Ray Charles Honored on U.S. Postage Stamp  :

Born in Albany, GA, Ray Charles (1930-2004) was a popular singer-songwriter whose career spanned more than five decades.    When Charles lost his sight at the age of 7, he attended the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. While there, he enrolled in the schools music program where he developed his gifted talents. When his mother passed away in 1946, he left the school at the age of 15 and began playing the piano with a variety of local bands. In 1947, he moved to Seattle, WA, where he fulfilled his dream of assembling a band of his own. He continued enthralling audiences with his engaging music until his passing in 2004.   The Ray Charles stamp is available now as a Forever stamp.