Tampa Puts Up Central Avenue Music Marker on Ray Charles’ 95th Birthday

A new historical marker now stands in Tampa, marking the spot where music shaped a community. The city unveiled it yesterday, coinciding with what would have been Ray Charles' 95th birthday.

"Central Avenue was the heartbeat of a community and the birthplace of a sound that carried far beyond Tampa," Mayor Jane Castor said in a statement, per WTSP.com. "This marker reminds us that greatness doesn't just come from the big stages. It begins right here in our neighborhoods."

Standing between Kid Mason Center and Greater Bethel Baptist Church on North Jefferson Street, the Music Legends of Central Avenue marker tells a powerful story. It marks the spot where African American music and commerce thrived in the mid-1900s.

Back in 1947, a young Ray Charles crafted his first tune, "I Found My Baby There," near these streets. This area belonged to the Chitlin Circuit, vital performance spots for Black artists during segregation's dark days.

Stars lit up the night along Central Avenue. Music giants Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday took the stage here, where Tampa's African American community gathered and grew strong.

The dedication brought city leaders and neighbors together. Three key figures attended: Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen Myers joined Tampa City Council members Charlie Miranda and Guido Maniscalco.

The event drew other notable speakers too. Jennifer Dietz, who chairs the Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council, shared the stage with County Historian Rodney Kite-Powell and Ocea Wynn from Tampa's Neighborhood Affairs office.

At the corner where North Jefferson meets Central Avenue, this bronze marker now tells an important story. It stands as proof of the music that once filled these streets: a permanent reminder of the sounds that shaped Tampa.