Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004),
known professionally as Ray Charles, was an American singer-songwriter,
musician, and composer. Among friends and fellow musicians he preferred being
called "Brother Ray." He was often referred to as "The
Genius." Charles was blind from the age of 
seven.
seven.
Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23, 1930, in
Albany, Georgia. His father, a mechanic, and his mother, a sharecropper, moved
the family to Greenville, Florida when he was an infant. One of the most
traumatic events of his childhood was witnessing the drowning death of his
younger brother.
Soon after his brother's death, Charles gradually began to
lose his sight. He was blind by the age of 7, and his mother sent him to a
state-sponsored school, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St.
Augustine, Florida—where he learned to read, write and arrange music in
Braille. He also learned to play piano, organ, sax, clarinet and trumpet. The
breadth of his musical interests ranged widely, from gospel to country, to
blues.
Charles's mother died when he was 15, and for a year he
toured on the "Chitlin' Circuit" in the South. While on the road, he
picked up a love for heroin.
At the of age 16, Charles moved to Seattle. There, he met a
young Quincy Jones, a friend and collaborator he would keep for the rest of his
life. Charles performed with the McSon Trio in 1940s. His early playing style
closely resembled the work of his two major influences—Charles Brown and Nat
King Cole. Charles later developed his distinctive sound.
In 1949, he released his first single, "Confession
Blues," with the Maxin Trio. The song did well on the R&B charts. More
success on the R&B charts followed with "Baby Let Me Hold Your
Hand" and "Kissa Me Baby." By 1953, Charles landed a deal with
Atlantic 
Records. He celebrated his first R&B hit single with the label,
"Mess Around."
Records. He celebrated his first R&B hit single with the label,
"Mess Around."
A year later, Charles's now classic song, "I Got a
Woman," reached No. 1 on the R&B charts. The song reflected an advance
in his musical style. He was no longer a Nat King Cole imitator. His fusion of
gospel and R&B helped to create a new musical genre known as soul. By the
late 1950s, Charles began entertaining the world of jazz, cutting records with
members of the Modern Jazz Quartet.
Fellow musicians began to call Charles "The
Genius," an appropriate title for the ramblin' musician, who never worked
in just one style, but blended and beautified all that he touched (he also
earned the nickname "Father of Soul"). Charles's biggest success was
perhaps his ability to cross over into pop music too, reaching No. 6 on the pop
chart and No. 1 on the R&B chart with his hit "What'd I Say."
The year 1960 brought Charles his first Grammy Award for
"Georgia on My Mind," followed by another Grammy for the single
"Hit the Road, Jack." For his day, he maintained a rare level 
of
creative control over his own music. Charles broke down the boundaries of music
genres in 1962 with Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. On this album,
he gave his own soulful interpretations of many country classics. While
thriving creatively, Charles struggled in his personal life. He continued to
battle with heroin addiction. In 1965, Charles was arrested for possession.
of
creative control over his own music. Charles broke down the boundaries of music
genres in 1962 with Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. On this album,
he gave his own soulful interpretations of many country classics. While
thriving creatively, Charles struggled in his personal life. He continued to
battle with heroin addiction. In 1965, Charles was arrested for possession.
Charles avoided jail after his arrest for possession by
finally kicking the habit at a clinic in Los Angeles. His releases in the 1960s
and '70s were hit-or-miss, but he remained one of music's most respected stars.
Charles won a Grammy Award for his rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Living
for the City." Three years later, he released his autobiography Brother
Ray.
In 1980, Charles appeared in the comedy The Blues Brothers
with 
John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. The music icon received a special honour a
few years later as one of the first people inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame.
John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. The music icon received a special honour a
few years later as one of the first people inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame.
Charles returned to
the spotlight in the early 1990s with several high-profile appearances. He also
recorded commercials for Pepsi-Cola, singing "You Got the Right One,
Baby!" as his catchphrase, and performed "We Are the World" for
the organization USA for Africa alongside the likes of Billy Joel, Diana Ross,
Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen and Smokey Robinson.
In 2003, Charles had to cancel his tour for the first time
in 53 years. He underwent hip replacement surgery. While that operation was
successful, Charles soon learned he was suffering from liver disease. He died
on June 10, 2004, at his home in Beverly Hills, California. During his
lifetime, Charles recorded more than 60 albums and performed more than 10,000
concerts.
(Compiled mainly from biography.com)
