Ray Charles

:Disambiguation: For Ray Charles of the Ray Charles Singers, and longtime vocal conductor for Perry Como, see Ray Charles (elder).

Last performances

One of Charles' last public performances was in 2003 at a televised annual electronic media journalist banquet held in Washington, D.C.

Related Topics:
2003 - Washington, D.C.

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He performed "Georgia On My Mind" and "America the Beautiful," though the singer was a bit slower and had some more vocal difficulty than in his younger days.

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Ray Charles' final public appearance came on April 30, 2004, at the dedication of his music studio as an historic landmark in the city of Los Angeles.

Related Topics:
April 30 - 2004 - Studio - Historic - Landmark

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He died at age 73 of liver disease at his home in Beverly Hills, surrounded by family and friends.

Related Topics:
Liver - Beverly Hills

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He was interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.

Related Topics:
Inglewood Park Cemetery - Inglewood, California

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His final album, Genius Loves Company, released after his death, consists of duets with various admirers and contemporaries: B.B. King, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, Gladys Knight, Michael McDonald, Natalie Cole, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, Diana Krall, Norah Jones, and Johnny Mathis.

Related Topics:
B.B. King - Van Morrison - Willie Nelson - James Taylor - Gladys Knight - Michael McDonald - Natalie Cole - Elton John - Bonnie Raitt - Diana Krall - Norah Jones - Johnny Mathis

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Unlike a similar Frank Sinatra album, the duets were recorded face-to-face, with both performers in the studio at the same time.

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Charles was significantly involved in the critically-acclaimed biopic Ray, an October 2004 film which portrays his life and career between 1930 and 1966 and stars Jamie Foxx as Charles. Foxx won the 2005 Best Actor Academy Award for the role.

Related Topics:
Biopic - Ray - 2004 film - 1930 - 1966 - Jamie Foxx - 2005 - Best Actor - Academy Award

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Before shooting could begin, however, director Taylor Hackford brought Foxx to meet Charles, who heard that the younger man was an accomplished pianist and insisted that they sit down at two pianos and jam.

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For two hours, Charles challenged Foxx, who revealed the depth of his talent, and finally, Charles stood up, hugged Foxx, and proclaimed, "He's the one...he can do it," thus giving his blessing.

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Charles was able to attend a showing of the completed film, but he died before it opened in theaters.

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The film's credits note that he is survived by 12 children, 21 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.

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Many of today's artists continue to honor the legacy of Charles. The 2005 Grammy Awards were dedicated to him, and Alicia Keys performed a duet with Charles (via concert footage) of America the Beautiful at Super Bowl XXXIX.

Related Topics:
2005 - Alicia Keys - Super Bowl XXXIX

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Charles was posthumously awarded his Grammy for Genius Loves Company.

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In August 2005, the United States Postal Service honored Charles by renaming the former West Adams Station post office in Los Angeles as the "Ray Charles Station." (In so doing, the USPS resolved a geographic misnomer, as the West Adams Station was not located in West Adams itself, but in the nearby Mid-City district.)

Related Topics:
United States Postal Service - West Adams - Mid-City

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Charles's estate is worth an estimated $100 million.

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