One of my most memorable experiences was visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to check out the exhibit, “I Can’t Stop Loving You: Ray Charles and Country Music.”
The exhibit was a loving tribute to the genius of Ray Charles.
On what would have been his 83rd birthday, the U.S. Postal Service showed Brother Ray some love. They inducted him into their Music Icons Forever Stamp Series in ceremonies at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College and the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE.
U.S. Postal Service Judicial Officer William Campbell said:
Frank Sinatra, himself a stamp honoree, once characterized Ray Charles as “the only true genius in show business,” and certainly, if anyone was a musical genius, it was Ray Charles. Despite being blind and having a young life marked by tragedy, hardship and tremendous challenges, Ray Charles went on to have a remarkable 58-year career playing music that blurred the lines of jazz, gospel, blues and, in later years, country. In doing so, he became the personification of the American Dream.
The Postal Service also made available an unreleased recording of a Ray Charles song, “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.”
Indeed, they can’t take that away from me -- loving Ray Charles.
