RAY CHARLES DIES
The Grammy Award winning star passes away...
Legendary musician RAY CHARLES has died at the age of 73.
The Grammy award winning star passed away in his home in Beverly Hills, according to a spokesperson. It’s reported he was suffering complications of liver disease.
His spokesperson said: "It's devastating. 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."
CNN reports the singer’s last appearance in public was on April 30 when the city of Los Angeles designated the singer's 40 year old studios a historic landmark.
Charles was blind from childhood, but took to music and soon established himself as a brilliant musician.
He won a dozen Grammy Awards, mostly in the ‘60s. He is perhaps best known for songs like 'Georgia On My Mind' and 'Hit The Road Jack'.
Already tributes are starting to come in from his peers. Country star Willie Nelson said: "I lost one of my friends and I will miss him a lot."
Country singer Marty Stuart added:" 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."
His former manager Joe Adams said: "He wanted the world to know that he will miss the chance to entertain his many family and friends, as he had done, up until last summer, for the past 58 years."
The Grammy award winning star passed away in his home in Beverly Hills, according to a spokesperson. It’s reported he was suffering complications of liver disease.
His spokesperson said: "It's devastating. 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."
CNN reports the singer’s last appearance in public was on April 30 when the city of Los Angeles designated the singer's 40 year old studios a historic landmark.
Charles was blind from childhood, but took to music and soon established himself as a brilliant musician.
He won a dozen Grammy Awards, mostly in the ‘60s. He is perhaps best known for songs like 'Georgia On My Mind' and 'Hit The Road Jack'.
Already tributes are starting to come in from his peers. Country star Willie Nelson said: "I lost one of my friends and I will miss him a lot."
Country singer Marty Stuart added:" 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."
His former manager Joe Adams said: "He wanted the world to know that he will miss the chance to entertain his many family and friends, as he had done, up until last summer, for the past 58 years."
Jamie Foxx to take on another music roleNME Alerts
Get NME news delivered direct to your desktop. Find out more
Add your comment
Please sign in to add your comments or register to have your say.