ABSTRACT
America’s Bicentennial. In February ice skaters on the U.S. team danced to his “Amer-
ica” at the Olympics, televised to wide acclaim. This was the first sign that the dud of
might have a life of its own. Ray instantly re-released the single and decided to fea-
ture “America” in his stage act. In March he won a Grammy, his tenth, for “Living for
the City,” proof that the industry, if not the public, was listening to his new work.