[SKMDC]

left us here to carry on. Ray Charles was 73, and he could not be pigeon-holed.
an american icon.

[Moogs]

Best Ray Charles moment (in my book): playing the music store owner in The Blues Brothers. Some great lines, a great musical performance and pretty much unforgettable. RIP, Ray.

[FFL]

Listening to Joan Osborne sing about Ray right now....

I dreamed about Ray Charles last night and he could see just fine... I dreamed about Ray Charles last night. And he could see just fine, you know. I asked him for a lullaby. He said, "Honey, I don't sing no more." No more, no more, no more, Ray don't sing no more. He said, "Since I got my eyesight back, my voice has just deserted me. No 'Georgia On My Mind' no more. I stay in bed with M.T.V." Then Ray took his glasses off and I could look inside his head. Flashing like a thunderstorm, I saw a shining spider web. Spider web, spider web, spider web in Ray Charles' head. I dreamed about Ray Charles last night. He took me flying in the air. Showed me my own spider web; Said, "Honey, you had best take care. The world is made of spider webs. the threads are stuck to me and you. Careful what you're wishing for, 'cause when you gain, you just might lose." You just might lose your spider web, spider web, spider web Ray Charles said. When you're feeling lonely, when you're hiding in your bed, don't forget your string of pearls, don't forget your spider web. When I go to sleep tonight, don't let me dream of brother Ray. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad he sees. Just like him best the other way. Spider web, spider web, spider web Ray Charles said. Spider web, spider web, spider web Ray Charles' head. All I got's my spider web, keepin' me alive. All I got's my spider web, keepin' me alive. - come on Ray...

[curiousuburb]

iTMS has a nice feature on Ray on the front page linking to some of his classics,
not included is one of my favourites from the era of metaphorical lyrics...
Let's Go Get Stoned click through for clips

As a non-American, I've always been baffled that more folks don't push for Ray's version of "America the Beautiful" to replace the Star Spangled Banner as the national anthem... always figured Ray owned the signature version of that tune and found it equally as patriotic, if not more so.

Maybe it's not the song that gave chills, it was just Ray.

He'll definitely be missed.

[HOM]

Today is a sad day in America.

[Mac+]

This took my surprise as I heard it on the radio this morning. Quite sad really.

Aside from the Blues Bros (which was an awesome part, imho) my other introduction to Ray was via the Billy Joel duet: "Baby Grand" back in '86. It's a melancholic ode to the one thing that has been true to both men throughout their ups and downs. Nice sentiment and a crafty piece of songwriting, but by no means a good example of what the man was about. I read that during the recording of this song, Joel was beside himself because Ray was actually there in the studio with him and Joel consequently lost it - couldn't sing in front of one of his idols. Phil Ramone (producer) had to take BJ aside and tell him to go for it - "you gotta start singing like Ray, b/c Ray is now starting to sing like you" - or words to that effect. Obviously they got the take that they wanted at the end.

What a gifted musician he was. RIP Ray.