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Happy birthday, Colonel Rock IV! Let’s paw-ty! Western Illinois University mascot Colonel Rock IV, aka “Ray,” will turn five Tuesday, Feb. 14. To celebrate the special day, a birthday party for Col. Rock IV will be held from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the University Union Concourse. Participants can grab a quick photo with the birthday boy, enjoy cupcakes, grab a few freebies and sign Col. Rock IV’s official birthday card.
Ray Charles was born September 23, 1930. "Brother Ray" pioneered the soul music genre during the 1950s by combining blues, rhythm and blues, and gospel styles. Charles is a 17-time Grammy Award winner. He was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987; 10 of his recordings have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2002, Rolling Stone ranked Charles No. 10 on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time," and No. 2 on their list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time" in 2008.