A case of mistaken identity at the Iron Lady's funeral

Mangosuthu Buthelezi

Ray Charles

The social networks were abuzz yesterday of the attendance of the late blind singer Ray Charles at former Britain prime minister Margaret Thatcher's funeral in Britain. While the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, gave his sermon, cameras suddenly turned to "a dapper-looking Ray Charles", The Times newspaper reported. When viewers saw this, they took to Twitter. Unfortunately for them, it wasn't Ray Charles , but instead South Africa's Inkatha Freedom Party leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi! Big oops!!! Seriously, if the world press knew anything of music, they would have known that Ray Charles 'Robinson' died 10 June 2004. Ray, of course, was a pioneer in the soul genre during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues. He is also known for helping to racially integrate country and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover music. The influences upon his music were mainly jazz, blues, rhythm and blues and country artists of the day such as Art Tatum, Nat King Cole, Louis Jordan, Charles Brown, Louis Armstrong. His playing reflected influences from country blues, barrelhouse and stride piano styles.