Much will be said in the next few days about the genius and influence of Ray Charles, so I don't need to repeat it. He overcame a lot in his life: blindness; poverty; drug addiction; being born in Albany, GA.
I remember hearing a few years ago that Ray was generally unimpressed with current hip-hop stars. This may come off as just another cranky old codger, but he knew that of which he spoke. After all, he wrote, sang, played piano, saxophone, and clarinet. He was an R&B singer who did a country album. And it was a good one. Who could pull that off today?
"I was born with music inside me... Music was one of my parts. Like my ribs, my liver, my kidney, my heart. Like my blood."
Looks like I'm going to pull out some old vinyl this weekend and have the blues.
Posted by aokie at June 11, 2004 10:09 AMI've got 2 words for ya: Lionel Ritchie.
His country phase was awesome. But I see your point with Ray Charles. I'm certainly sad to hear he's died.
Posted by: elsie at June 18, 2004 10:05 AMlionel did some country? or are you kidding? actually, i could see him doing it before, say, usher.
Posted by: abe at June 18, 2004 12:58 PMi think you guys should put more stuff on this website likek how his child life was and how he had got influcied but people and if he was married or not .how did he like being blind and what was the hardest this to do when he was blind thanks you for taking your time to listen to what i have to say
Posted by: brittany at April 5, 2005 11:00 AM