While living in Atlanta for 15 years, I became a big fan of Ray Charles� famous song �Georgia on my Mind.� Concord Records recently released his newest collection entitled Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters , an incredible collection of newly discovered Ray Charles recordings. The hit album was produced by John Burk, who gave us Genius Loves Company, Charles� 2004 Grammy award winning last album.

Ray would have turned 80 this year, so I thought it would be fitting to hold a contest in his honor, awarding the winner a copy of this outstanding CD.

To enter the contest, simply answer the 5 questions in the Bella Online forum. Be the first to respond correctly and you win! The free CD is being provided by Concord Records.

This contest is open to anyone living in the US who is aged 18 or older. Only posts that are unedited will be accepted as answers. Prize will be shipped to the winner at no cost to the winner. The prize is worth $18.95. For complete rules, please visitBellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!

Question #1: When was Ray Charles' birthday?

Ray Charles was born on the 23rd of September 1930.

" It was the <twenty> third of September that day I'll always remember..."

That's right! Is that your birthday too? So far "Beetlemess" is in the lead with 1 point! Don't worry, we still have 4 more questions to go. And they're all easy sneazy questions....like this one:

Question number 2:
What is Ray Charles' full birth name?

Ray Charles Robinson

<Sorry, my birthday is a month + 1 day later & just a few years. When I researched the birthdate, with a 3 & September, it just seemed so familiar. I played with the lyrics from the song 'Papa was a Rollng Stone' by The Temptations in the previous entry.>

Yep! Right again! Ok, so far you're the only one playing! What's up with that? This prize is awesome!

Easy questions so far, eh?
Question #3: What year did ABC-Paramount record Ray Charles' famous "Georgia on My Mind", which later became the official song of the state of Georgia (where I lived for 15 years)?

1960: was proclaimed the Georgia state song in April 1979 and the B-side of the 45rpm was "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny"

Right again! Woohoo!
Ok, the next question is super easy....
What was Ray Charles' wife's name?

Mrs. Ray Charles ... right?

First marriage to Eileen Williams; second to Della Beatrice Howard Robinson

Oooooh, you're good!
Ok, here's the last question. This one is a little bit harder. Since you have absolutely zero competition in this little contest...

Where is a bronze bust of Ray Charles enshrined? You might be surprised by the answer...

VERY BUNNY!

PB HoF

Thanks, Hugh...

Wow! You're amazing! You got it! Woohoo!
Congratulations! You were the first (and only) person to answer all 5 questions correctly! That's terrific!

You win the new Ray Charles CD entitled "The Undiscovered Masters: Ray Rare Genius"! I think you're really going to get a kick out of it. Be sure to read the review article on this album at: www.bellaonline.com/articles/art48424.asp

Please email me your mailing address where you would like me to send your prize at this link: www.bellaonline.com/about/EntertainmentNews

Thanks for playing!

Address sent. Hope it went through.

Was a learning experience to research the various questions. Thanks!