소울의 거장 레이 찰스(Ray Charles)가 6월 10일 비버리 힐스의 자택에서 가족과 친구들이 지켜보는 가운데 간장 증세가 심해진 합병증으로 사망했다. 향연 73세. 미국의 CNN과 빌보드를 비롯한 각종 언론들은 앞다투어 그의 사망 소식을 헤드라인 기사로 보도했다. 지난해 11월 찰스는 둔부 시술을 받았지만 상태가 호전되지 않아 갑자기 투어 일정을 취소시켰다. 그의 음악인생 53년 동안 처음 있는 일이었다. 그러나 그는 그런 악성 건강에도 불구하고 최근 빅 밴드 투어 일정도 잡아 놓는 등 음악에의 열정을 보였다고 대변인은 전해졌다. 검은색 선그라스와 걸출한 허스키 보이스가 트레이드마크였던 레이 찰스는 지난 1949년 첫 레코딩을 시작한 이래로 2002년 근작 까지 수많은 앨범을 내놓은 베테랑 소울 싱어였다. 게다가 1959년 첫 번째 넘버원 히트곡 '(내 마음속의 조지아)Georgia on my mind'를 시작으로 'Hit the road Jack'(1961), 'I can't stop loving you'(1962), 'Unchain my heart'(1962) 등 팝, R&B 차트 1위에 오른 곡을 비롯한 다수의 명작을 남겼다. 그간 12회에 빛나는 그래미상 수상 경력과 여러 팝 스타들과의 협연은 이젠 '흑인 음악의 전설'로 기억될 그의 음악적 성과를 잘 입증한다. 살아 생전 그는 프랭크 시나트라로부터 '천재'라는 소리를 들었고, 아레사 프랭클린은 그의 보컬을 “평생 가도 만나보기 드문 위대한 목소리”라 극찬했다. 제임스 브라운은 그의 사망 소식에 “우리는 형제와도 같던 천재 하나를 잃었어요...지금 정말 너무 우울해요.”라고 고인의 명복을 빌었다. 그만큼 그는 선후배 가수들에게 크나큰 영향을 끼쳤다. 찰스는 1978년 출간한 자서전 를 통해 “난 음악을 위해서 태어났다”며 “나의 피와도 같은...음악은 내 신체의 일부”라고 밝히기도 했다. 1930년 9월 23일 조지아주 알바니(Albany)에서 태어난 그는 불과 7살에 시력을 잃어 불운한 삶을 시작했다. 하지만 클라리넷, 알토 색소폰, 트럼펫, 피아노 등 다양한 악기들에 빠져들면서 그런 고통에서 벗어날 수가 있었다. 가스펠, 블루스, 컨트리, 리듬 앤 블루스, 재즈 등의 발전에도 그의 공헌도는 남달리 컸다. 그는 로큰롤, 재즈, R&B 이렇게 세 장르에 걸쳐 명예의 전당에 입성하기도 했다. 레이 찰스여, 안녕! .... ....
Hey mama, don't you treat me wrong Come and love your daddy all night long All right now, hey hey, all right See the girl with the diamond ring She knows how to shake that thing All right now now now, hey hey, hey hey Tell your mama, tell your pa I'm gonna send you back to Arkansas Oh yes, ma'm, you don't do right, don't do right Aw, play it boy When you see me in misery Come on baby, see about me Now yeah, all right, all right, aw play it, boy When you see me in misery Come on baby, see about me Now yeah, hey hey, all right See the girl with the red dress on She can do the Birdland all night long Yeah yeah, what'd I say, all right Well, tell me what'd I say, yeah Tell me what'd I say right now Tell me what'd I say Tell me what'd I say right now Tell me what'd I say Tell me what'd I say yeah And I wanna know Baby I wanna know right now And-a I wanna know And I wanna know right now yeah And-a I wanna know Said I wanna know yeah Spoken: Hey, don't quit now! (c'mon honey) Naw, I got, I uh-uh-uh, I'm changing (stop! stop! we'll do it again) Wait a minute, wait a minute, oh hold it! Hold it! Hold it! Hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho) hey Oh one more time (just one more time) Say it one more time right now (just one more time) Say it one more time now (just one more time) Say it one more time yeah (just one more time) Say it one more time (just one more time) Say it one more time yeah (just one more time) Hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho) hey Ah! Make me feel so good (make me feel so good) Make me feel so good now yeah (make me feel so good) Woah! Baby (make me feel so good) Make me feel so good yeah (make me feel so good) Make me feel so good (make me feel so good) Make me feel so good yeah (make me feel so good) Huh (huh) ho (ho) huh (huh) ho (ho) huh (huh) ho (ho) huh Awh it's all right (baby it's all right) Said that it's all right right now (baby it's all right) Said that it's all right (baby it's all right) Said that it's all right yeah (baby it's all right) Said that it's all right (baby it's all right) Said that it's all right (baby it's all right) Woah! Shake that thing now (baby shake that thing) Baby shake that thing now now (baby shake that thing) Baby shake that thing (baby shake that thing) Baby shake that thing right now (baby shake that thing) Baby shake that thing (baby shake that thing) Baby shake that thing (baby shake that thing) Woah! I feel all right now yeah (make me feel all right) Said I feel all right now (make me feel all right) Woooah! (make me feel all right) Tell you I feel all right (make me feel all right) Said I feel all right (make me feel all right) Baby I feel all right (make me feel all right)
Well I swear, I didn't see you with your wife's best girlfriend Drinkin' beer and a dancin' to that western swing And I didn't see you kiss her and leave that barroom with her No I didn't see you and I didn't see you and we didn't see a thing
George, I know I didn't hear you tell that blonde that you weren't married, no I know I didn't see you hidin' your weddin' ring either did I? And I know I couldn't have heard you call your wife And tell her that you were working No, no I didn't see you, I didn't see you and we didn't see a thing
We've got to stick together to keep our stories straight Now don't forget Ray I was down in Atlanta Sure you were and I was workin' late Yeah you know it's always good to see you George it's good to see you too, yeah But I didn't see you and I didn't see you and we didn't see a thing
Hey Ray by the way do you leave that hundred bucks you owe me I don't know what you're talkin' about George Well I'm sure you recall our bet on last night's football game No I don't but you know if I had seen you, I certainly would've paid ya But I didn't see you and I didn't see you and we didn't see a thing
We've got to stick together to keep our stories straight Don't forget I was down in Atlanta And don't you forget I was working late Oh you know it's always good to see you George it's good to see you too But I, I didn't see you and I didn't see you and we didn't see a thing I didn't see you and I didn't see you and we didn't see a thing
It seems like yesterday I heard the people say Son you were born to stray Someday you'll settle down I guess there'll come a time Maybe I'll tow the line Right now I'm doing fine Rolling from town to town
I don't care where I ride I'll let my feet decide Do anything but don't ask that I Hang up my rock and roll shoes Hang up my rock and roll shoes
Guitars and ringing tones In my blood and in my bones Show me a bus And I'll call it home 'Cause I don't wanna change On a lonely day When they put me in my grave Ain't a worry you need to save Just hang up my rock and roll shoes
I don't care where I ride I'll let my feet decide Do anything but don't ask that I Hang up my rock and roll shoes Hang up my rock and roll shoes
So let that motor run Headed out towards the sun I'm in the mood for moving on But I'll be back someday
I don't care where I ride I'll let my feet decide Do anything but don't ask that I Hang up my rock and roll shoes
I don't care where I ride I'll let my feet decide Do anything but don't ask that I Hang up my rock and roll shoes Hang up my rock and roll shoes
Hang up my rock and roll shoes Ray Hang up my rock and roll shoes Yeah Hang up my rock and roll shoes I'm gonna Hang up my rock and roll shoes Let me Hang up my rock and roll shoes B.J. Hang up my rock and roll shoes Why don't you Hang up my rock and roll shoes Ray Hang up my rock and roll shoes
If you're ever in a jam, here I am. If you're ever in a mess, S.O.S. If you're so happy, you land in jail. I'm your bail. It's friendship, friendship, just a perfect blendship. When other friendships are soon forgot, ours will still be hot. Da da da da da da dig dig dig. If you're ever down a well, ring my bell. If you're ever up a tree, just phone to me. If you ever loose your teeth when you're out to dine, borrow mine. It's friendship, friendship, just a perfect blendship. When other friendships are soon forgeet, ours will still be great. Loddle doddle chuck chuck chaa. If they ever black you're eyes, put me wise. If they ever cook your goose, turn me loose. And if they ever put a bullet through your brain, Ill complain. It's friendship, friendship, just a perfect blendship. When other friendships are soon forgit, ours will still be it. Ah loddle doddle hip hap hap. If you ever loose your mind, I'll be kind. And if you ever loose your shirt, I'll be hurt. If you're ever in a mill and get sawed in half, I won't laugh. It's friendship, friendship, just a perfect blendship. When other friendships are are up the crick, ours will still be slick. Ah loddle doddle woof woof woof, hep hep hep, chopp chop chop, dig dig dig. Good evening friends.
It's the same old story that they all hand me. The Preacher tells me these are troubled times. But I know the Lord's been in tougher scrapes then this one. Ain't gonna worry, ain't gonna worry, ain't gonna worry my mind.Got no money in the pocket.You don't get rich working overtime. But as long as you can't buy the springtime in Virginia. I ain't gonna worry, No I ain't gonna worry, Ain't gonna worry my mind. That is all that ever makes you richer. Oh well, if the truth be told, Moonlight spins my only silver, and the sun is my only gold. Oh ya. So go on wishin', go on prayin', go on sayin', I'll hit better times. How in the world could you love me any better? Ain't gonna worry, I tell ya. I ain't gonna worry no more. Ain't gonna worry my mind.
A /A He looked/ down into her blue eyes, and said E7 "Say a prayer for me". She E7 Threw her arms around him, whispered E7 "God will keep us free". A They could hear the riders comin', He said D "This is my last fight...If they A Take me back to Texas, they won't E7 A Take me back a-live.
There were times I left your heart in pain Time again I've turned and walked away I'd get to where I'm going just to find Won't be happy in this world if you're not by my side Ellie my love so sweet My heart told me to break away Now I'm out here far away Wish that I could hold you in the night Then I'd wake up to a morning that is warm and bright Ellie my love so sweet Smile for me won't you baby Forever you'll be on my mind Drink with me won't you baby We're gonna make it right this time There's no one else like you Anything you want I'll do Ellie my love so sweet Ellie my love so sweet
My heart told me to break away Now I'm out here far away Wish that I could hold you in the night Then I'd wake up to a morning that is warm and bright Ellie my love so sweet Smile for me won't you baby Forever you'll be on my mind Drink with me won't you baby We're gonna make it right this time There's no one else like you Anything you want I'll do Ellie my love so sweet Ellie my love so sweet Smile for me won't you baby Forever you'll be on my mind Drink with me won't you baby We're gonna make it right this time There's no one else like you Anything you want I'll do Ellie my love so sweet oh Ellie my love so sweet Ellie my love oh so sweet
.... 
