moment of silence, please

[IcemanLE@xxxxxxx]

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Ray Charles, the Grammy-winning crooner who 
blended gospel and blues in such crowd-pleasers as "What'd I Say" and 
ballads like "Georgia on My Mind," died Thursday, a spokesman said. 
He was 73.

Charles died at his Beverly Hills home surrounded by family and 
friends, said spokesman Jerry Digney.

Charles last public appearance was alongside Clint Eastwood on April 
30, when the city of Los Angeles designated the singer's studios, 
built 40 years ago in central Los Angeles, as a historic landmark.