Albany is a small town in lower Georgia that is the 9th largest city in the state(by population) according to 2012 reports. One of its most notable native sons is singer/songwriter Ray Charles Robinson(bet ya didn’t know Charles was NOT his last name). — — — — – — - — - Ray Charles is one of thee most recognizable artists in our countries history, so much so that he was ranked number ten on Rolling Stones Greatest Artists of all time and number two on its Greatest Singers. His achievements have been many, but in Georgia, he is beloved and immortalized by having«Georgia on my Mind» as our official state song: It plays at many state run events and also during the laser show @ Stone Mountain. Albany has been going through a revitalization of its Downtown and a great deal of sprucing up has been done along the Flint River. It offers a variety of things to see and things to do starting at the Flint RiverQuarium all the way down to the Albany Arch on Oglethorpe Blvd. This quarter mile stroll along the river is called Riverfront Park. Located here is Albany’s Welcome Center a.k.a the Historic Bridge House built in 1858 by former slave Horace King. Horace is probably not known by most Americans, and it’s a real tragedy because his story is one for the books. I highlighted some of it in my Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge review:
THERAYCHARLESPLAZA is well done! I love the beauty of it and how Ray playing on his piano is the centerpiece surrounded by a walking trail designed to look like a piano keyboard. If you look closely you will also notice musical notes scattered about. His music also plays over speakers hidden throughout the park. — — — — – — - — - THEVERDICT As an African-American father, it’s part of my duty to show my children prominent figures that are not really mentioned in their school education. Bringing them to Riverfront Park allows me to build some appreciation of the heritage of blacks in our country. Ray Charles Plaza and The Bridge House provide a great opportunity for stories of both struggle and triumph no matter if you were enslaved or blind. You can achieve and overcome any obstacle, so for me this is not just another celebrity sculpture… it’s a teaching tool.
