Ray

Again, a very aptly entitled man and movie (that's why I didn't twist the name in the title). The blind guy is a ray of light. Talk about your inner direction. I guess that's what it takes to be a ray of light in this world. I could pretty much end the post there, cause, that's it. But, the man had an incredible life and career and I'd love to comment on it. The film gave me an appreciation for his music I never had before.

Ray's music has been around for a long time. He predates rock music, not that I've ever considered him a rock musician, or would even put him in any one category. Like Alicia Keys, he pulls from many different pools. We'll never see anyone cross so many lines again.

I mean, really, a black country singer? He was equally comfortable with the blues,soul, R&B, gospel, rock & roll. Bridging gospel with "the devil's music" was sacrilegious in those days, and he had the courage to do it anyway. He had an amazing, emotional voice, equally comfortable with deep resonance and falsetto clips. I guess when you're a complete original, marching to your own drum, it extends your range. He fought against being trapped into boxes, musically or otherwise. No one told Ray what to do, that's for sure.

Moreover, the man beat heroin cold turkey and never looked back. He was blind but he promised his mom he would never be a victim. So, he focused on his talent and brought it to great heights. At the end of the film his mom returns to him in withdrawals delirium to point out that he is a victim, of addiction, and his drive toward freedom propels him out of it. He was one strong guy, used to walk around NYC, any town, alone, with no cane. Never a victim.

The film clearly illustrates Ray's lack of sight leading to an enhanced sense of hearing. But the blindness probably also contributed to his "sense of god", if there is such a thing. Or whatever you call that inner voice. Artists, essentially, are paid to listen to that voice, unlike so many of us. And Ray did listen, even though many voices are constantly coming at famous, important people. Through the voices of money loving managers & everyone else, Ray backed out of playing before Jim Crow segregated audiences... at the last minute.. but, he did it, at great financial cost, and Ray was an astute businessman. Heroin or no, he was sharp and kept his fortune, donating over $20M to charity in his lifetime.

The man had his demons. He was no angel, he certainly enjoyed not only the access to drugs his fame offered, but the access to sex. His wife basically accepted it and they had a long stable marriage. He had a lot of hard breaks, a lot of sadness, a lot of challenges. It's his overcoming of them that makes his life interesting to watch. Anyone want to watch the movie of W's life... now Bushie gets his silver spoon... here's his first oilwell... here he is in his Skull & Bones hat, here's Daddy's friends giving him money, here he is sending boys & girls to die, here is walking to "Hail to the Chief". What struggle did the man ever overcome, what demons did he face, what inner tune does he listen to? I'll take Ray any day...heroin addiction, womanizing and all.

I know lots of people who seemed to come from basically "good" upbringings. They all think they're great and seem to have no conception that anyone else could think otherwise. They're almost all boring and they have very little empathy or sensitivity... or even awareness. Most of them also have very little going on internally/spiritually. They're PC (politically correct), but you can tell when that's all it is.

I know others from more challenging beginnings and I tend to have so much more respect for these folks. They, almost to a person, have more depth and compassion. One of the reasons I turned to god early on is because there was pain there. I started developing that relationship (with god) early in life. If your childhood is just hunky dory Palo Alto perfect....well, at least now I don't have to worry about my own. This divorce stuff has definitely caused them to grow up a bit too soon, but, there's a lot to be said for having to deal with pain, and emotion, early in life. It builds skill, the skill of dealing with pain. It's something we all have to do sometime in life. I am definitely NOT recommending pain for kids, cause it can also make it very hard for them to achieve & focus. But, I think a certain amount of challenge, early in life, can "build character".

Anyway, Ray, a dirt poor illegitimate southerner, dealt with major pain, losing a brother at age five. He suffered guilt all his life for having stood there watching, frozen, as his brother drowned in a bucket. He lost his sight nine months later. Without that pain though, would he have that depth in his voice? Would his music and life speak to us the same way? Britney Spears has led a charmed little life. What does her "art" say to you.... what can it say to you ever? She wants to be like Madonna, but Madonna lost her mother early in life and her father put her in some harsh Catholic trip. She overcame all the indoctrination to own her own sexuality and her own artistic identity as a scrappy, optimistic, driven dreamer.

Unlike Britney, Ray was far more than a great performer. He was an artist and an inspiration. He will be missed and I look forward to seeing him honored at the Grammy's (I believe it's Norah Jones & Elton!) and at the Oscars.