IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 449 
Honoring the life and accomplishments of Ray Charles, recognizing his con-
tributions to the Nation, and extending condolences to his family on 
his death. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 15, 2004 
Mr. BURNS (for himself and Mr. SCOTT of Georgia) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education 
and the Workforce 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Honoring the life and accomplishments of Ray Charles, rec-
ognizing his contributions to the Nation, and extending 
condolences to his family on his death. 
Whereas Ray Charles was born Ray Charles Robinson in Al-
bany, Georgia, on September 23, 1930, the first child of 
Aretha and Baily Robinson; 
Whereas Ray Charles and the Robinson family battled grind-
ing poverty, the Depression, segregation, and young 
Ray’s loss of his sight to glaucoma when he was only 6 
years old, but they never gave up hoping and working for 
a better life; 
Whereas while attending the St. Augustine School for the 
Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine, Florida, Ray Charles
•HCON 449 IH 
learned to read Braille and type, and he developed his 
musical gifts by learning to compose and arrange music 
by ear; 
Whereas Ray Charles began his career as a professional mu-
sician without financial resources, in an era of segrega-
tion, and he struggled in poverty for years before attain-
ing success; 
Whereas out of his struggle and sacrifice Ray Charles gave 
the world the classic songs, ‘‘I Got A Woman’’, ‘‘Born to 
Lose’’, ‘‘Hit the Road, Jack’’, ‘‘I Can’t Stop Loving 
You’’, ‘‘Crying Time’’, ‘‘Living for the City’’, ‘‘Busted’’, 
‘‘Hard Times’’, ‘‘Ruby’’, ‘‘The Right Time’’, ‘‘Let the 
Good Times Roll’’, ‘‘What’d I Say?’’, and ‘‘Hallelujah, I 
Love Her So’’; 
Whereas Ray Charles demonstrated a unique ability to per-
form music in nearly every musical style, whether blues, 
jazz, gospel, country-western, or rock and roll; 
Whereas Ray Charles transformed ‘‘Georgia on My Mind’’, 
an old Stuart Gorrell and Hoagy Carmichael tune from 
1930, into a song which is instantly recognized through-
out the world and the official song of his native State of 
Georgia; 
Whereas with his unique style of arrangement, Ray Charles 
gave new life for a new century to one of America’s best- 
known patriotic songs, ‘‘America the Beautiful’’; 
Whereas during his most productive musical years, Ray 
Charles provided unfailing personal and financial support 
to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in the struggle to end 
the practice of racial segregation which had divided the 
Nation;
•HCON 449 IH 
Whereas Ray Charles extended his commitment to social re-
form beyond the United States, publicly opposing apart-
heid in South Africa and anti-Semitism worldwide; 
Whereas Ray Charles was one of the most influential and rec-
ognized voices of American music throughout the world, 
whose influence spanned generations and musical genres; 
and 
Whereas with the death of Ray Charles on June 10, 2004, 
in Beverly Hills, California, the Nation has lost one of its 
most prolific and influential musicians: Now, therefore, 
be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) honors the life and accomplishments of Ray 
Charles Robinson; 
(2) recognizes Ray Charles for his invaluable 
contributions to the Nation, the State of Georgia, 
and the American musical heritage; and 
(3) extends condolences to the family of Ray 
Charles on the death of a remarkable man. 
Æ