Rune T. Kidde: Rock'n' roll bliver født, del 8: Ray Charles. Min signerede fotosamling.

Ray Charles signatur på forsiden af LP'en "From the pages of my mind" fra 1986.

Foto af "Brother Ray" fra hans optræden i Tivolis Koncersal, 1977 taget og signeret af den danske rockfotograf Gorm Valentin.

Ray Charles, alias Ray Charles Robinson, født 23. September, 1930 I Albany, Georgia, døde 10. Juni, 2004. Brød igennem med ”Mess Around” i 1953. Bevægede sig over årene gennem talrige genrer som: R&B, soul, blues, rock and roll, jazz, country, pop og gospel. Spillede piano, keyboards, altsaxofon og basun. Blev kaldt ”Brother Ray”, hvilket også er titlen på hans selvbiografi, udgivet 1978. Han var en af efterkrigstidens vigtigste, musikalske stilskabere. Var narkotikamisbruger siden 16 års alderen. Blev i 1964 arresteret for besiddelse af marihuana og heroin og tog derefter frivillig på afvænning. Han havde i alt 12 børn med 9 forskellige kvinder. Hans liv er skildret i den biografiske film, ”Ray” fra 2004, hvor han nåede at godkende manuskriptet, men ikke at se filmen.

Signeret notesheet til Ray Charles' udgave af "That Lucky Old Sun", 1963. Hans tour-manager Hal Kiner har også signeret.

Brother Ray har signeret sig selv ved pianoet, duoen var en tvillingefødsel.

Ray Charles Foundation

The Executive Offices of The Ray Charles Foundation are housed at the historic RPM International building. The 11,488 square foot, two story building was built in 1964 by Ray Charles to serve as his creative home and the global center of Ray Charles Enterprises, Inc. The original building design afforded space for offices and a recording studio on the second floor, as well as office tenant space on the first floor.

In 2004, RPM International was officially designated “A Cultural and Historic Landmark” by the City of Los Angeles as well as the now famous corner “Ray Charles Square.” At the ceremony, Mr. Charles was quoted “I love this place, It’s the only home I’ve truly had for most of my professional career and I thank the City of Los Angeles for their efforts to make the studios a special part of Los Angeles history.”

Numerous award-winning, world-renowned artists and albums have been recorded at RPM International. From “Country & Western Meets Rhythm and Blues,” the first album recorded here, to “Genius Loves Company,” Mr. Charles’ final recording. RPM International has been an enduring presence in the life of the man and his music for over four, historic decades.

Designed by Mr. Charles and his longtime manager, Joe Adams, RPM International and its creators remained loyal to the neighborhood, formerly known as Sugar Hill and now known as Harvard Heights.

Throughout the years, the RAY CHARLES FOUNDATION has provided millions of dollars in financial donations to various institutions involved with areas of hearing diseases and cures, as well as other educational resources for the needy and underprivileged. However, Mr. Charles’ legacy extends beyond the Foundation. On what was to be Mr. Charles’ 80th birthday, on September 23, 2010, Los Angeles, CA became home to the first Memorial Library ever dedicated to the legacy and honor of an artist. The RAY CHARLES MEMORIAL LIBRARY opened its door for the first time to celebrate the continuing legacy and genius of Mr. Charles.

Located on the first floor of the RPM International, originally built by Mr. Charles, the RAY CHARLES MEMORIAL LIBRARY is a commemorative venue that preserves and promotes the personal life and professional legacy of Ray Charles. The purpose of “The Ray Charles Memorial Library” is to continue Ray Charles’ legacy by providing an avenue for young children to experience music and art in a way that will inspire their creativity and imagination. Since so many schools do not have adequate budgets for school children to participate in music and art classes, it is the vision of this library to create a platform for school.