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When I was a little girl my father had a band. They practiced in our living room much to the despair of my mother. She wasn’t at all thrilled with the prospect that my father had decided to pursue a career in Rock and Roll, rather than continue selling insurance which had actually taken care of the bills pretty well. Rock and Roll on the other hand did not seem to be putting food on the table. The house was always filled with music. All kinds. Whether the band was playing or my parents were blasting the Fisher Hi-Fi, there was always loud music in our house. I remember hearing “Hit the Road Jack”, all the time. Considering that it was released in 1962 and I wasn’t born till ’65, I have to believe that we had the album and that it was a favorite in our house. I remember everyone singing that song, everyone loving that song and so did I, but that wasn’t the song that did it for me. The song that made me fall in love with Ray Charles was “Unchain my Heart”.
Unchain my heart, baby let me goUnchain my heart, ’cause you don’t love me no moreEv’ry time I call you on the phoneSome fella tells me that you’re not at home soUnchain my heart, oh please, please set me free
I really think that song started what has turned out to be a life-long love or obsession with the blues.When I was about 12 and my father had moved on to greener pastures, he gave me that Fisher Hi-Fi and a bunch of 45s, one of which was “Unchain My Heart”, I played it over and over and over. From then till now, Ray Charles has been a favorite of mine. He has influenced every genre of poplular, modern music. Rock, Blues, Pop, even Country. I don’t think there is anyone who hasn’t either been influenced by Ray Charles, or influenced by someone else who was influenced by him.I remember after 9/11 – his version of “America the Beautiful” being played everywhere you went. I think it was the perfect anthem for the time. Wounded, but hopeful and still full of pride, just like all of us.I’ll miss Ray Charles, but I take comfort in the fact that there’s so much of his music to revisit and I’m sure there’s plenty I’ve yet to discover.
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