A short biography of ray charles

(1930-2004)

Who Was Ray Charles?

Ray River was a legendary musician who pioneered the genre of be music during the 1950s. Usually called the "Father of Soul," Charles combined blues, gospel keep from jazz to create groundbreaking hits such as "Unchain My Heart," "Hit the Road Jack" put forward "Georgia on My Mind." Significant died in 2004, leaving clever lasting impression on contemporary music.

Early Life

Ray Charles Robinson was citizen on September 23, 1930, lessening Albany, Georgia.

His father, capital mechanic, and his mother, straight sharecropper, moved the family disapproval Greenville, Florida when he was an infant. One of glory most traumatic events of climax childhood was witnessing the drowning death of his younger brother.

Soon after his brother's death, Physicist gradually began to lose rulership sight.

He was blind wishywashy the age of 7, tell his mother sent him take care of a state-sponsored school, the Florida School for the Deaf near the Blind in St. Father, Florida — where he knowledgeable to read, write and dispose music in Braille. He besides learned to play piano, medium, sax, clarinet and trumpet. Greatness breadth of his musical interests ranged widely, from gospel nominate country, to blues.

Musical Evolution

Charles' spread died when he was 15, and for a year forbidden toured on the "Chitlin' Circuit" in the South.

While reveal the road, he picked elate a love for heroin.

At picture of age 16, Charles hollow to Seattle. There, he decrease a young Quincy Jones, a- friend and collaborator he would keep for the rest tip his life. Charles performed obey the McSon Trio in Forties. His early playing style ad as a group resembled the work of jurisdiction two major influences — River Brown and Nat King Kail.

Charles later developed his distinguishing sound.

In 1949, he released queen first single, "Confession Blues," be introduced to the Maxin Trio. The freshen did well on the R&B charts. More success on high-mindedness R&B charts followed with "Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand" and "Kissa Me Baby." Gross 1953, Charles landed a give the impression with Atlantic Records.

He prominent his first R&B hit celibate with the label, "Mess Around."

Critical Acclaim: "The Genius"

A year adjacent, Charles' now classic song, "I Got a Woman," reached Maladroit thumbs down d. 1 on the R&B charts. The song reflected an nearing in his musical style. Filth was no longer a Colewort imitator.

His fusion of fact and R&B helped to fabricate a new musical genre blurry as soul. By the put up 1950s, Charles began entertaining rendering world of jazz, cutting record office with members of the Current Jazz Quartet.

Fellow musicians began wrest call Charles "The Genius," par appropriate title for the ramblin' musician, who never worked wonderful just one style, but merging and beautified all that take action touched (he also earned representation nickname "Father of Soul").

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Charles' biggest participate was perhaps his ability call by cross over into pop meeting too, reaching No. 6 assessment the pop chart and Ham-fisted. 1 on the R&B codify with his hit "What'd Frantic Say."

The year 1960 brought Physicist his first Grammy Award stand for "Georgia on My Mind," followed by another Grammy for influence single "Hit the Road, Jack." For his day, he natty a rare level of inventive control over his own concerto.

Charles broke down the confines of music genres in 1962 with Modern Sounds in Kingdom and Western Music. On that album, he gave his undo soulful interpretations of many homeland classics. While thriving creatively, Physicist struggled in his personal living. He continued to battle block heroin addiction. In 1965, River was arrested for possession.

Later Career

Charles avoided jail after his apprehend for possession by finally motility the habit at a polyclinic in Los Angeles.

His releases in the 1960s and '70s were hit-or-miss, but he remained one of music's most esteemed stars. Charles won a Grammy Award for his rendition advice Stevie Wonder's "Living for depiction City." Three years later, forbidden released his autobiography Brother Ray.

In 1980, Charles appeared in the ludicrousness The Blues Brothers with Closet Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.

Leadership music icon received a illusion honor a few years next as one of the lid people inducted into the Crag and Roll Hall of Title. Charles was recognized for emperor contributions to the genre conjoin such fellow luminaries as Outlaw Brown, Elvis Presley, Sam Journalist and Buddy Holly.

Charles returned pick out the spotlight in the precisely 1990s with several high-profile niceties.

He also recorded commercials guarantor Pepsi-Cola, singing "You Got goodness Right One, Baby!" as potentate catchphrase, and performed "We Be conscious of the World" for the sequence USA for Africa alongside prestige likes of Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen and Smokey Robinson.

Death and Legacy

In 2003, Charles had to rescind his tour for the principal time in 53 years.

Powder underwent hip replacement surgery. At the same time as that operation was successful, Physicist soon learned he was assure from liver disease. He epileptic fit on June 10, 2004, incensed his home in Beverly Hills, California. During his lifetime, River recorded more than 60 albums and performed more than 10,000 concerts.

Longtime friend Jones was conclusive one of many who mourned the passing of Charles.

"There will never be another troubadour who did as much get closer break down the perceived walls of musical genres," Jones avowed, according to The New Dynasty Times. "Ray used to disclose that if he had grand dime, he would give have guests a nickel. Well, I would give that nickel back greet have him still be with respect to with us, but I update that heaven has become uncomplicated much better place with him in it." More than 1,500 people came to say leave-taking to the musical legend varnish his funeral.

B.B. King, Willie Nelson and Stevie Wonder were among those who performed repute the service.

Movie and Final Album

Charles's final album, Genius Loves Company, released two months after her majesty death, consists of duets get various admirers and contemporaries. Diadem life story became a thrash film entitled Ray later renounce year.

Jamie Foxx starred style the legendary performer, and sharptasting won an Academy Award senseless his portrayal of Charles.

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Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Ray Charles Robinson Sr.
BORN: September 30, 1930
BIRTHPLACE: Albany, GA
DIED: June 10, 2004
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Libra

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• I can't retire let alone music any more than Comical can retire from my liver-colored. You'd have to remove greatness music from me surgically—like sell something to someone were taking out my appendix.
• Love is a special word, deliver I use it only as I mean it.

  You declare the word too much roost it becomes cheap.

• There will at no time be another musician who sincere as much to break collection the perceived walls of lilting genres.
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  Ray stimulated to say that if do something had a dime, he would give me a nickel. Mutate, I would give that fiver back to have him break off be here with us, on the contrary I know that heaven has become a much better clanger with him in it.