Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

When Ray Charles left Atlantic Records in 1959, he was given artistic freedom & the rights to all his songs at his new home with ABC Paramount. But that was not all that changed. Charles decided to explore other types of music after years of playing rhythm & blues. In April 1962 he released one of the best records of his career, Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music.

On June 23, 1962, it hit the #1 spot on the album chart in the U.S. for 14 consecutive weeks. It marked a milestone in Charles career, showing his diverse talent & vocal ability in a completely different genre of music. It also helped him gain more mainstream success, which in turn pushed the racial boundaries of music during the early days of the Civil Rights Movement. There was nothing Ray Charles Robinson could not do.

“They say that time
Heals a broken heart
But time has stood still
Since we’ve been apart“.

Ray Charles’ 1962 landmark album. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Ray Charles: “I Can’t Stop Loving You” (1962, written by Don Gibson).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.