WHOA ! I'm not sure if it's true, but I heard a rumor that Ray Charles passed today . . . I'm not the biggest fan, but it's still sad.

Yep, he was 73.

Man, could that man belt out a tune. RIP

I hate to hear that. He was a great singer. I'd read that he was in poor health but that he was going to sing some of his most well known songs as duets with Van Morrison, Norah Jones, Elton John, etc on a cd this summer. His was the only version of America the Beautiful that i liked. And I loved that 'Hit The Road Jack' era music he did most of all. What a true original he was. RIP Ray.

dude was a classic--loved his bluesy, jazzy, gravelly style. he'll be missed...

I loved Ray Charles to bits. Dang, I think a good 90% of the people I listen to are dead.

I wasn't surprised to hear about the liver, for he'd been a junkie for a long time. Jaundice and cirrhosis is a hazard what with using the same needle over and over and after one has been clean for awhile the liver sometimes likes to remind one, 'hey, I remember what you did to me'.

Oh that's just sad.

The thing I remember most about Ray Charles was watching him sing songs in just one take. They used to call him a one take wonder because he could do that so frequently.

I remember the cola ads he did, as well. Not to mention his spot in the Blues Brothers film.

He seemed like a genuinely fun guy.