Friends celebrate Ray Charles’ birthday in Greenville hometown
Photo submitted
Special to the Outlook
The musical legend Ray Charles grew up in Greenville, Fla., just a few miles down Highway 90 from Tallahassee. He went on to change the world of music and inspire generations of musicians across the nation.
Starting in 2021, local Tallahassee musicians Craig Reeder and Adrian Fogelin, who perform as the acoustic duo Hot Tamale, began putting on a musical celebration of Ray Charles’ birthday, (Sep. 23) in his hometown of Greenville. The event takes place at the park where his statue appears seated at a piano and singing with the joyfulness he was famous for.
In addition to Hot Tamale performing some of Ray Charles’ most popular hits, there was a visit by Lucille Day, the vivacious head of the local Heritage Committee, who told stories about her childhood friend, who was known then as “RC.”
Steve Beasley, president of the MLK Foundation, and a personal friend of Ray Charles, was in attendance and brought boxes of cookies, pastries and pies to share. Beasley said he would like to expand the celebration to a statewide event. He figures he could get it done with the participation of local Greenville organizations, and eventually taking it nationwide to match the status of the man celebrated.
“We hope more and more people will join us in this joyful tribute to the great Ray Charles in each coming year,” said Craig Reeder, “and continue to acquaint younger generations with his music and his inspiring life story.”
