[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 83 (Wednesday, June 16, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6907-S6908]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF RAY CHARLES TO THE 
                             WORLD OF MUSIC

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 381, introduced 
earlier today by Senator Nelson of Florida.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will state the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 381) recognizing the accomplishments 
     and significant contributions of Ray Charles to the world of 
     music.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, today I rise on behalf of 
myself, the Senior Senator from Florida, Bob Graham, and my esteemed 
colleagues from Georiga, Senators Zell Miller and Saxby Chambliss, to 
commend to my colleagues a resolution commemorating Ray Charles for his 
great contributions to the world of music and culture.
  It is with great sadness that as our Nation mourned the death of 
former President Reagan, we received the news that this great and 
talented musician, Ray Charles, succumbed to liver disease at age 73.
  Ray Charles was born in Albany, GA on September 23, 1930, but he made 
Florida his home for many years. As a baby he moved with his family to 
Greenville, FL where he developed an early appreciation for music. 
There are stories from friends and family telling how at age 3 he began 
playing the piano, and showed a strong interest in music.
  Ray Charles wasn't born blind, but lost his sight to a childhood 
illness. His mother, Aretha Robinson, enrolled him in the St. Augustine 
School for the Deaf and Blind, where he leaned not only how to read and 
write Braille, but learned how to write music, and plan the piano, 
clarinet, trumpet and saxophone. In the late 1940s, after graduating 
from St. Augustine's, Ray Charles left Florida and began to work in 
honing his craft full time. And, as they say, the rest is history.
  Ray Charles began recording in the 1950's, experiencing success on 
the musical charts that culminated in his winning the first of many 
Grammy Music Awards in 1960 for Georgia on My Mind. This great song was 
adopted in 1979 by the State of Georgia as their State song.
  Ray Charles received eleven additional Grammy Awards, with the last 
of these awards coming in 1993.

[[Page S6908]]

  The list of honors he has received in his lifetime is impressive and 
reflects the impact that he has had on American music and culture. His 
music cannot be categorized or limited to one genre, which cannot be 
said of many artists. He was influenced by all types of music, and his 
music in turn influenced all types of artists--from rhythm and blues to 
country artists to rock and roll.
  Ray Charles's story is an American story, and one that should serve 
as an inspiration to us all; a story that shows how a strong spirit can 
overcome the greatest of obstacles.
  Ray Charles once said that his family was so poor that ``nothing was 
below us but the floor.'' Despite this poor beginning, and the racism 
and prejudice he undoubtedly faced as a blind black man during this 
time, he triumphed.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate, and that any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 381) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 381

       Whereas Ray Charles, born Ray Charles Robinson on September 
     23, 1930, to Bailey and Aretha Robinson in Albany, Georgia, 
     was one of the greatest musical artists of the United States;
       Whereas Ray Charles, who as an infant moved with his family 
     to Greenville, Florida, and, after suffering an illness that 
     left him blind, attended the St. Augustine School for the 
     Deaf and Blind from 1937 to 1945, where he learned not only 
     how to read Braille, but how to write music and play the 
     piano, trumpet, clarinet, and alto saxophone;
       Whereas during the course of his 58-year career, Ray 
     Charles defied easy classification, as his music spanned all 
     genres, and many talented musicians from the world of rhythm 
     and blues, popular music, jazz, gospel, country, and rock and 
     roll have noted his strong influence on their careers;
       Whereas his talent has long been recognized by the 
     recording industry and his many fans, as he has received 12 
     Grammy Awards, with the first in 1960 and the most recent 
     award in 1993, and had 32 of his songs reach the national 
     Billboard's top 40 pop charts between 1957 and 1971;
       Whereas his influence and contributions to the world are 
     evidenced by the numerous honors he has received from 
     organizations, and institutions, including: the Blues 
     Foundation's Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 
     Songwriters Hall of Fame, Georgia Music Hall of Fame, Florida 
     Artists Hall of Fame, a Lifetime Achievement Award as part of 
     the Black Achievement Awards television show sponsored by 
     Johnson Publishing Company, a star on the Hollywood Walk of 
     Fame, the Helen Keller Personal Achievement Award from the 
     American Foundation for the Blind, and an honorary doctorate 
     of fine arts from the University of South Florida in Tampa;
       Whereas Ray Charles has received praise from Republican and 
     Democratic Administrations with the adoption of ``Georgia on 
     My Mind'' as the Georgia State song in 1979, an invitation in 
     1984 to perform at the Republican National Convention and 
     President Reagan's inaugural ball in 1985, recognition in 
     1986 as a legend by the Kennedy Center Honors, and the 
     presentation of a National Medal of Arts by President Clinton 
     in 1993;
       Whereas Ray Charles was a great humanitarian and activist 
     who provided financial support to Dr. Martin Luther King, 
     Jr., during the civil rights struggle, and joined with other 
     recording artists to record ``We Are the World'', a project 
     that brought world awareness and financial assistance to the 
     millions dying from starvation in Africa;
       Whereas during the course of his life he persevered, 
     overcoming the tremendous obstacles that he encountered in 
     the early stages of his career due to racism and prejudice 
     because of his blindness, to become one of the greatest and 
     defining musical talents of all time; and
       Whereas this great American, Ray Charles, died on June 10, 
     2004: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes Ray Charles as one of the greatest American 
     musicians of all time;
       (2) honors Ray Charles for his contributions to music, 
     culture, community, and the United States;
       (3) offers its appreciation to Ray Charles for sharing his 
     musical gifts with the world; and
       (4) extends its deepest sympathy to the family and the 
     loved ones of Ray Charles.

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