Volume II. No. 52
 06-13-04
 "Ray Charles"
 author: Vance Cureton
 © Copyright 2004
 

 Death often arrives unannounced. And certainly uninvited. When 
 the clock strikes twelve the Grim Reaper is already at hand, and it is 
 time to go. Simple as that. No offer of appeal. No second chance. The 
 only question is whether you'll be taking the "UP" staircase or the 
 "DOWN" staircase.

 Ray Charles just died. And we certainly don't know enough about
 this wondrous singer to really make a judgement about what staircase 
 he'll be consigned to. Because how much do you really know about 
 anyone? And do we really care? That kind of judgement is between
 Ray and his maker.

 All we need to know is that Ray Charles could sing "all he wanted."
 He was also a master musician. Expert at such instruments such as 
 the piano, trumpet, and saxophone.  Ray could maybe even dance 
 a little in that mysterious herky, jerky style so familiar to those 
 entertainers who lack natural eyesight. Ray was a victim of glaucoma 
 and blind since the age of 7.

 In the same week that another "great communicator" passed away, 
 Ray's passing has been overshadowed a bit. And that is unfortunate. 
 Because Ray Charles touched so much of America. He deserves
 every accolade coming to him. Whether your favorite musical style 
 was Rock & Roll, Rhythm and Blues, Country, Gospel, or Popular 
 { Top 40 }, you can probably recall an old Ray Charles song that fit 
 right in. In fact Ray's songs, whether his own creations, or covers 
 of old standards - fit right in. Just like Ray himself. 

 Ray Charles didn't frighten anyone. He was a crossover artist 
 before there was crossover music. In fact, the Ray Charles's cover 
 of  "Georgia On My Mind" was a Grammy winner way back in 1960. 
 And this song - partly because of the overwhelming popularity of 
 Ray's version - has since become the official state song of Georgia. 

 That Ray's rendition of "Georgia On My Mind" contributed so much
 to the adoption of this old Hoagy Carmichael tune { written in 1930 } 
 as the state song, is a remarkable achievment for a black man. -- Native 
 son or not. As Georgia is about as deep into the old "Jim Crow"south, 
 as you can get. 

 But it is the cover of "America The Beautiful" that is perhaps the
 most memorable Ray Charles song of them all. Not the best perhaps.
 Certainly not a top ten hit. But, it is the song that so defines who
 Ray Charles was and why he was so welcomed "musically" into the
 homes of many Americans of all ethnic backgrounds.

 America is certainly a beautiful country. And when Ray Charles sang 
 that song his way. You "believed" in every word. You could feel 
 them deep within your heart. "The Star-Spangled Banner" may be 
 the national anthem, but Ray Charles's rendition of "America The 
 Beautiful " is the national hymn.

 There are so many great Ray Charles songs. "I Can't Stop Lovin' 
 You." "What'd I' Say." "Busted." "Hit The Road Jack." He is 
 called the inventor of Soul music. A musical style that is a pure, 
 unapologetic mixture of Gospel and Blues. But, Ray could never be 
 pinned down to any one musical genre. When a Ray tune was on the 
 box, you simply turned up the volume, listened, and enjoyed.

 One man who passed last week was dubbed the the great communicator 
 by his supporters. That was the nonsense of politics. Ray Charles was
 the great communicator. He touched us all. 

 No act there.

 Can you hear him, even now?
 

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