Ray Charles, an 18-time Grammy award winner, was honored on Jan. 29, at the Grammy Museum at LA Live. A reception and ribbon-cutting ceremony were held to celebrate the naming of the rooftop Ray Charles Terrace.
The event was hosted by Grammy-winning producer Jimmy Jam. Music for the evening was curated by DJ Khalil, a producer from Los Angeles, who is also a Grammy winner. The audience was treated to an exceptional performance by Grammy-nominated singers Aloe Blacc and Jac Ross.
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“The Ray Charles Foundation has worked closely with the L.A. Live Grammy Museum and recently the Ray Charles Foundation donated $2 million to the Grammy Museum Foundation. Funds from the gift will go towards the Museum’s campaign for Music Education,” said Michael Sticka, CEO and president of the Grammy Museum Foundation.
“We are here to celebrate the legacy of Ray Charles,” said Valerie Ervin, president of Ray Charles Foundation.
Jac Ross captivated the audience with a beautiful rendition of Ray Charles’ 1962 hit, “You Don’t Know Me,” and Aloe Blacc brought Brenda Lee Eager in the audience to tears with his version of Ray Charles’ “Georgia on My Mind.”
“I worked with Ray and did duets on ‘Can You Love Me Like That,’” said Lee Eager. “I’m excited to be here.”
The atmosphere was festive as people gathered to celebrate and discuss the genius of the iconic Charles. Jimmy Jam explained the importance of young children seeing the Museum Terrace and being inspired by Ray Charles.
“I never had a chance to meet Ray Charles, but I have fond memories of my mom and dad playing his music over and over,” said Jimmy Jam, who is also chairman of the board of the Recording Academy.
“It is a heartfelt honor to see the rooftop terrace renamed the Ray Charles Terrace,” said Rita George, chief program officer at the museum. Rita also noted that the Ray Charles Foundation recently made a donation to fund the museum’s campaign for music education.
“We believe in the education of youth it is our hope that the youth will discover music and even have a career in music. We would like to expand access to music education,” said Sticka.
“Fans of Ray Charles can look forward to DJ Khalil’s recording in the works where hip hop meets Ray Charles a fusion of genre,” said DJ Khalil.
The reception ended in applause while the audience danced and sang to Charles’ “I Got a Woman.”
To visit the Ray Charles Terrace at the Grammy Museum, call (213) 725-5700.
