His Fans Can’t Stop Loving Him

Fans of Ray Charles, some bringing flowers and others clutching well-worn copies of old albums, came by the thousands Thursday to file past the singer’s casket and piano at a public viewing in a sunny atrium of the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The 73-year-old singer will be eulogized today by his family and famous peers at a private service at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church. But the eight-hour viewing on Thursday gave his fans a chance to say goodbye to the iconic performer.

“It was like coming to see a king, not an entertainer; that’s what he meant to people,” said Prince Boleyn-Poindexter, who arrived four hours before the noon opening to ensure a chance to bid farewell. “He was a hero not just to black America but to all of America.”

Charles died June 10 of complications of liver disease, and his passing brought an outpouring of affection for a man who logged 53 years as a touring performer, an odyssey that took him from tobacco barns in his native Georgia to grand opera halls in Europe. With signature hits such as “What’d I Say,” “Georgia on My Mind” and “Hit the Road Jack,” Charles made music history by fusing gospel sounds with the earthiness of R&B.;

“He was the greatest, and he was so eclectic -- he did jazz, country, R&B;, pop -- he could do anything,” said Bill Dyer, who dug through his vinyl collection Thursday morning for his old Charles albums. “I brought them down, I don’t know why. I was at a loss about what to do, but it felt right to bring them.”

Dyer drove from Venice; others came from Orange County and even San Diego. In the convention center’s South Hall, they filed within feet of Charles’ open casket, where he lay in black tuxedo and his familiar wraparound sunglasses. Nearby, one of the singer’s ornate concert coats was folded over the bench of his piano. Three portraits of the smiling singer were suspended overhead, and his music echoed in the breezeway between the convention center and Staples Center.

The lighted sign outside flashing “Ray Charles Viewing” and the simultaneous registration at the center for an erotica convention struck some as odd. But mourners praised the gesture of the day, a sharing of the singer with the fans who treasured his music and messages.

“He was an outstanding individual, and people who came here will always remember it,” said Charles Peters of Torrance.

The public life of Charles was long and rich, and a good number of the mourners who attended Thursday had attended his concerts, met him or even worked with him. Among them was Andrew Muhammad, who was 26 when he joined Charles on a 1968 tour of the U.S. as one of the opening acts, the Five Dutones.

“I was just a young sprite at the time,” said Muhammad, who was known then as Andy Butler. “I was just so excited to be on tour with Ray Charles.... He was always full of a lot of energy,” he added with a chuckle.

Today’s invitation-only services are scheduled to include presentations by Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and others. The service will be broadcast live on KCRW-FM (89.9). Fans at the viewing said they longed to attend today’s event, not just for its speakers, but also for one more chance to say goodbye.

“I came here to honor him,” said Doris Ewing, 77, wiping tears as she left the hall. Ewing had been in line for about three hours. “I’ve danced to his music, played it and sung to it. He put so much joy and happiness into his work. There will never be another one like him.”