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June 11th, 2004
DEATH OF A SOUL ICON:
REMEMBERING RAY
CHARLES
 "We sure haven't had nearly as many celebrity
deaths this year as we did last summer," I said to Ralph a few weeks
ago.
"You're right," Ralph commented, "Last summer they were dropping
like flies."
Ralph was right - Bob Hope, Gregory Peck, Catherine Hepburn,
Johnny Cash and June Carter, John Ritter, Barry White, James Coburn, Buddy
Ebsen, Charles Bronson, Maurice Gibb and the list went on and on - last year the
Grim Reaper was having quite a vacation in the Hollywood Hills.
However,
just a week after making this statement the Grim Reaper smiled his deadly smile
on Ronald Reagan. Surprise? Not really. Shock? Minor. Did I care? No, I honestly
kind of forgot about it.
However, the reaper wasn't finished yet, and
today I shed a tear.
Moments ago I learned of the death of Ray Charles.
The news is so fresh that I haven't heard the details yet.
Now perhaps
six months ago Ray Charles' death wouldn't have much of an impact on me at all.
However, due to constant play of "What I Say Parts 1 & 2" at work, and the
fact that the song drives me pretty wild, about two months back I went out and
bought a fairly good Ray Charles CD. This CD (The V ery Best
of Ray Charles) has been on continuous play in my home over the last two months
and Ray Charles has been a constant part of my week.
What is it about Ray
Charles that makes me listen? Well there just isn't anybody quite like him or
any music quite like his music. Not exactly jazz and not exactly blues and not
exactly rock, Ray Charles created "soul" music from the souls of the black
experience in America during the fifties and the sixties. It's proud without
being overly political. However, with that said, Ray Charles' music is still a
reminder and a testament to the America that he grew up in - the American south
of the 1930's and 1940's. It is a reminder of the soul of the pre-civil rights
movement America while still being strong and proud and real. Ray's songs are
honest. You can believe in them. There isn't a shred of phoniness in them. There
is a sort of rawness to Ray that Motown never had. However its a rawness
that is still beautiful and oozes "cool". That's how you could describe
Ray Charles. He "oozed cool". Even in his seventies Ray Charles was the coolest
cat in the music business.
 And how
could you not love Ray Charles with his giant black glasses and permanent huge
smile that resembled the keyboard that he played? Ray was a man who loved music,
loved people, and loved to entertain. And that was what he did best for a career
that spanned over fifty years.
If you don't know the power of Ray Charles
now is the time to experience what a great performer this man was. Take a moment
and download "I've Got a Woman", "Drown in My Own Tears", "Hallelujah I Love Her
So", "Hit the Road Jack", "Let's Go Get Stoned", "One Mint Julep" and my four
favorites, Ray's cover of the Carpenters "Singing My Song For You", the ultra
cool "(Night Time is) The Right Time", the powerful "That Lucky Old Sun Just
Rolls Round Heaven All Day", and the mind numbing "What'd I Say Parts I &
II". Then turn your lights low and remember old Ray Charles. Things just won't
be the same in the world of soul anymore.
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