Andy Lakey Charity Site [ Andrew Lakey.org ]

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In March 1990, Ray Charles became the second collector of Andy Lakey's paintings and artwork. Like nearly all of Lakey’s work, the painting has a raised surface, textured with many layers of acrylic paint. The late singer/songwriter Charles, shown above with his painting Toxogon 2 Hundred Million B.C., spent over one hour with the artist, exploring the canvas with his fingertips.

Ray Charles and Andrew (Andy) Lakey, March 1990

“I will always remember
Ray Charles for the help and encouragement he has given
me across my career as an artist.
God bless him for all of his appreciation and his support.” –Andy Lakey

In 2010, Andy Lakey contributed the foreword to the Ray Charles biography, "You Don't Know Me: Reflections of My Father, Ray Charles," by Ray Charles (Jr.) Robinson and Mary Jane Ross, which won the NAACP Image Award for 2011 (Outstanding Literary Work, Biography). Lakey further credited Charles’ influence upon his early career, writing, “I had developed a relief style of painting and Ray Charles was fascinated with the textural surface of the canvas and artwork he could feel with his fingertips. It was ironic that a blind man would take to my work - using senses other than sight. Ray Charles responded to my paintings with insights that were astonishing.”