Week Ending June 25

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending June 25, 2004

House Concurrent resolution 449 Honoring the musician Ray Charles.

BRIEF

In its’ resolution Congress finds that Ray Charles was born Ray Charles Robinson in Albany, Georgia, on September 23, 1930, the first child of Aretha and Baily Robinson. The Robinson family battled grinding poverty, the Depression, segregation, and young Ray's loss of his sight to glaucoma when he was only 6 years old, but they never gave up hoping and working for a better life.

Congress notes that while attending the St. Augustine School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine, Florida, Ray Charles learned to read Braille and type, and he developed his musical gifts by learning to compose and arrange music by ear. He began his career as a professional musician without financial resources, in an era of segregation, and he struggled in poverty for years before attaining success. Ray Charles demonstrated a unique ability to perform music in nearly every musical style, whether blues, jazz, gospel, country-western, or rock and roll.

With his unique style of arrangement, Ray Charles gave 'new life for a new century' to one of America's best-known patriotic songs, ``America the Beautiful'' and he transformed ``Georgia on My Mind'', an old Stuart Gorrell and Hoagy Carmichael tune from 1930, into a song which is instantly recognized throughout the world and the official song of his native State of Georgia.

During his most productive musical years, Ray Charles provided unfailing personal and financial support to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in the struggle to end the practice of racial segregation which had divided the Nation.

Ray Charles extended his commitment to social reform beyond the United States, publicly opposing apartheid in South Africa and anti-Semitism worldwide;

Out of his struggle and sacrifice Ray Charles gave the world the classic songs, ``I Got A Woman'', ``Born to Lose'', ``Hit the Road, Jack'', ``I Can't Stop Loving You'', ``Crying Time'', ``Living for the City'', ``Busted'', ``Hard Times'', ``Ruby'', ``The Right Time'', ``Let the Good Times Roll'', ``What'd I Say?'', and ``Hallelujah, I Love Her So'';

Ray Charles was one of the most influential and recognized voices of American music throughout the world, whose influence spanned generations and musical genres.

With the death of Ray Charles on June 10, 2004, in Beverly Hills, California, the Nation has lost one of its most prolific and influential musicians: Now, therefore, Congress resolves to honor the life and accomplishments of Ray Charles Robinson; recognizes Ray Charles for his invaluable contributions to the Nation, the State of Georgia, and the American musical heritage; and extends condolences to the family of Ray Charles on the death of a remarkable man.

Sponsor: Representative Max Burns (R-GA)

Vote: Passed House 419 to 0.