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| Ray Charles Post Office Building Named in Honor of Music Legend Kicking off a month long celebration, the legendary Ray Charles, who would have been 75 years-old on Sept. 23, today had a post office named in his honor, at 4960 W. Washington Blvd., near the site of his original and historic Los Angeles studios, reports Ray Charles Enterprises. President Bush officially signed the Ray Charles post office bill into law on Tuesday, July 12, 2005. On September 20 -- three days before Charles would have turned 75 -- Rhino Records celebrates the Genius's birth with a pair of releases that bookend his iconic career. PURE GENIUS: THE COMPLETE ATLANTIC RECORDINGS (1952-1959) is where the legend begins. GENIUS AND FRIENDS, an album of superstar duets recorded in 1998, is Charles' final artistic vision. "Despite his enormous success, artistically and financially, Ray Charles was a humble man, " says Joe Adams, Charles' manager for more than 45 years. "He was a man of the people, so this is a wonderful tribute; he loved America and it's fitting that the country recognizes him as a national treasure." "Ray Charles was a giant among artistic giants, " said Congresswoman Diane E. Watson (CA-33rd), the author of federal legislation designating the postal facility as the Ray Charles Post Office Building. "It is my hope that the Ray Charles Post Office will be only the first of many posthumous honors for this great American treasure." Since 1964, Charles headquartered his worldwide business offices and recording studios on Washington Blvd., just a stones throw away from the soon to be re-named postal facility. The city recently designated the building as a cultural landmark. Scenes for the recent film, "Ray, " starring Jamie Foxx, were also shot there. An exhibit of Charles memorabilia concludes next month at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and will relocate to Nashville for a year-long exhibit saluting Charles' multi-genre career, starting in March, 2006, at the Country Music Hall of Fame. On Sept. 22, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, will induct a collection of Charles artifacts into its permanent collection. Charles, who died June 10, 2004, at age 73 years old, was posthumously awarded eight GRAMMY® awards for "Genius Loves Company, " the hugely popular duets album on Concord Records which has sold nearly four million units. An accomplished pianist and songwriter, Charles was considered the creator of the soul music genre, a unique R&B forerunner to rock n' roll and other musical offspring. Among his memorable hits are "What'd I Say, " "I Got A Woman, " "Georgia, " "Born To Lose, " "Hit the Road Jack" and "I Can't Stop Loving You." write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |