It figures if Ray would be sidelined by an ailment, it would be a hip one.
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Press Release Source: Ray Charles Enterprises
Sidelined From Touring for First Time in 53 Years, Music Legend Ray Charles Is Feted on 73rd Birthday by Celebrity Friends, U.S. President
Tuesday September 23, 3:30 pm ET
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Music legend and 13-time Grammy® winner Ray Charles celebrated his 73rd birthday today in Los Angeles.
Sidelined since the summer from touring, for the first time in 53 years, Charles was feted with a cake in the shape of a piano and visited at his Los Angeles studio by celebrity friends, including Quincy Jones and Willie Nelson, and well wished by many others, including jazz veteran Diane Schuur and singer Dionne Warwick.
Pres. George W. Bush said of Charles, "Your extraordinary life has been great in accomplishments. God bless you."
Actress Cicely Tyson crooned, "I just can't get enough of you, like Ole' Man River, just keep rollin' along."
Since mid summer, Charles has been off the road due to a hip ailment.
After initial treatments and rest, the world famous "genius of soul" has spent his time recording and mixing new music at his Los Angeles studio.
He has also started work on a duets album, which will include longtime friends, such as B.B. King.
Award-winning actor-director, Clint Eastwood, who recently interviewed Charles for a PBS special on the blues that airs Oct. 4, wrote to the singer-musician, "Our interview for The Blues Project was one of the highlights of my life. Wishing you a fabulous birthday."
Sir Elton John, for whom Charles played a tribute concert in Jan., said of the performer, "Happy 73rd birthday to an all-time genius. You will always be a true inspiration."
Added Berry Gordy, legendary founder of Motown: "Happy Birthday to the man!"
The NAACP's Kweisi Mfume said of Charles and his music, "Your gift of song has spanned several generations, crossing barriers, uplifting all of humanity."
Charles took the occasion on Tuesday to announce his own gift to the world, a national songwriting contest for kids (
www.blueslab.org ), to be sponsored by the acclaimed, after-school program, "The Blues Lab," and Comcast, which kicks off Sept. 30.
Alicia Keys, Pink Floyd, Slash, Flea, Blues Legend Sir Charles and a number of prominent musicians will join Charles in the judging.
"I am thrilled to have friends that I love so much be here today to celebrate my birthday," Charles purred.
"I've been lucky to have done so many things these 73 years, but there's a lot more I want to do in life, especially with longtime friends like Willie and Quincy."
Actress and Rev. Della Reese, who started out as a teenage singer with Mahalia Jackson and first met Charles years ago, said, "Most precious, loved genius that you are, like most of the world, I love you deeply."
Ahmet Ertegun, who first recorded Charles back in the 1950s, said, "You are, and always will be, to all of us who love you, 'The Great Ray Charles'."
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Source: Ray Charles Enterprises
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