed. Ray Charles could make a deaf man feel the music. I remember one of the last times I saw him perform was with Travis Tritt on crossroads(a live music show). If you have not seen this performance and enjoy Ray Charles I strongly urge you to see it.
Rest in peace Ray...
Oh come back, baby
Oh mama please dont go, yeah
Cause the way I love you
Child you'll never know
Oh come back baby, yeah yeah
Let's talk it over one more time
Oh now now
Rest in peace Ray...
Oh come back, baby
Oh mama please dont go, yeah
Cause the way I love you
Child you'll never know
Oh come back baby, yeah yeah
Let's talk it over one more time
Oh now now
God bless you Ray, and thanks for the soul.
GM
GM
He was born about 40 miles from where I was born. "Georgia on my mind" and "America the Beautiful" are two songs that only he could do "right".
Farwell Ray.
Farwell Ray.
Oh, that is sad news. 
Rest in peace Ray.
Rest in peace Ray.
Rest in peace, Ray. Your talent was phenomenal. We're going to miss you a lot. 
Truly a musical genius and one who transcended color, genre and other lines in American society during a time when this was not so easy as today. 2 memories:
- playing 'Georgia on my Mind' at my own wedding (i play sax) and hearing Ray's version in my head while jamming.
- John Candy in the movie Planes Trains and Automobiles smoking, driving the rental car and ultimately setting it on fire, all to the tune of 'everybody do the mess around' by Ray.
RIP
He will be missed.
- playing 'Georgia on my Mind' at my own wedding (i play sax) and hearing Ray's version in my head while jamming.
- John Candy in the movie Planes Trains and Automobiles smoking, driving the rental car and ultimately setting it on fire, all to the tune of 'everybody do the mess around' by Ray.
RIP
He will be missed.
Yes Ray was a true musical genius and will be missed. Fortunately his history will not be forgotten. He has overcome many obstacles in his life with stride and that will also be a great retrospect of the man.
The man could cook everything and anything. He could make you forget about differences and focus on what we all have to share. Though he is missed, he changed us all in some way, at least those of us who experienced this gentle soul with the power of the gods in his music.
And it was his music. Nobody can touch a Ray Charles impressionist gig.
It was simple music. He didn't show off virtuosity. The feelings that he could pull from melody and chords crossed the musical borders that we who have little understanding errect in our attempts at understanding.
But our hearts knew what was going on even as our minds went WTF????
Country, blues, soul, rock, gospel, classical. Eh, it was all music for Ray. It spoke to us as we all are: equals within the fold of God, within the realms of life.
See yah man, it was very good to have known you in the small ways we had. You brought us jams when we most needed them, got us to feel when we were most hard.
And so a hole opens in the fabric. Someone will come to fill it in his or her own way, as you knew it has to be. Didn't you know that all along? Didn't you know that it was borrowed from some big music spirit?
Yep, seemed so. Your ego never got in the way. That was something beautiful -- did anyone ever say that in your behalf? Maybe so, but let's make darn sure.
You are beautiful, Mr. Charles.
Awe shucks, now let's kick it up! Oh when the saints . . . .
And it was his music. Nobody can touch a Ray Charles impressionist gig.
It was simple music. He didn't show off virtuosity. The feelings that he could pull from melody and chords crossed the musical borders that we who have little understanding errect in our attempts at understanding.
But our hearts knew what was going on even as our minds went WTF????
Country, blues, soul, rock, gospel, classical. Eh, it was all music for Ray. It spoke to us as we all are: equals within the fold of God, within the realms of life.
See yah man, it was very good to have known you in the small ways we had. You brought us jams when we most needed them, got us to feel when we were most hard.
And so a hole opens in the fabric. Someone will come to fill it in his or her own way, as you knew it has to be. Didn't you know that all along? Didn't you know that it was borrowed from some big music spirit?
Yep, seemed so. Your ego never got in the way. That was something beautiful -- did anyone ever say that in your behalf? Maybe so, but let's make darn sure.
You are beautiful, Mr. Charles.
Awe shucks, now let's kick it up! Oh when the saints . . . .
Nobody will ever be able to touch Ray's rendition of America the Beautiful.
And his version of Elanor Rigby is better than the Beatles.
America truly lost an artist
RIP Ray.
And his version of Elanor Rigby is better than the Beatles.
America truly lost an artist
RIP Ray.
This I found very sad, when I heard the report on the news this morning. I am not a big fan of Ray Charles, in the respect that I never bought any of his material, but he was most definitely an icon of American music.
We have truly lost a treasure - a man of wit and charm and huge talent. He will be sorely missed. He leaves behind a legacy that has touched everyone, black or white, rich or poor. We’ll miss you, Ray.
And I had to add this from his website. Ray was involved in a few worthy “causes”.
"And there were people who objected to soul being played on the radio because of the depth of feeling in the music. Some people thought it was too suggestive, and some thought it was just plain vulgar. But the feeling that comes through in the music --that's the essence of soul -- the word itself tells you that." – Ray Charles
And I had to add this from his website. Ray was involved in a few worthy “causes”.
QUOTE
The Ray Charles Foundation established the Laboratory For Auditory Research to fund:
Modest to the point of mum about his humanitarian and charitable activities, Ray Charles makes an exception for the State of Israel and world Jewry.
Among the many, the world leader Charles has most enjoyed meeting is David Ben-Gurion, with whom he had a conversation of many hours during a concert tour of Israel not long before Ben-Gurion's death.
And the award among the hundreds he claims to have touched him the most is the Beverly Hills Lodge of B'nai Brith's tribute to its "Man of the Year" in 1976. Even though I'm not Jewish," he explains," and even though I'm stingy with my bread, Israel is one of the few causes I feel good about supporting.
"Blacks and Jews are hooked up and bound together by a common history of persecution…if someone besides a black ever sings the real gut bucket blues, it'll be a Jew. We both know what it's like to be someone else's footstool.”
Ray Charles is a national treasure and a global phenomenon for this reason:
He is music; he is himself; he is a master of his soul. Ray Charles Website
- Pre-operative diagnosis and testing of prospective cochlear implant patients.
- Follow-up testing and adjustments of the implant device in the post-operative period.
- Development and evaluation of new auditory devices, diagnostic procedures and techniques.
- Collection and analysis of research data on auditory pathology.
Modest to the point of mum about his humanitarian and charitable activities, Ray Charles makes an exception for the State of Israel and world Jewry.
Among the many, the world leader Charles has most enjoyed meeting is David Ben-Gurion, with whom he had a conversation of many hours during a concert tour of Israel not long before Ben-Gurion's death.
And the award among the hundreds he claims to have touched him the most is the Beverly Hills Lodge of B'nai Brith's tribute to its "Man of the Year" in 1976. Even though I'm not Jewish," he explains," and even though I'm stingy with my bread, Israel is one of the few causes I feel good about supporting.
"Blacks and Jews are hooked up and bound together by a common history of persecution…if someone besides a black ever sings the real gut bucket blues, it'll be a Jew. We both know what it's like to be someone else's footstool.”
Ray Charles is a national treasure and a global phenomenon for this reason:
He is music; he is himself; he is a master of his soul. Ray Charles Website
"And there were people who objected to soul being played on the radio because of the depth of feeling in the music. Some people thought it was too suggestive, and some thought it was just plain vulgar. But the feeling that comes through in the music --that's the essence of soul -- the word itself tells you that." – Ray Charles
I will miss you,Ray. You are one of my favorite musicans. In fact I am listening to you now. No one could sing with the heart and soul like you. When you sang it was with such ease and goose bumps would go up and down my arms, just listening to that music right from the soul. I know you are flooding heaven at this moment with your wonderful music.
God bless you Ray. And thanks for blessing us with your music.
God bless you Ray. And thanks for blessing us with your music.
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