Ray Charles Live Oak

Blind since the age of six, Ray Charles studied composition and learned many instruments at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. His parents had died by his early teens, and he worked as a musician in Florida for a while before using his savings to move to Seattle in 1947. He got his first Top Ten R&B hit with "Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand" in 1951. Charles is best known as the father of soul music, and his career is regarded as a significant landmark in the world of modern music. Ray Charles died June 10, 2004.

The Ray Charles Live Oak grows in St. Augustine, Florida , at the school where the renowned musician received his education.

Did You Know?
While living in Tampa, Ray Charles played with a band called The Florida Playboys and began wearing sunglasses on stage. Ray Charles was just 17 years old when he lived and played in Tampa where he made his first three recordings.

Learn More about Ray Charles and the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind

Ray Charles Memorial, Los Angeles, CA
http://www.theraycharlesmemoriallibrary.org/

Ray Charles Childhood Home, Greenville, FL
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM79XR_RAY_CHARLES_CHILDHOOD_HOME

Florida School for the Deaf and Blind Museum, St. Augustine, FL
http://www.fsdb.k12.fl.us/about/fsdb-museum/

Proposed Ray Charles Live Oak - Sensory Garden
From 1937 to 1945, Ray Charles attended the Florida School for the Blind and Deaf in St. Augustine, Florida, where he developed his incredible musical talents. The Sensory Garden beneath this tree contains plants that don’t necessarily need to be seen to be appreciated, as they appeal to the senses of touch, smell, and taste as well.

Examples of Proposed Plants:

Chenille Plant (Acalypha hispida) - The furry red blooms on this plant are fun to touch.

Sweet Almond Bush (Aloysia virgata) - The strong sweet scent of this plant far outshines its unassuming blooms.

Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) - Brushing against this plant releases the scent of licorice, and the fuzzy flowers are interesting to touch.

Sunshine Mimosa (Mimosa strigilosa) - The feathery foliage closes at a touch, and the puffy blooms are soft under your fingers.

Mint (Mentha spp) - Mints are fragrant when crushed and safe to taste as well.

Native Ornamental Grasses - The swaying fronds of grasses rustle in the wind.