Ray Charles

I really miss Ray Charlese, you know?

I'm listening to a Greatest Hits compilation of his, and it just hits home to me how great a musician he really was.

Of course, he's a "reprobate" (but aren't all musicians, really? ). I think that part of the art of music is being able to walk through the hot coals, so to speak, and express how it feels to those who haven't had the bravery to go through. The only problem is that some of those adventurous souls live on the edge so much that they don't come back after a while. Ray, I'm sure, was not perfect (none of us are) as a human being, but in his chosen profession he was one of the best. He battled poverty, drug abuse, and yet created music that many people all over this world could identify with. He could make you laugh, cry, sing, dance, and not fear life. If you can sing about the bad things, you'll start to heal.

So many people I know were really shocked about Ray's death. He seemed indestructible, but it hit home (at least to me) that we're all susceptible to being "shuffled off this mortal coil", to paraphrase Shakespeare (I think that's who created that phrase). However, Ray was singing right up to the time he couldn' t do it anymore. The public forgets that famous performers get old. Film, photographs and recordings keep a performer frozen for a magic period of time. Even if they get old and grey themselves, when you listen to their albums, it's like they're young again. Just like seeing Judy Garland singing "Over the Rainbow" in The Wizard of Oz, you remember them in that one way for all time.

I haven't met many celebrities in this life of mine, but all the ones I know I want to meet personally all have said the same things about Ray...he was the master. In that respect, I'm like my favorite celebrities. I'm glad.

Rest in peace, Brother Ray.

Sudiegirl