converge241 0 Report post Posted June 10, 2004 have the details now: BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Ray Charles (news), the Grammy-winning crooner who blended gospel and blues in such crowd-pleasers as "What'd I Say" and heartfelt ballads like "Georgia on My Mind," died Thursday, a spokesman said. He was 73. Canadian Press Photo Slideshow: Music Legend Ray Charles Dies at 73 Charles died at his Beverly Hills home surrounded by family and friends, said spokesman Jerry Digney. Charles last public appearance was alongside Clint Eastwood (news) on April 30, when the city of Los Angeles designated the singer's studios, built 40 years ago in central Los Angeles, as a historic landmark. Blind by age 7 and an orphan at 15, Charles spent his life shattering any notion of musical boundaries and defying easy definition. A gifted pianist and saxophonist, he dabbled in country, jazz, big band and blues, and put his stamp on it all with a deep, warm voice roughened by heartbreak from a hardscrabble childhood in the segregated South. "His sound was stunning — it was the blues, it was R&B, it was gospel, it was swing — it was all the stuff I was listening to before that but rolled into one amazing, soulful thing," singer Van Morrison (news) told Rolling Stone magazine in April. Charles won nine of his 12 Grammy Awards between 1960 and 1966, including the best R&B recording three consecutive years ("Hit the Road Jack," "I Can't Stop Loving You" and "Busted"). His versions of other songs are also well known, including "Makin' Whoopee" and a stirring "America the Beautiful." Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell wrote "Georgia on My Mind" in 1931 but it didn't become Georgia's official state song until 1979, long after Charles turned it into an American standard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest thebigjig Report post Posted June 10, 2004 I just read this... very, very sad. I think I'm going to listen to his cover of Georgia on my Mind now... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DubWiser Report post Posted June 10, 2004 "Drown in my own tears" was the shit. //Shareaza Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OldSchoolWrestling 0 Report post Posted June 10, 2004 Wow, sad to hear. I hadn't heard much about him lately. Had he been sick? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ahhee Report post Posted June 10, 2004 They just took a second from the Cubs game to mention this. Very sad to hear indeed. Soooo... Reagan, Charles ... any guesses on the 3rd? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bruiser Chong 0 Report post Posted June 10, 2004 R.I.P. Those old Pepsi commercials owned. And would it have hurt you to spell the guy's name correctly? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest thebigjig Report post Posted June 10, 2004 They just took a second from the Cubs game to mention this. Very sad to hear indeed. Soooo... Reagan, Charles ... any guesses on the 3rd? John Ratzenburger Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
converge241 0 Report post Posted June 10, 2004 "And would it have hurt you to spell the guy's name correctly? " no it wouldnt have hurt me Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JangoFett4Hire 0 Report post Posted June 10, 2004 Wlle tehn, hwy iddn'y oyu? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Winter Of My Discontent Report post Posted June 10, 2004 This isn't really sad to me. But he ruled. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted June 10, 2004 Guess Powerball will need a new spokesperson. Reagan, Ray -- who will be #3?... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DerangedHermit 0 Report post Posted June 10, 2004 I didn't see it coming. And neither did he! [/going to hell] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted June 10, 2004 The man lived a long and fruitful life. I just wish he had the ability to see the smiles he put on so many people's faces. His rendition of America the Beautiful was far and away the best. RIP Mr. Charles...you and Marvin Gaye can play us a tune tonight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2004 This is truly sad to hear. What a great musician for the world to lose. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nighthawk 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2004 He was old, so it's not sad, but he was good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Giuseppe Zangara 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2004 I didn't see it coming. And neither did he! [/going to hell] Could've been worse: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Scud Report post Posted June 11, 2004 For those who didn't know, Elvis Costello has said things about Ray Charles that would get him banned on this messageboard. That's what David Scwhimmer meant by posting the Elvis picture...I think Scud- Adding useless pieces of information and stealing Ripper's lame posting gimmick since......right now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Sandusky 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2004 I was just wondering the other day if he was still alive or not. Not as bad as if he'd died young, but it's still upsetting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2004 Posted by me. almostright Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Giuseppe Zangara 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2004 For those who didn't know, Elvis Costello has said things about Ray Charles that would get him banned on this messageboard. That's what David Scwhimmer meant by posting the Elvis picture...I think Correct! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haVoc 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2004 They just took a second from the Cubs game to mention this. Very sad to hear indeed. Soooo... Reagan, Charles ... any guesses on the 3rd? John Ratzenburger Britney Spears. I've been waiting for her death for over a year now. Not because I want her to die, but I predict she'll get killer by a crazy paparazzi or murdered by a stalker or OD from coke, etc. Then she can "officially" be called the Marilyn Monroe or Princess Diana of this generation. It will forever be on the most "shocking list" and be made out to be bigger then Lennon's death. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ripper 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2004 For those who didn't know, Elvis Costello has said things about Ray Charles that would get him banned on this messageboard. That's what David Scwhimmer meant by posting the Elvis picture...I think Correct! The important part of that story was Bonnie Bramlett punching people. "Punks jump up to get beat down" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadianChris 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2004 They just took a second from the Cubs game to mention this. Very sad to hear indeed. Soooo... Reagan, Charles ... any guesses on the 3rd? Tony Randall was already the third. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Giuseppe Zangara 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2004 Robert Quinne, a fixture of the late 70s NYC punk scene—as well as a founding member of Richard Hell and the Voidoids—committed suicide the other day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Placebo Effect 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2004 I bet Ray didn't see that one coming. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ripper 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2004 I bet Ray didn't see that one coming. Not only was the joke already used in this thread, it was used better. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Placebo Effect 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2004 I bet Ray didn't see that one coming. Not only was the joke already used in this thread, it was used better. Yeah, I noticed that shortly after posting. The one time I post without reading the whole thread... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted June 12, 2004 "Punks jump up to get beat down" Oh you did not just use that phrase like that. You lost some of your alleged blackness with that remark... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Masked Man of Mystery 0 Report post Posted June 12, 2004 It's a shame, but I heard he had liver problems, so at least he isn't dealing with that now Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes Report post Posted June 12, 2004 R.C. was one of very few R&B musicians I could listen to. Guy ruled in his cameo in the Blues Brothers. R.I.P. At least he wasn't some young guy who probably overdosed himself to death. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
