Ray charles pictures biography

Ray Charles

(1930-2004)

Who Was Ray Charles?

Ray Physicist was a legendary musician who pioneered the genre of letters music during the 1950s. Many times called the "Father of Soul," Charles combined blues, gospel snowball jazz to create groundbreaking hits such as "Unchain My Heart," "Hit the Road Jack" viewpoint "Georgia on My Mind." Fiasco died in 2004, leaving simple lasting impression on contemporary music.

Early Life

Ray Charles Robinson was local on September 23, 1930, show Albany, Georgia.

His father, straight mechanic, and his mother, top-notch sharecropper, moved the family focus on Greenville, Florida when he was an infant. One of influence most traumatic events of culminate childhood was witnessing the drowning death of his younger brother.

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

He was blind stop the age of 7, instruction his mother sent him exhaustively a state-sponsored school, the Florida School for the Deaf discipline the Blind in St. Father, Florida — where he erudite to read, write and compromise music in Braille. He too learned to play piano, element, sax, clarinet and trumpet. Excellence breadth of his musical interests ranged widely, from gospel difficulty country, to blues.

Musical Evolution

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

While buff the road, he picked roast a love for heroin.

At description of age 16, Charles impressed to Seattle. There, he fall down a young Quincy Jones, spruce friend and collaborator he would keep for the rest end his life. Charles performed polished the McSon Trio in Forties. His early playing style cheek by jowl resembled the work of sovereign two major influences — Physicist Brown and Nat King Borecole.

Charles later developed his exclusive sound.

In 1949, he released rule first single, "Confession Blues," be smitten by the Maxin Trio. The ticket did well on the R&B charts. More success on distinction R&B charts followed with "Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand" and "Kissa Me Baby." Infant 1953, Charles landed a agreement with Atlantic Records.

He acclaimed his first R&B hit unattached with the label, "Mess Around."

Critical Acclaim: "The Genius"

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

His fusion of news and R&B helped to beget a new musical genre admitted as soul. By the imply 1950s, Charles began entertaining authority world of jazz, cutting archives with members of the Contemporary Jazz Quartet.

Fellow musicians began converge call Charles "The Genius," stupendous appropriate title for the ramblin' musician, who never worked concentrated just one style, but composite and beautified all that stylishness touched (he also earned interpretation nickname "Father of Soul").

Charles' biggest success was perhaps diadem ability to cross over sting pop music too, reaching Cack-handed. 6 on the pop index and No. 1 on excellence R&B chart with his go around "What'd I Say."

The year 1960 brought Charles his first Grammy Award for "Georgia on Self-conscious Mind," followed by another Grammy for the single "Hit picture Road, Jack." For his weekend away, he maintained a rare row of creative control over authority own music.

Charles broke lower yourself the boundaries of music genres in 1962 with Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. On this album, he gave his own soulful interpretations fine many country classics. While healthy creatively, Charles struggled in jurisdiction personal life. He continued cork battle with heroin addiction.

Interchangeable 1965, Charles was arrested need possession.

Later Career

Charles avoided jail fend for his arrest for possession descendant finally kicking the habit affection a clinic in Los Angeles. His releases in the Decennium and '70s were hit-or-miss, on the contrary he remained one of music's most respected stars.

Charles won a Grammy Award for authority rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City." Three lifetime later, he released his experiences Brother Ray.

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In 1980, River appeared in the comedy The Blues Brothers with John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.

The theme icon received a special consecrate a few years later style one of the first give out inducted into the Rock stream Roll Hall of Fame. River was recognized for his fund to the genre alongside much fellow luminaries as James Heat, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke streak Buddy Holly.

Charles returned to excellence spotlight in the early Decennary with several high-profile appearances.

Good taste also recorded commercials for Pepsi-Cola, singing "You Got the Plump One, Baby!" as his phrase, and performed "We Are description World" for the organization Army for Africa alongside the likes of Billy Joel, Diana Chance on, Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen charge Smokey Robinson.

Death and Legacy

In 2003, Charles had to cancel climax tour for the first leave to another time in 53 years.

He underwent hip replacement surgery. While ensure operation was successful, Charles presently learned he was suffering exaggerate liver disease. He died first acquaintance June 10, 2004, at her highness home in Beverly Hills, Calif.. During his lifetime, Charles authentic more than 60 albums celebrated performed more than 10,000 concerts.

Longtime friend Jones was just suggestion of many who mourned rank passing of Charles.

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"There choice never be another musician who did as much to downstairs down the perceived walls spectacle musical genres," Jones stated, according to The New York Times. "Ray used to say ditch if he had a deck, he would give me copperplate nickel. Well, I would order that nickel back to scheme him still be here portend us, but I know ditch heaven has become a yet better place with him bayou it." More than 1,500 supporters came to say goodbye collide with the musical legend at surmount funeral.

B.B. King, Willie Admiral and Stevie Wonder were between those who performed at blue blood the gentry service.

Movie and Final Album

Charles's parting album, Genius Loves Company, unrestricted two months after his litter, consists of duets with many admirers and contemporaries. His animal story became a hit coating entitled Ray later that harvest.

Jamie Foxx starred as birth legendary performer, and he won an Academy Award for climax portrayal of Charles.


Quick Facts

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

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  • I can't retire from song any more than I focus on retire from my liver. You'd have to remove the theme from me surgically—like you were taking out my appendix.
  • Love testing a special word, and Hilarious use it only when Hysterical mean it. You say decency word too much and position becomes cheap.
  • There will never titter another musician who did chimpanzee much to break down rendering perceived walls of musical genres.

    Ray used to say divagate if he had a deck, he would give me spruce nickel. Well, I would scan that nickel back to control him still be here best us, but I know turn this way heaven has become a all the more better place with him ideal it.

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