I am not really into old school music, but there is just something about Ray Charles that made me like his music. RIP
http://www.raycharles.com/godblessamerica.swf Ray Reflects On... The Evolution of Soul I don't think you could tag a certain year as the date that soul music appeared, because it didn't happen that way. It evolved over a period of time. Even today, you could ask five different people what it was and how it got started and get five different answers.... Originally, soul music had a strong element of the church, of spiritual music. It had a gospel music feeling, and then it incorporated the sound of blues music. That's soul's makeup: the fusion of gospel and blues, all mixed up together. It's the crossover of those forms of music that makes soul unique.... At first I got some criticism for playing soul music. Women sent me letters, accused me of being sacrilegious because they could pick out that gospel music was being incorporated into something that went beyond the sound they heard in church every week. They didn't realize at first how spiritual soul music could be.... 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.
They should really find a way to play that at some point tomorrow it would be a very touching gesture. ________ Bye Ray
Here's ane-mail my friend sent: Tomorrow is designated as a national day of mourning. Personally, I won't bemourning the passing of a B-actor/politician whose talent was the ability to read what other people wrote for him in a reassuring and convincing manner, as he'd been trained to do from the get go. Tell me what I say. Baby, shake that thang. Baby, feel awright. Brother Ray Chas. RIP. That's what I'll be mourning, personally speaking. No offense to our R. friends is intended. Just the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but ...
What Ray Charles did is help make gospel music maintream. Some people will damn him for it but I am thankfull. One of my biggest RC moments is from the movie Trains Planes & Automobiles when John Candy wrecks the car because "Mess Around" was playing on the radio. Genius. Toast to Ray Charles!!! THANK YOU!!!
i just saw the nightline special on ray charles. i'm kinda young to appreciate his genius, but after seeing his life on nightline i truly appreciate the man and his work. RIP
How can you not love a man that overcame what he overcame to be a true pioneer? Obviously, his music was what will stand long after this sad day....but I also loved his various tv/movie appearances...I just watched two movies in the last week that he was in...Blues Brothers(who doesnt love that whole scene in the music store? classic! ) and then there was Spy Hard, where he was the bus driver in the Speed sendup...."Next stop Melrose...I think!" RIP Ray....
A truly sad event. Ray Charles is a legend, a pioneer, and someone who put a lot of talent and soul into his music.
People, a word to the wise music fan....if there are musicians that you love, go see them play live. Tomorrow isn't promised to any of us.
Rest in Peace Mr. Ray Charles. May he walk the heaven clouds. Thank you for the music and the positivity. amen.
Charles won me over with his performance of 'Old Man River' - completely moving. you know I get weary and so sick of tryin' I'm tired of livin' but I'm scared of dyin' but that old man river he just keeps on rollin' along -- droxford
I have been thinking of Ray non-stop, which is kind of weird (I have the utmost admiration but I don't own any of his albums). I watched one of the TV blurbs last night, and his story is simply amazing. I never knew he had sight as a little kid but lost it due to glaucoma (sp). That's completely treatable now. I also didn't know he had a heroin problem off and on for many years. Also sad, when you think he wasn't always so chipper off stage. But Ray Charles was just unconquerable. RIP Ray. If there are up and coming musicians like Ray, with that voice and that talent, please point them out to me.
I have a great Ray Charles story that one of my best friends told me last night. This person, one of my best friends, used to work security at concerts in Houston during the early 1980s. He made a habit of getting autographs from performers he liked if he worked security at the show, because he usually worked backstage. Around 1982 or 1983, he worked backstage at a Ray Charles show here in town, and brought a Ray Charles LP with him to get signed. After the show he approached Ray and asked for an autograph. Ray's response was "I don't write. I don't write. I'm blind. I do braille." My friend was so embarassed at not thinking about this ahead of time that he sort of sheepishly walked away. Ray Charles' manager then approached my friend, asked for the LP, went over to Ray, and guided Ray into writing an "X" with a felt pen on the album cover. My friend still has that album cover to this day. RIP, Brother Ray.
