Show Demons and Music of Ray f r Laree Mecham f Copy Editor Music and film lovers filled theatres last weekend to celebrate the life of the versatile singer song writer piano player and humanitarian an Ray Charles Charles screened the film before his death in June of this year at age 73 He approved the content and style of this story which focuses on his musical genius and struggle with personal personal personal per per- demons Born Ray Charles Robinson early childhood traumas haunted him for decades At age five he saw his younger brother die in an accident Just months later he began to lose his sight and by age seven was totally blind Charles' Charles mother had only a fourth grade education but she was wise and determined that her only surviving child would be independent despite his handicap She made him promise he would never let anyone make a cripple out of him She died while he was away at blind school before he was 15 years Charles trained his ears and his memory to compensate sate for his vision loss Rather than using a white cane to tap his way around Charles wore sole hard-sole shoes and listened to the change of echoes to determine determine determine deter deter- mine when he reached a doorway He memorized directions by how many blocks curbs and doorways he passed and then mentally reversed them to return Charles studied classical music with a motive to learn the art of composition and creation of his own style Imitation of popular artists like Nat King Cole won him early acclaim He risked his growing reputation to evolve into his own artist leaving an indelible mark on the music industry around the world Charles infused rhythm and blues with the gospel music of his youth and was labeled sacrilegious He created created created cre cre- his own country and western style and was called a sell But throughout his own evolution which also included jazz soul and rock and roll dedicated fans celebrated celebrated celebrated cele cele- the life of his trend- trend setting music Ray included accurate depictions of Charles' Charles notorious notorious notorious noto noto- rious womanizing and drug abuse His personal battles included decades of flashbacks flashbacks flashbacks flash flash- backs from his traumatic childhood After two drug arrests and being faced with losing his family his freedom freedom freedom free free- dom his career and his music Charles finally kicked a nearly year 20 heroin addiction in 1965 Jamie Foxx presented a compelling portrayal of the incomparable performer In Inthis Inthis Inthis this challenging role he projected projected projected pro pro- the aura the attitude and the actions of Ray Charles Foxx also a trained classical classical classical classi classi- cal artist wore prosthetics on his eyes making him essentially blind for hours each day during filming Charles okd Foxx for the lead role after a personal piano audition Ray initially initially initially ini ini- titled Unchain My Heart opened in second place Halloween weekend placing placing placing ing between two horror flicks The TheR R o t t e n Tomatoes web web- site which posts reviews from dozens of sources showed an 81 approval rating Many critics including some who didn't like the film speculate speculate speculate late that Foxx will be in Oscar contention for best actor Throughout 60 years in the business Charles won 12 Grammy Awards the Helen Keller Personal Achievement Award and spots on the Walk of Fame the Songwriters Hall of Fame N Ny f iV y ikc t I I 4 i 4 ti l fI 1 it its it's 1 IH lN s 's c cf f o rt v u 2 A o Y a R. R p VI ju 13 60 f a 0 Jamie Foxx reaches into the void oid to connect with the bright battered soul of Ray Charles and the Rock and Roll Hall Hallof Hallof Hallof of Fame He received recognition recognition recognition through television tributes documentaries specials specials specials and fan mail One of his greatest honors came from the state of Georgia which had declared a lifetime ban against Charles performing in that state after he broke a contract contract contract con con- tract by refusing to play to a segregated audience In 1979 the state officially apologized to Charles and proclaimed his hissong song Georgia On My Mind as their official state song Ray Charles inspired fans again teaming up with several popular artists on his final CD Duets with Norah Jones James Taylor and Willie Nelson grace this offering along with Bonnie Raitt Michael McDonald and BB King Ray Charles fans music fans pic bio-pic fans and Jamie Foxx fan will appreciate Ray a period piece of devastation devastation devastation dev dev- and triumph To quote the legend himself I make it do what it do |