Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Legendary musician Ray Charles, who pioneered the genre of soul music during the 1950s, grew up in the North Florida town of Greenville, halfway between Monticello and Madison. He went on to inspire generations of musicians, and a bronze statue in racecognition of his legacy stands in Haffye Hays Park on Highway 90 in Greenville.
A celebration is taking place at this park at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23, which is Ray Charles's birthday. The Tallahassee-based acoustic duo Hot Tamale will be gathering around the statue, along with some of their musician friends, to pay tribute to one of their greatest musical heroes by singing their favorite Ray Charles songs.
Hot Tamale musician Craig Reeder says, “All are welcome to sing along or play along. Among other Ray Charles classics, Hot Tamale will be performing 'I Can't Stop Loving You,' 'What'd I Say' and 'Georgia on My Mind.' Any musicians who would like to sing another Ray Charles song or two are welcome to join in.”
Hot Tamale held a similar tribute on Ray Charles's birthday last year and decided to make it an annual event.
Ray Charles's official website documents the singer's 50-year career, during which he blended a variety of genres – blues, gospel, R&B, rock, country music and jazz – to create groundbreaking hits such as “Unchain My Heart” and “I’ve Got A Woman.”
He had started playing the piano before he was five years old, and at age six, contracted glaucoma that eventually left him blind. He wrote music in Braille while studying composition at the St. Augustine School for the Deaf and the Blind from 1937 to 1945. While attending, he also learned to play the alto saxophone, clarinet, trumpet and organ.
In recognition of Ray Charles's musical genius and contributions, he was awarded eight honorary doctoral degrees, 17 Grammy Awards, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, President’s Merit Award, Kennedy Center Honors and National Medal of the Arts. Political Dignitaries and members of Royal families have recognized him repeatedly, and Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him #10 on their list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” as well as #2 on their list of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time.” In 2013 Ray Charles even became featured on a United States Postal Stamp, which shows a photograph from later in his career presented with the appearance of a vintage 45 rpm record sleeve.
For this year's birthday tribute, Hot Tamale hopes more Ray Charles fans will come out to the park to enjoy his amazing music.