Several events are being held to honor the life and legacy or Ray Charles in this year that marks the 80th anniversary of his birth, on September 23, 1930.

In April of this year, Concord Records released “Genius + Soul = Jazz,” a deluxe two-CD set that borrows its title from Charles groundbreaking 1961 jazz album.  The new set combines digitally remastered versions of its namesake plus Charles’ three additional jazz albums:  “My Kind Of Jazz,” “Jazz Number II” and “My Kind Of Jazz Part 3.”

Global interest in Ray Charles was evident when Billboard Magazine recently featured several articles in tribute to Ray Charles and his 80th birthday celebration in their June 5th issue.  Editorial content was picked up by Reuters News Service and circulated around the world.

Later this year, the Ray Charles Memorial Library is slated to open.  The library will occupy the first floor of the RPM International building in Los Angeles where Charles worked and recorded since 1965.  The focus of the library is to educate school children about the life, works and accomplishments of Mr. Charles.

Another educational initiative will be the publication of a High School Curriculum for American History, 1930-2004, identified as “The Ray Charles Era.”  Teachers will be able to download the curriculum and ten Ray Charles recordings which will act as the soundtrack for each of the history lessons included in the curriculum.

The Biography Channel is currently completing a two-hour, prime-time Ray Charles documentary, titled “Ray Charles’ America” which will feature exclusive interviews and never-before-heard music from Ray Charles.  The program will be broadcast in November.

On Broadway, “Unchain My Heart: The Ray Charles Musical” will open in Spring, 2011.  The Broadway production will feature some of Charles’ most popular hits, including “Georgia On My Mind,” “I’ve Got A Woman” and “Unchain My Heart.”  With a book by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan Lori-Parks and direction by Sheldon Epps, the musical is being presented by Stuart Benjamin, who produced the award-winning biopic “Ray.”