RAY CHARLES - CHARLES STATUE UNVEILED IN GEORGIA

CHARLES STATUE UNVEILED IN GEORGIA

RAY CHARLES has been commemorated with a bronze statue in his hometown of Albany, Georgia. The R+B legend's likeness was unveiled on Friday (07Dec07) in a ceremony attended by Charles' family and hundreds of his fans. Speaking at the event, the star's daughter, Sheila Raye Charles, told the crowd, "I can't tell you how overwhelming it is for me to experience the love that you have for my father." Charles, who died in 2004, aged 73, was the city's most famous native and his version of Georgia On My Mind was adopted as the official state song in 1979 - 19 years after the track was first recorded.