Ray Charles

As I am now, as a child I was a night owl. I stayed up too late every chance I got. When I did, Ray Charles sang to me at the end of the broadcast day on the local NBC affiliate.
I cannot believe that he is gone. So I refer to him in the present tense.

When Ray Charles sings "America the Beautiful" it is not an anthem, it is more than that - he sings our song. A blind man sings to us of spacious skies and amber waves of grain. And the sky opens up wider and the purple mountains rise up higher. In these words and his voice - from sea to shining sea, we are of one nation, of one people.

When Ray Charles sings "America the Beautiful", he sings our hearts and our hopes. When he sings, we are the brightest and best and most beautiful vision of ourselves.

When Ray Charles sings "America the Beautiful" I know who I am - an American and I am proud. He expresses for me what I cannot express for myself.

And now who will sing to us our vision, our goodness and strength, our decency and courage?

I cannot imagine him gone.
So in these troubled times, for this nation - sing on, Mr. Charles, sing on.