US honors Ray Charles with limited-edition stamp

Associated Press
In this undated photo provided by the The U.S. Postal Service, a new Postal Service stamp honoring musician Ray Charles is shown. The stamp is part of the Music Icons series of stamps. The stamp is to be unveiled in Atlanta. (AP Photo/The U.S. Postal Service)

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, Ga., 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.