U.S. honors Ray Charles with limited-edition stamp

Published : Sept 24, 2013 - 20:25 Updated : Sept 24, 2013 - 20:27

A stamp featuring musician Ray Charles is unveiled as singer Ashanti performs at the event at Morehouse College in Atlanta on Monday. (AP-Yonhap News)

ATLANTA (AP) ― The U.S. Postal Service is planning to add soul singer Ray Charles to its “Music Icons Forever” stamp series.

Postal officials say the agency is releasing a stamp featuring the Albany, Georgia, native on Monday along with one of the artist’s previously unreleased songs.

Charles was a singer and songwriter who pioneered the soul and rhythm and blues genres. He died in 2004.

Events are being planned in Atlanta and Los Angeles to celebrate Charles’ inclusion in the series.

R&B singer Ashanti and the Morehouse College Glee Club are scheduled to perform at the Atlanta school’s Ray Charles Performing Arts Center. And Chaka Khan is headlining an event at the Grammy Museum.

The U.S. Postal Service honors music legends each year by featuring them on limited-edition stamps.