Ray Charles Plaza

Bronze statue of the soul legend born in Albany, with live music from the pedestal

Ray Charles Plaza stands on the bank of the Flint River at Front Street, a tribute to the soul and R&B pioneer who was born in Albany in 1930. Sculptor Andy Davis created the life-size bronze of Charles seated at a baby grand piano, the pedestal shaped with piano keys underfoot and bench seats in the form of musical notes. At intervals, the music plays from the statue and lights illuminate the riverside at night.

The plaza is more than a tourist stop — it anchors Albany's claim to a real piece of American music history. Charles lost his sight entirely by the age of seven and was sent to school in St. Augustine, Florida, eventually building one of the most influential careers in popular music. He had little visible connection to Albany during his lifetime, which makes the memorial's warmth and scale all the more striking.

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Ray Charles Robinson was born in Albany in 1930 but left as a child and had little public connection to the city during his lifetime. After his death in 2004, Albany commissioned this memorial — a life-size bronze of Charles at his grand piano, set on a rotating pedestal that plays his music at timed intervals. "Georgia on My Mind," which he made the state's official song, plays here on the banks of the Flint River.