(Washington, DC)— The House of Representatives today approved legislation to designate a postal facility in Los Angeles as the Ray Charles Post Office Building.  The bill, H.R. 4624, sponsored by Congresswoman Diane E. Watson (CA-33rd), officially renames a postal facility located at 4960 West Washington Blvd. in honor of the legendary singer. 

“This is but a small act to commemorate one the true giants of 20th Century popular music, who settled in Los Angeles and lived in the 33rd congressional district for many years,” remarked Congresswoman Watson.

H.R. 4624 will now be considered by the Senate and then signed into law by the President.
The full text of Congresswoman Watson’s remarks on the floor of the House follows:

H.R. 504–a bill to rename a post office located in Los Angeles, California the Ray Charles Post Office is a small act to commemorate one of the true giants of 20th Century popular music. 

Ray Charles is both a national treasure and an international phenomenon.  He was also a longtime resident of Los Angeles and the 33rd congressional district. 

The story of Ray Charles’ life is full of paradoxes.  It is about rag to riches, the sacred and profane, and triumph overcoming tragedy.  It is the material of Horatio Alger and Mark Twain.  It is a uniquely American story.  And his music – a melting pot blend of pop, country, gospel, blues, and jazz – brilliantly reflects the rich American cultural and musical tapestry in its various shades, shapes, and permutations.

Much has been written about Ray Charles’ life and his rise from poverty and obscurity in Saint Augustine, Florida to his decision to migrate to Seattle–a decision he made by asking a friend to find him the farthest point from Florida on a map of the continental U.S. 

Many of you have probably seen the movie “Ray” and the Oscar-winning performance of Jamie Foxx.  What we learn from the life of  Ray Charles is that he constantly persevered in the face of adversity and often at  overwhelming odds.  He learned very early that the two constants of life are change and adaptation.  Those qualities are reflected in spades in his music.  He secularized gospel music, wed it to jazz rhythms and sensibilities, and popularized, almost single handedly, music known as rhythm and blues.

But the music of Ray Charles’–true to his legacy– cannot be confined to one genre or type of music.  In 1962, Ray Charles spit in the eye of conventional wisdom, as well as his producers, and recorded one of the great country albums, Modern Sounds in Country and Western.  Billboard magazine listed it as the number one selling album for 14 weeks in a row – a feat that has not been duplicated since then.  Ray Charles’ accomplishment was all the more profound when we consider that the races in America were still largely segregated, particularly in the South.

Ray Charles’ revolutionary approach to music was also reflected in his politics and his deep and abiding commitment to Martin Luther King and the plight of African-Americans.  Ray Charles may not have been on the front lines, but he put his money where his mouth was.

In his autobiography, Ray Charles wrote about his life-long love affair with music:  “I was born with music inside me,” he wrote.  “That’s the only explanation I know of...It was a force already with me when I arrived on the scene...It was a necessity for me – like food or water.”   

Ray Charles has provided comfort to millions of Americans from all races and backgrounds and made their lives brighter with the genius of his music.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would note that this legislation to name a post office in honor of Ray Charles is but a small tribute to a man who started from nowhere and ended up a national treasure and global phenomenon. 

God bless Ray Charles.