Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23, 1930 in Albany. Georgia. Frank Sinatra once called him “the only genius in the business.” He overcame blindness to become an incredibly successful musician and an award winning composer. However he was not born blind, he started to lose his sight at five years of age and by the time he turned seven he was completely blind. He attended school at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine, Florida, where he learned how to read Braille, as well as write music and play various musical instruments. His first hit record came in 1951 with “Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand”. His career kicked into high gear after he signed with Atlantic Records. His music was really gospel songs converted to with secular lyrics. He continued to develop many hits throughout his career including, “America The Beautiful”, “Georgia On My Mind”, “Mess Around” and “What’d I Say”. On June 10, 2004 Ray Charles died at age 73 of liver disease. The biographical film about his life was released a few months later. Charles was honored many times before he passed. In 1981, he was given a star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame and he was one of the first inductees to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at its inaugural ceremony in 1986. In 1991, he was inducted to the Rhythm & Blues Foundation and in 1994 he was inducted to the Jazz Hall of Fame.

Isabel Sanford (August 29, 1917 – July 9, 2004)
Isabel Sanford was an American actress most famous for her role as Louise "Weezie" Jefferson on the sitcom The Jeffersons, which aired from 1975-1985. Sanford made her film debut in the 1967 film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, playing the critically acclaimed role of the maid Tillie Binks. She was the first black woman to win a Lead Actress Emmy; she won an award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1981 for her role on The Jeffersons and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Ol' Dirty Bastard
Russell Tyrone Jones a.k.a Ol’ Dirty Bastard was known more for his trouble with the law and his crazy antics than for his music. Jones along with two cousins founded the Wu-Tang Clan in 1992. The cousins RZA and GZA added 6 more members to the group and in 1993 the Clan released their first album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Ol’ Dirty Bastard often stood out among the other members of the group because of his bizarre style and his hilarious raps. In 1995 he was the second member of the Clan to release a solo album (Method Man). The album featured hit singles “Brooklyn Zoo” and “Shimmy Shimmy Ya.” The mid-90’s were plagued with legal battles. He was arrested over five times for various charges including drug possession and child support payments. He released his second album in 1999 but that didn’t stop his legal issues. In 2003 after his final release from prison Ol’ Dirty Bastard changed his name to Dirt McGirt and signed with Roc-A-Fella Records. While under house arrest he recorded songs for his album but in 2004 just two days before his 36th birthday he collapsed in the Wu Tang Clan studio. You may also remember him for his outburst at the 1996 Grammy’s where he rushed on stage complaining about his loss in the Best Rap Album category. He was escorted off stage but not before saying that he had purchased a new outfit in anticipation of winning and that although Puff Daddy is good, Wu Tang is better. He wasn’t always in the bad light though. He also witnessed a car accident outside his window and then assembled a group of men to help lift the Ford mustangof of a 4-year old girl.