Ray Charles - Singers, Life Achievements and Life
Ray Charles's Personal Details
Ray Charles was a popular American singer, songwriter and was the discoverer of soul music
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | September 23, 1930 |
| Died on | June 10, 2004 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | African American Singers, Black Musicians, Black Singers, School Dropouts, Musicians, Singers, Rhythm & Blues Singers, Composers, Singers |
| City/State | Georgia |
| Spouses | Della Beatrice Howard, Elieen Williams |
| Siblings | George |
| Known as | Ray Charles Robinson |
| Childrens | Jr., Ray Charles Robinson |
| Universities |
|
| Founder / Co-Founder |
|
| Birth Place | Albany |
| Diseases Disabilities | Visual Impairment |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Bailey Robinson |
| Mother | Aretha |
| Sun Sign | Virgo |
| Born in | Albany |
| Famous as | Singer and Composer |
| Died at Age | 73 |
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Ray Charles's photo
Who is Ray Charles?
Ray Charles was the forerunner of soul music, assimilating other genres like gospel, pop, R&B and country to create a new form of music, that went on to produce hits like ‘Hit the Road Jack’, ‘Georgia On My Mind’ and ‘Unchain My Heart’. Considered the ‘Father of Soul Music’, Ray Charles left an indelible impression in the world of music that is still prevalent and enduring even after his death. Best-known for his secular lyrics and his popular jazz arrangements in music, his works were largely improvisational. Over his career that spanned nearly five decades, he inspired a number of other musicians and singer/songwriters. What made him an even bigger international star was the fact that he did not let his visual impairment get in the way of his music, his personal life and his career. He was a man who loved to shoulder responsibilities and was extremely friendly with his peers and other musicians. He is now remembered for his pleasing, amicable personality and is considered one of the ‘Godfathers’ of soul music. From ‘Confession Blues’ to ‘What’d I Say’, his songs went on to chart some of the most popular international countdowns and continue to reverberate in the world of music today. Scroll further for more.
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Childhood & Early Life
Ray Charles Robinson was born to Aretha and Bailey Robinson in Albany, Georgia.
He was diagnosed with glaucoma at a very young age and by the age of seven he had become completely blind. He studied at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind from 1937 to 1945, during which time, he honed his musical skills.
By the time he was 15 years old, both his parents were dead and he was orphaned, but he did not let these personal losses deter him from pursuing a musical career.
In school, he had shown great interest in learning jazz and blues music as he was taught only classical music. He later worked as a register boy under the direction of a girl at a drug store, in Tallahassee.
He joined a number of local bands at Tallahassee, which further heightened his interest in music such as the ‘Florida A&M University Student Band’ and the ‘Adderley Brothers’. He was soon noticed for his musical talent and he began performing in a number of clubs and was even invited for the Governor’s Ball.
Career
He moved to Seattle in 1947 and became a member of the ‘Maxin Trio’ along with Milton Garrett and G.D. McKee. The trio recorded their first song together under the ‘Down Beat Label’ titled, ‘Confession Blues’. The song went on to become an R&B hit.
In 1951, he signed a deal with ‘Swing Time Records’ and recorded another hit single, ‘Let Me Hold Your Hand’ followed by ‘Kissa Me Baby’ the subsequent year. After the success of these two singles, he was signed on by Atlantic Records.
His first hit with Atlantic Records came in 1953 when he recorded, ‘Mess Around’. He then recorded a number of other singles including ‘It Should Have Been Me’ and ‘Don’t You Know’.
In 1954, he recorded his own composition, ‘I Got a Woman’ and the song went on to become his first No. 1 hit the next year, which got him noticed nationally. He continued to record singles like, ‘This Little Girl of Mine’, ‘Drown in my Own Tears’, ‘Lonely Avenue’ and ‘The Night Time (Is the Right Time)’.
In 1956, he formed his own ‘female-singing group’ called ‘Cookies’ who later came to be known as ‘The Raelettes’.
In 1957, he released his debut album with Atlantic Records which was a self-titled album. The same year, he released the instrumental album, ‘The Great Ray Charles’.
He touched the zenith of success after he released the single, ‘What’d I Say’, in 1959, which was released in two parts. The song became a huge hit because he finally broke into crossover mainstream pop music. Later, the same year, he released his first cover of a country song, ‘Movin’ On’.
He recorded a live album in 1960 titled, ‘Ray Charles in Prison’. The same year, he produced the hit single ‘Georgia on my Mind’ in his hit concept album, ‘The Genius Hits the Road’. It was during this time, he signed a lucrative deal with ABC-Paramount Records.
In 1960, he also recorded one of his most popular singles, ‘Hit the Road Jack’ with the ‘Raelettes’ vocalist, Margie Hendricks. It topped all R&B charts and is currently considered one of his greatest works.
This was followed by three more albums in 1961 titled, ‘The Genius Sings in the Blues’, ‘Soul Meeting’ and ‘The Genius After Hours’.
By 1962, Ray Charles had considerable influence over the world of music considering he was one of the few black artists at the time who managed to earn such rapid popularity.
In that year, he recorded the album, ‘Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music’ and its sequel, ‘Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume Two’. That year, he also founded his own record label, ‘Tangerine Records’.
From 1963 to 1968, he released a string of albums were not as successful due to the advent of psychedelic rock, which decreased his appeal. These included ‘Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul’, ‘Sweet & Sour Tears’, ‘Have a Smile with Me’, ‘Crying Time’, ‘Ray’s Moods’ and ‘A Portrait of Ray’.
Nonetheless, he actively continued to record songs and released the 1972 album, ‘Message from the People’, which included the hit, ‘America the Beautiful’. Two years later, he left ABC Records.
He re-signed to Atlantic Records in 1977 and recorded, ‘True to Life’. The same year, he appeared in an episode of ‘Saturday Night Live’. Two years later ‘Georgia on My Mind’ was proclaimed the song of Georgia.
In 1980, he appeared in the film, ‘The Blues Brothers’. Three years later, he signed a record deal with Columbia Records and began to record a string of country hits with musicians like B.J. Thomas, George Jones and Chet Atkins.
In 1984, he recorded the single ‘Seven Spanish Angels’ which would go on to become his most popular country single. The next year, he was seen performing at Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration.
In 1991, his catch-phrase, ‘You Got the Right One, Baby’ would make him an international star in the Diet Pepsi commercials. Two years later, he performed for the inauguration of Bill Clinton.
He was seen in four episodes of the popular TV series, ‘The Nanny’ from 1997 to 1998. In the new millennium, he appeared in a number of commercials for the ‘New Jersey Lottery’.
In 2002, he released the album, ‘Thanks for Bringing Love Around Again’, followed by ‘Ray Charles Celebrates a Gospel Christmas with the Voices of Jubilation’ and ‘Live at Olympia 2000’, two years later .
He made his last public appearance during the dedication of his music atelier as a significant landmark in Los Angeles on April 30, 2004.
Major Works
‘Georgia on my Mind’ is a single that was released for his 1960 album, ‘The Genius Hits the Road’. After this record was released, it became extremely successful and was covered by a number of artistes including Billie Holiday, Coldplay and Van Morrison to name a few. The song also became the state song of Georgia in 1979.
‘Hit the Road Jack’, another one of his singles released in 1960 went on to become one of his greatest works. It stayed at the No. 1 position for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and also earned him a Grammy Award. The song is regarded as one of ‘The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time’ by the ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine.
Awards & Achievements
In 1987, he was presented the ‘Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award’.
In 1991, he was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Foundation.
He was honored with the National Medal of Arts in 1993.
He was inducted into the National Black Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2004.
The Grammy Awards in 2005 were all dedicated to Ray Charles.
Personal Life & Legacy
He married Eileen Williams in 1951 but divorced her the following year.
In 1955, he married Della Beatrice Howard Robinson. The marriage lasted for two decades.
Apart from his two marriages, he was in a relationship with Norma Pinella, who stayed with him until his death. He had 12 children in total with ten different women.
In 1961, he was arrested after marijuana, heroin and other drugs were seized from his room. He was addicted to drugs during his lifetime and he responded to this addiction in comeback songs like ‘I Don’t Need No Doctor’ and ‘Let’s Go Get Stoned’.
Apart from music, he liked playing chess.
He passed away due to liver failure in his Beverly Hills home in California. He was buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery. After his death, two of his posthumous albums, ‘Genius & Friends’ and ‘Ray Sings, Basie Swings’ were released.
In 2004, a biopic was made on his life titled ‘Ray’. Three years later, the ‘Ray Charles Plaza’ was opened in Albany, Georgia.
Trivia
The ‘Father of Soul Music’ used his visual disability in his favor and turned it into a fashionable statement. He was always seen wearing his trademark black sunglasses.
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Ray Charles's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Grammy Awards | ||
| 2005 | Record of the Year | Winner |
| 2005 | Album of the Year | Winner |
| 2005 | Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals | Winner |
| 2005 | Best Pop Vocal Album | Winner |
Ray Charles biography timelines
- // 23rd Sep 1930Ray Charles Robinson was born to Aretha and Bailey Robinson in Albany, Georgia.
- // 1937 To 1945He was diagnosed with glaucoma at a very young age and by the age of seven he had become completely blind. He studied at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind from 1937 to 1945, during which time, he honed his musical skills.
- // 1947He moved to Seattle in 1947 and became a member of the ‘Maxin Trio’ along with Milton Garrett and G.D. McKee. The trio recorded their first song together under the ‘Down Beat Label’ titled, ‘Confession Blues’. The song went on to become an R&B hit.
- // 1951In 1951, he signed a deal with ‘Swing Time Records’ and recorded another hit single, ‘Let Me Hold Your Hand’ followed by ‘Kissa Me Baby’ the subsequent year. After the success of these two singles, he was signed on by Atlantic Records.
- // 1951He married Eileen Williams in 1951 but divorced her the following year.
- // 1953His first hit with Atlantic Records came in 1953 when he recorded, ‘Mess Around’. He then recorded a number of other singles including ‘It Should Have Been Me’ and ‘Don’t You Know’.
- // 1954In 1954, he recorded his own composition, ‘I Got a Woman’ and the song went on to become his first No. 1 hit the next year, which got him noticed nationally. He continued to record singles like, ‘This Little Girl of Mine’, ‘Drown in my Own Tears’, ‘Lonely Avenue’ and ‘The Night Time (Is the Right Time)’.
- // 1955In 1955, he married Della Beatrice Howard Robinson. The marriage lasted for two decades.
- // 1956In 1956, he formed his own ‘female-singing group’ called ‘Cookies’ who later came to be known as ‘The Raelettes’.
- // 1957In 1957, he released his debut album with Atlantic Records which was a self-titled album. The same year, he released the instrumental album, ‘The Great Ray Charles’.
- // 1959He touched the zenith of success after he released the single, ‘What’d I Say’, in 1959, which was released in two parts. The song became a huge hit because he finally broke into crossover mainstream pop music. Later, the same year, he released his first cover of a country song, ‘Movin’ On’.
- // 1960He recorded a live album in 1960 titled, ‘Ray Charles in Prison’. The same year, he produced the hit single ‘Georgia on my Mind’ in his hit concept album, ‘The Genius Hits the Road’. It was during this time, he signed a lucrative deal with ABC-Paramount Records.
- // 1960In 1960, he also recorded one of his most popular singles, ‘Hit the Road Jack’ with the ‘Raelettes’ vocalist, Margie Hendricks. It topped all R&B charts and is currently considered one of his greatest works.
- // 1961This was followed by three more albums in 1961 titled, ‘The Genius Sings in the Blues’, ‘Soul Meeting’ and ‘The Genius After Hours’.
- // 1962By 1962, Ray Charles had considerable influence over the world of music considering he was one of the few black artists at the time who managed to earn such rapid popularity.
- // 1963 To 1968From 1963 to 1968, he released a string of albums were not as successful due to the advent of psychedelic rock, which decreased his appeal. These included ‘Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul’, ‘Sweet & Sour Tears’, ‘Have a Smile with Me’, ‘Crying Time’, ‘Ray’s Moods’ and ‘A Portrait of Ray’.
- // 1972Nonetheless, he actively continued to record songs and released the 1972 album, ‘Message from the People’, which included the hit, ‘America the Beautiful’. Two years later, he left ABC Records.
- // 1977He re-signed to Atlantic Records in 1977 and recorded, ‘True to Life’. The same year, he appeared in an episode of ‘Saturday Night Live’. Two years later ‘Georgia on My Mind’ was proclaimed the song of Georgia.
- // 1980In 1980, he appeared in the film, ‘The Blues Brothers’. Three years later, he signed a record deal with Columbia Records and began to record a string of country hits with musicians like B.J. Thomas, George Jones and Chet Atkins.
- // 1984In 1984, he recorded the single ‘Seven Spanish Angels’ which would go on to become his most popular country single. The next year, he was seen performing at Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration.
- // 1987In 1987, he was presented the ‘Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award’.
- // 1991In 1991, his catch-phrase, ‘You Got the Right One, Baby’ would make him an international star in the Diet Pepsi commercials. Two years later, he performed for the inauguration of Bill Clinton.
- // 1991In 1991, he was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Foundation.
- // 1993He was honored with the National Medal of Arts in 1993.
- // 2002In 2002, he released the album, ‘Thanks for Bringing Love Around Again’, followed by ‘Ray Charles Celebrates a Gospel Christmas with the Voices of Jubilation’ and ‘Live at Olympia 2000’, two years later .
- // 2004He was inducted into the National Black Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2004.
- // 10th Jun 2004He passed away due to liver failure in his Beverly Hills home in California. He was buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery. After his death, two of his posthumous albums, ‘Genius & Friends’ and ‘Ray Sings, Basie Swings’ were released.
- // 2005The Grammy Awards in 2005 were all dedicated to Ray Charles.
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Ray Charles's FAQ
What is Ray Charles birthday?
Ray Charles was born at 1930-09-23
When was Ray Charles died?
Ray Charles was died at 2004-06-10
Where was Ray Charles died?
Ray Charles was died in Beverly Hills
Which age was Ray Charles died?
Ray Charles was died at age 73
Where is Ray Charles's birth place?
Ray Charles was born in Albany
What is Ray Charles nationalities?
Ray Charles's nationalities is American
Who is Ray Charles spouses?
Ray Charles's spouses is Della Beatrice Howard, Elieen Williams
Who is Ray Charles siblings?
Ray Charles's siblings is George
Who is Ray Charles childrens?
Ray Charles's childrens is Jr., Ray Charles Robinson
What was Ray Charles universities?
Ray Charles studied at Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, St. Augustine, FL
Which company or organization was founded by Ray Charles?
Ray Charles was the founder/co-founder of Tangerine Records
Who is Ray Charles's father?
Ray Charles's father is Bailey Robinson
Who is Ray Charles's mother?
Ray Charles's mother is Aretha
What is Ray Charles's sun sign?
Ray Charles is Virgo
How famous is Ray Charles?
Ray Charles is famouse as Singer and Composer