A Eulogy to Ray Charles (Happy Brithday Ray! September 23rd) Love u.

September 23rd is Ray Charles'

B. Day

Black Blind with the Blues For Ray Charles Born with 20/20 vision

Father left, gave no reason/
Mother worked under the hot Florida sun/
Brother in the tub /
Can't stand up / Going down slow and he feels numb/
Eyes become blur/
Can't see the face of his mother/
Feels the strong bond between him and her/
Now it's only him and his mother/
No time for sorrow,/
"Be independent cause/
I might not be here tomorrow!"/
House chores /
Cleaning the floors /
Black, blind, and dirt poor Red Wing Cafe /
Was his favorite place /
Listening to the boogie-woogie piano play/
His talents started to grow/
But mom taught him all she knows "Off to school you must go!"/
Separated from his mother and home /
Segregated in school /
Blacks with Blacks /
Girls with Girls, and so on /
Mother is dead and he is confused in his head/ Bored at school /
No home to go to /
Music keeps him alive /
Black, blind with the blues /
Town to town singing about his life/
Now people call him the Genius/
Pregnant with the Blues /
His birth a blessing to all of us. /
(8/2000)

June 10th 2004 at age 73 Ray Charles passed away.

For My Idol

You don't know me but I now all about you. I remember the day I discovered your work! My ears were all yours and my money was yours too. My goal was to buy every piece of music of yours. You don't know how much you changed my life. You put a smile on my face when I'm down. I had to get to know all about your life. After reading your book, I put you where you belong on a pedestal and told myself the sky is the limit. Although you sing the blues, I don't have the blues when I listen to you. I watched you in concert, on TV and on MTV. You're more than a musician.

The GENIUS, what a perfect name. I've got news for you. I love you from the heart. You gave birth to the blues and to my soul. If Georgia is on your mind, then you are on my mind. Come rain or come shine, I would be in the front row at your next concert. When I hear you sing, I feel like I'm sitting on top of the world. Can anybody ask for more in a person? Just between us, can you be my father.

You were still crazy after all those years. Ray, you're my sunshine. I got plenty of nothing when my CD player broke, but that lucky old sun shined on you when you were born.

In the evening is the right time for some romance and Ray singing in the background helped that romance along. I can't get enough of your music. Would you believe I've all of your records? Over and over again, I let your CDs play. Yesterday I found an old disco record of yours. Although disco is dead, I played it and loved it. Some day I'll be the lucky one back stage face to face with my idol, was always my dream.

Ray Charles this is for you.

Take me on a joy ride Ray! There is no time to waste. I waited and am waiting still for your next CD. Early in the morning I'm humming your tunes. Yes indeed, Ray Charles, you're a GENIUS!

What'd I say? I'll tell you again. You're my idol; I'll tell the world about you. In the heat of the night, your music cools me off. It's cold outside, but your melody heats up the house. No one else can make me shake my butt like you can. What would I do without you? I'm a fool for you. Tell the truth, Ray, where did you come from?

I might be busted but I still have your CDs. This is for my Idol. This is for the GENIUS.

This is for the only man who gave birth. Ray Charles gave birth to the blues. Ray Charles, you'll never walk alone!

By Leroy Moore Jr.