OK, so here's my ray Charles story: When I was a little kid I listened to Ray Charles records all the time & loed him dearly. When it was announced that Mr. Charles would be performing at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre I wanted to go--as we lived in a Denver burb then. Of course since I was only about 7 at the time, I didn't go, but lay awake till the wee hours thinking of missing hearing/seeing him live & in person! The next day my mother read outloud the newspaper article telling about some audience members threw beer bottles, cans, rocks & booed & jeered. I was dumbfounded, did not understand, & cried wondering why anyone would be so hateful to a great musician--someone whom I loved so much. Fastforward to my college days. The univ was having the annual Jazz fest & The One & Only Mr. Ray Charles was performing. The crowd of folks young & old cheered & jumped to their feet in ovation before he even made it to the piano! My women's Music fraternity (yep, that's correct) chose myself & another gal to give him tokens of our apreciation & respect. I told him of my childhood experience, & how I felt a tremendous healing witnessing the respect & love from the audience. I got a big hug & kiss on the cheek from him, & a pic of the occasion.
    Not surprisingly, his passing hit me much more deeply than the passing of Pres. Reagan.