I attended one of his concerts in NYC in the 60's.
He had been arrested for heroin possession when he disembarked from his plane.
The police allowed him to give the concert, and when it was completed they walked on stage and arrested him.
He gave a wonderful performance, and my only thought was, "Why can't they just leave him alone?"
I bought my parents tickets to a Ray Charles concert for their anniversary. My Dad could do a better Ray Charles impersonation than Ray Charles could, if you know what I mean. He was in tears when I handed him the tickets. The concert was canceled. Of course I don't blame Ray, as a former professional musician myself I know he'd have loved to do the gig. It's the damn managers...
Thank you, Ray Charles' managers in 1982, for ruining my parents' anniversary.