2004 Soap Box Archives

A Genius Unheralded 06/14/04

With the death of President Reagan and all the well-deserved fanfare and pomp surrounding his funeral the death of Ray Charles was little more than boilerplate or also ran tid bits in the news.

I certainly believe that President Reagan should be afforded every honor this country can provide after all he did for the United States of America.

At the same time I really hate to see the death of one of America’s true musical giants be so soundly ignored by the media. So in my small way and in my small column I would like to pay homage to Mr. Ray Charles, musician extraordinaire.

Ray Charles was a genius pure and simple. His career spanned over a half century. His versatility was nothing short of amazing. He was one of the finest rhythm and blues artists of all times and his earlier recordings like “Mary Ann” on the Atlantic label are still classics till this day and his version of “What’d I Say” Parts One and Two was learned and performed by every bar band in the country.

Ray was also the consummate jazz musician. I knew he was a top
flight piano player but I never knew that he played another instrument until I was sitting in the audience at one of his concerts in El Paso, Texas and he walked on stage with an alto saxophone. But nothing Ray Charles did musically should have surprised me.

He turned a lot of heads at the Newport Jazz Festival with his hot, big band arrangements. America had discovered another side of the multifaceted Ray Charles.

One of the true milestones in American popular music came in the middle sixties when he recorded his “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music” album. On this record his genius was in full bloom as he took the old classic country hits and gave them a whole new feel and emotion.

His versions of country torch songs were delivered with a
melancholy and a late night, bluesy feeling that could make you cry.

Ray had a lot of problems and heartache in his life and it all came out when he sang and his influence on two generations of musicians is undeniable.

I can see him now, sitting at a piano bench in his dark glasses nodding his head in time to the tune he was playing, pouring his heart out in a song.

I will remember you, Mr. Charles, and I pay respect and affection to your memory.

I will readily admit that you had an effect on my career and I’m so thankful and honored that I got to meet you.

Rest in peace, Ray Charles, icon and American treasure. You will be missed.

Pray for our troops.

What do you think?

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels

 

©Copyright The Charlie Daniels Band