My Publicist Note Book

Pianist/Singer/Composer/Arranger/Bandleader/Recording Artist/Philanthropist RAY CHARLES was born in ALBANY, GA, in 1930 and today would be celebrating his 82nd Birthday and daughter  Sheila Raye Charles  was in his hometown today celebrating her father and his legacy at  THE ALBANY'S RAY CHARLES MUSIC FESTIVAL's Birthday Party  Sunday at the Ray Charles Plaza in Albany, Georgia. Born  RAY CHARLES ROBINSON , he lost his sight completely at age 7 due to Undiagnosed GLAUCOMA. As an adult, he dropped Robinson from his name to avoid confusion with World Champion Boxer RAY "SUGAR RAY" ROBINSON. Statue of RAY CHARLES in his native ALBANY, GA RAY CHARLES  was a pioneer of SOUL Music during the 1950s by fusing JAZZ, R&B, BLUES, and GOSPEL into his early recordings with Atlantic Records. RAY CHARLES helped racially integrate COUNTRY & WESTERN and POP during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, most notably with his M...

ALBANY, GA — Two musical icons with Southwest Georgia ties will be honored this fall with festivals in their hometowns. # X-tratainment Inc. and Xtrataining Records will present the two-part “Albany’s Ray Charles Music Festival” at the Ray Charles Plaza in downtown Albany Sept. 23 and on Jackson and Highland streets in the city’s historic Harlem district Oct. 27. # The Randolph County Veterans Memorial Committee, meanwhile, will present the second Boudleaux Bryant Festival at Shellman City Park Oct. 13. Sheila Raye Charles # Sheila Raye Charles, daughter of soul great Ray, is scheduled to perform during both days of Albany’s festival honoring her father. She will help the singer’s hometown celebrate Charles’ birthday Sept. 23 at the plaza that bears his name and includes a life-size likeness of the singer sitting at a piano, and she will headline festivities a month later in the Harlem district. # Part of the proceeds from the Charles celebration will benefit the Cancer C...