Ray Charles was one of a very few: the greatest American artists. Maybe a dozen Americans in the 20th century to compare him with--Gershwin, Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Sly Stone, Charles Ives, Chuck Berry, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Billie Holliday, Louis Armstrong... Are there others? I don't know. He was pretty much a giant. I know a woman, a background singer who used to sing with him in the Raelettes, and man, she's got some stories, some of them pretty tough. I guess he could be a pretty rugged character when he put his mind to it. But Gawd, what a talent... Incredible singer--one of the best keyboard players, great sax player, great arranger, producer, everything... A huge, rich, productive life. Bless his soul.

RIP, Ray. RIP.