November 10, 2004 RAY CHARLES EXHIBIT TO BE CENTER STAGE AT ROCK HALL OF FAME Exhibit opens to the public on Dec. 1 For Approx. Six Months and Will Feature Music Legend's Mementos, Awards, On Their First Trip Outside His Revered L.A. Studios Ray Charles, the music legend, never thought he'd end up in a museum. He was a man of the moment, but now, in an exhibit set to open December 1 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland (www.rockhall.com), the public will get a closer look at one of the world's most enduring music pioneers, who died on June 10 after winning a dozen Grammy® awards and pioneering soul music among other notable achievements. "Ray Charles' legacy spanned the Soul, R&B, Blues, Pop and even Country genres. More than that, though, Ray paved the way for the musicians who followed him, he controlled his music and the business of his music, and he introduced the world to some of the most memorable tunes in the American Songbook," says Terry Stewart, CEO, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Charles, 73, was one of the Hall's original inductees and during the course of his 55-year career successfully performed in almost every genre of music, from rock to pop to gospel and country. A team of Cleveland based curators recently traveled to Charles' recording studios, now an historic landmark, in Los Angeles, to research items for the exhibit, titled "The Genius of Ray Charles," scheduled to remain on display into the summer of 2005. Other than a three-hour public showing at his studios on Aug. 31, the day his last CD, the platinum-selling "Genius Loves Company," was released, this collection of historic Charles memorabilia has never been seen by the public or left his very private Los Angeles headquarters. Among the items that visitors will see up close are the entertainer's amazing collection of awards, from all over the world; his famed stage wardrobe, meticulously designed, catalogued and coded by Charles and his manager, Joe Adams, for easy reference; a sampling of his legendary music charts, including "Georgia" and "I Can't Stop Loving You"; his original chess board (Charles was a champion player); Ray Charles Big Band music stands; selections from his Braille library; and original instruments from his 45 year-old private studios, site of his last recordings and more, plus some very rare posters and his personal saxophone. "While he was such a part of the music landscape, Ray was very private, so this is a rare and historic opportunity for all the world to experience Ray Charles and his many worlds," add Joe Adams, Charles' manager and business partner for the past 45 years.