Posted on 11-6-2004

R&B music legend Ray Charles dies

Charles performed 10,000 concerts during a 58-year career
The legendary R&B musician Ray Charles has died aged 73, in Los Angeles, his publicist has said.
Charles, who went blind aged six, kept a largely low profile during a recent bout of ill health - but still managed to collaborate with other musicians.

He died of acute liver disease, which was diagnosed after he underwent hip replacement surgery.

Soul diva Aretha Franklin described him as "a fabulous man" who introduced the world to "secular soul singing".

Charles is considered a pioneer of soul music with hits including Georgia on My Mind and I Can't Stop Loving You.

The 12-time Grammy winner played his 10,000th concert on 23 May 2003 in Los Angeles.

More recently, he had been working on a CD of duets with performers such as Elton John, Norah Jones and Johnny Mathis.

Born Ray Charles Robinson in Albany in the south-eastern state of Georgia on 23 September 1930, Charles went on to become one of America's most enduring musicians.

After the blood disease glaucoma left him blind as a child, Charles was sent to a school for the deaf and blind in Florida, where he developed a lifelong talent and passion for music.

The young pianist later made his way to the north-western city of Seattle where he first performed as a solo act, modelling himself on the late musical legend Nat "King" Cole.

He was a master of many styles, dabbling in country, jazz, big band and blues.

Battling childhood poverty and adult drug addiction, his intense renditions of classic songs earned him the nickname The Genius.

His last public appearance was alongside Clint Eastwood on 30 April in LA.

The city has designated the singer's studios, built 40 years ago in the centre of the town, an historic landmark.

Charles died in his Beverley Hills home of complications of liver disease, according to his publicist, Jerry Digney.

"It's devastating," Mr Digney told the AFP news agency. "He's been ailing for while now and it started out with a hip situation and went from there to other things, primarily the liver."

Family members and his manager were present when he died.

Tributes have been pouring in from those who knew the man and his music.

"People remember the big hits and the visual image of him, but they forget what an innovator he was in the 1950s as a jazz musician," said country music singer Marty Stuart.

Fellow country music legend, Willie Nelson, said, "I lost one of my friends and I will miss him a lot."