R.I.P. Ray Charles

The R'nB legend passed away today at 73.

It's a pity that a whole generation remembers him more for doing Pepsi ads than for, say, this:

In 1984 Ray Charles was hired by the Committee to Re-Elect the President to perform at the Republican National Convention. His televised rendition of "America The Beautiful", first recorded on the ABC records label in his "A Message from the People" LP, was both inspirational and electrifying. Charles' "America" is included in the 1987 two-disc CD release of Ray Charles hits on the Dunhill Classics label, "America" was also released as a CD single.

It's a bad week to be a Republican R'nB fan...

Posted by Mitch at June 10, 2004 03:51 PM