Ray Charles
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| Ray Charles
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| Background information
<tr><td>Birth name</td><td colspan="2">Ray Charles Robinson</td></tr><tr><td>Born</td><td colspan="2">September 23, 1930 in Albany, Georgia</td></tr><tr><td>Died</td><td colspan="2">June 10, 2004 in Beverly Hills, California</td></tr><tr><td>Genre(s)</td><td colspan="2">R&B, Soul, Blues, Pop, Jazz</td></tr><tr><td>Occupation(s)</td><td colspan="2">Vocalist, musician, songwriter, arranger</td></tr><tr><td>Instrument(s)</td><td colspan="2">Piano and other keyboard instruments, vocals</td></tr><tr><td>Years active</td><td colspan="2">1951 - 2004</td></tr><tr><td textalign="top" style="padding-right: 1em;">Associated |
Ray Charles was the stage name of Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004). He was a pioneering American pianist and soul musician who shaped the sound of rhythm and blues[citation needed]. He brought a soulful sound to country music, pop standards, and a rendition of "America the Beautiful" that Ed Bradley of 60 Minutes called the "definitive version of the song, an American anthem — a classic, just as the man who sang it."<ref name="60min">"The Genius Of Ray Charles", an article about an 1986 segment on Charles from 60 Minutes</ref>
Frank Sinatra called him "the only true genius in the business."<ref name="60min" /><ref>Alex Regnery. "'Ray Charles' scheduled to 'Hit the Road,' come to Austin", The Daily Texan, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-25. </ref>
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early years
Ray Charles Robinson was born in Albany, Georgia<ref>Adam Bernstein. "A Singular Blend of Styles", Washington Post, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-25. </ref> to Bailey and Aretha Robinson. Bailey had two more families, leaving his mother to raise the family.
When Ray was five, his four-year-old brother George drowned in an outside washing tub.<ref name="60min" /> Not long after this event, Ray began to go blind, becoming totally blind by the age of seven.<ref name="boheme">Bohème Magazine Obituary: Ray Charles (1930 – 2004)</ref> Charles never knew exactly why he lost his sight<ref name="60min" />, though there are sources which suggst Ray's blindness may have been due to glaucoma.<ref name="boheme" /> He attended school at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine, Florida, and he learned how to read braille there.<ref name="boheme" /> He also learned how to write music and play various musical instruments.<ref name="boheme" /> While he was there, his mother died. His father died two years later.
After he left school, Charles began working as a musician in Florida in several bands that played in various styles, including jazz and country music. Charles moved to Seattle in 1947<ref name="boheme" /> or 1948<ref>"Charles, Ray (1930-2004)", HistoryLink. Retrieved on 2006-11-25. </ref>. One of his first gigs was in a club called The Rocking Chair. He soon started recording, first for the label Swingtime Records, achieving his first hit with "Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand" in 1951, then signed with Ahmet Ertegun at Atlantic Records a year later.<ref name="boheme" /> When he entered show business, his name was shortened to Ray Charles to avoid confusion with boxer Sugar Ray Robinson.[citation needed]
[edit] Middle years
Charles scored his first Atlantic hit in 1953 with the release of the Ahmet Ertegun-composed "Mess Around." He had another hit with his version of "It Should Have Been Me."
Charles' career went into high gear with the gospel drive of "I Got a Woman" (1955). This was followed by "This Little Girl of Mine," "Drown in My Own Tears," "Hallelujah I Love Her So," and "Lonely Avenue." Many of his songs at that time were gospel songs converted with secular lyrics. He also recorded many blues ballads.
The essence of this phase of his career[citation needed] can be heard on his live album Ray Charles In Person, recorded before a mostly African American audience in Atlanta in 1956. This album also features the first public performance of "What'd I Say." It broke out as a hit in Atlanta from the tape, months before being recorded in the studio in a two-part version with better fidelity.
Shortly afterward, in an appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival he achieved mainstream success with "The Night Time (Is the Right Time)" which appeared on Ray Charles at Newport (1959) and his signature song, "What'd I Say".
Charles had already begun to go beyond the limits of the blues-gospel synthesis while still at Atlantic. He recorded with very large orchestras and with jazz artists like Milt Jackson and even made his first country music cover song with Hank Snow's "I'm Movin' On."
He then moved on to ABC Records in 1959<ref name="boheme" />, where he was given a greater amount of control over his music. Charles went on to broaden his approach, not on experimental side projects, but with pop music, resulting in such hits as "Unchain My Heart", "You Are My Sunshine", and the #1 hits on the Billboard pop charts, "Georgia On My Mind" and "Hit the Road Jack." In 1962, Charles surprised his new, broader audience with his landmark album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, which included the Don Gibson penned "I Can't Stop Loving You" and "You Don't Know Me".
In 1961, Charles cancelled a concert scheduled to take place in the Bell Auditorium in Augusta, Georgia to protest against segregated seating required by Jim Crow laws.
[edit] Later years
In 1965, Charles was arrested for possession of heroin, a drug to which he had been addicted for 17 years.[citation needed] It was his third arrest for the offense, but he avoided prison time after kicking the habit in a clinic in Los Angeles.<ref name="60min" /> He spent a year on parole in 1966.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Charles' releases were hit-or-miss<ref name="boheme" />, with some big hits and critically acclaimed work, and some music that was dismissed as unoriginal and staid.[citation needed] His version of "Georgia On My Mind," was proclaimed the state song of Georgia on April 24, 1979, with Charles performing it on the floor of the state legislature.<ref name="boheme" /> This act was significant in that it symbolized to many[citation needed] the move away from segregation and racism. He also had success with his unique version of "America the Beautiful."
In the late 1980s, a number of events increased Charles' recognition among young audiences. He made a cameo appearance in the popular 1980 film The Blues Brothers. In 1985, "Night Time is the Right Time" was featured in the episode "Happy Anniversary" of The Cosby Show on NBC. The cast members used the song to perform a wildly popular lip-synch that helped the show secure its wide viewership.[citation needed] In 1986, he performed his rendition of "America the Beautiful" at WrestleMania 2. Charles' new connection with audiences helped secure a spokesmanship for Diet Pepsi.[citation needed] In a Pepsi Cola commercial of the early 1990s, Charles popularized the catchphrase "You Got the Right One, Baby!"
In the late '80s and early '90s, Charles made appearances on The Super Dave Osbourne Show, where he performed and appeared in a few vignettes where he was somehow driving a car, often as Super Dave's chauffeur. At the height of his newfound fame in the early nineties, Charles did guest vocals for quite a few projects. He also appeared (with Chaka Khan) on long time friend Quincy Jones' hit "I'll Be Good To You" in 1990, from Jones' album Back on the Block.
[edit] Final appearances
Gladys Knight performed Charles' "Georgia On My Mind" during the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
In 2002 Charles headlined during the Blues Passions Cognac festival in southern France. At one point in the performance a young fan rose to his feet and began to sing an a cappella version of Charles' early song, "Mess Around"; Charles responded by peforming the song.[citation needed]
In 2003 Charles performed "Georgia On My Mind" and "America the Beautiful" at a televised annual electronic media journalist banquet held in Washington, D.C., at what may have been his final performance in public. Ray Charles' final public appearance came on April 30, 2004, at the dedication of his music studio as a historic landmark in the city of Los Angeles.<ref name="boheme" />
He died on June 10, 2004 of "liver disease"<ref name="boheme" />, at his home in Beverly Hills, California, surrounded by family and friends. His death was not due to liver cancer as was erroneously reported on certain websites<ref>Ted Drozdowski. "Ray Charles", The Boston Phoenix, 2004. Retrieved on 2006-11-25. </ref> He was interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
His final album, Genius Loves Company, released two months after his death, consists of duets with various admirers and contemporaries: B.B. King, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, Gladys Knight, Michael McDonald, Natalie Cole, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Idina Menzel, and Johnny Mathis. The album won eight Grammy Awards, including five for Ray Charles for Best Pop Vocal Album, Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Here We Go Again" with Norah Jones, and Best Gospel Performance for "Heaven Help Us All" with Gladys Knight; he also received nods for his duets with Elton John and B.B. King.
Out of all of the songs from his huge catalogue of recordings, Ray requested Harold Arlen's "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", a duet recorded with Johnny Mathis, be played at his memorial service.<ref>"Many Pay Respects To Ray Charles", CBS News, 2004. Retrieved on 2006-11-25. </ref>
[edit] Discography
[edit] Ray: the film
Charles was significantly involved in the biopic Ray, an October 2004 film which portrays his life and career between 1930 and 1966 and stars Jamie Foxx as Charles. Foxx won the 2005 Academy Award for Best Actor for the role.
Before shooting could begin, however, director Taylor Hackford brought Foxx to meet Charles, who insisted that they sit down at two pianos and play together. For two hours, Charles challenged Foxx, who revealed the depth of his talent, and finally, Charles stood up, hugged Foxx, and gave his blessing, proclaiming, "He's the one... he can do it."
Charles was able to attend a showing of the completed film, but he died before it opened in theaters.
As noted in the film's final credits, Ray is based on true events, but include some characters, names, locations, events which have been changed and others which have been "fictionalized for dramatization purposes." One example of the film's use of dramatic license are the scenes which refer to Charles as being banned from Georgia.<ref>"'Ray' appears to stretch truth with ban, protest scenes", The Associated Press, 2004. Retrieved on 2006-08-24. </ref>
The film's credits note that he is survived by 12 children, 21 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren.
[edit] Halls of Fame and other honors
Besides winning dozens of Grammy Awards in his career, Charles was also honored in many other ways. In 1979, he was one of the first honorees of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame being recognized for being a musician born in the state.<ref>"List of Inductees", Georgia Music Hall of Fame, 1979. Retrieved on 2006-11-25. </ref> Ray's version of "Georgia On My Mind" was made into the official state song for Georgia.<ref>"State Song", Georgia Secretary of State, 1979. Retrieved on 2006-11-25. </ref> In 1981, he was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was one of the first inductees to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at its inaugural ceremony in 1986.<ref>"Inductees", Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum. Retrieved on 2006-11-25. </ref> He received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986.<ref>"List of Kennedy Center Honorees", Kennedy Center, 1986. Retrieved on 2006-11-25. </ref> In 1991, he was inducted to the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, in 2004 he was inducted to the Jazz Hall of Fame, and also in 2004 was inducted to the National Black Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame.<ref>"Hall of Fame", National Black Sports & Entertainment, 2004. Retrieved on 2006-11-25. </ref>
In August 2005, the United States Congress honored Charles by renaming the former West Adams Station post office in Los Angeles the "Ray Charles Station".
The Grammy Awards of 2005 were dedicated to Charles.
[edit] Controversies and criticisms
Despite his support of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960s and his support for the American Civil Rights Movement, Charles courted controversy when he toured South Africa in 1981<ref name="boheme" />, during an international boycott of the country because of its apartheid policy. He faced pickets in South Africa and in 15 North American cities he toured subsequently, including Albany, New York; Los Angeles; New York City; and Toronto. The United Nations agency supporting the boycott asked him to apologize and promise not to visit South Africa until the abolition of apartheid, to which he did not respond well. Despite having described himself as a "Hubert Humphrey Democrat"<ref name="nowtoronto">"No Ray of Hope", a critical article regarding Charles' politics by Toronto journalist Norman Otis Richmond in NOW Magazine</ref>, Charles accepted $100,000 to perform "America the Beautiful" at former U.S. President Ronald Reagan's second inaugural ball. In response to criticism, his manager Joe Adams commented: "For that kind of money he would have sung 'America the Beautiful' at a Ku Klux Klan (KKK) rally."<ref name="nowtoronto" />
From the time of his switch from straight rhythm and blues with a combo, Charles was often accused[citation needed] of selling out. He left behind his classic formulation of rhythm and blues to sing country music, pop songs, and soft-drink commercials. In the process, he went from a niche audience to worldwide fame.
[edit] Children
Charles was married twice and fathered twelve children by seven different women.<ref name="60min" /> He was married for the first time to Eileen Williams on July 31, 1951. This marriage produced no children and ended in divorce in 1952. Three children are from his second marriage to Della Beatrice Howard Robinson, whom he married on April 5, 1955. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1977.
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With Della Beatrice Robinson:
With Margie Hendricks, one of the Raelettes:
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With others:
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[edit] References
<references />
[edit] External links
- Ray Charles biography and video interview excerpts by the National Visionary Leadership Project
- Ray Charles at Find A Gravezh-min-nan:Ray Charles
bg:Рей Чарлс ca:Ray Charles cs:Ray Charles cy:Ray Charles da:Ray Charles de:Ray Charles es:Ray Charles fa:ری چارلز fr:Ray Charles fy:Ray Charles ko:레이 찰스 id:Ray Charles it:Ray Charles he:ריי צ'ארלס lb:Ray Charles hu:Ray Charles nl:Ray Charles ja:レイ・チャールズ no:Ray Charles pl:Ray Charles pt:Ray Charles ru:Чарльз, Рэй scn:Ray Charles simple:Ray Charles sl:Ray Charles fi:Ray Charles sv:Ray Charles tr:Ray Charles
Categories: Articles with unsourced statements | Articles lacking sources | All articles lacking sources | Ray Charles | American rhythm and blues singers | Rhythm and blues pianists | American blues singers | American composers | American soul musicians | American male singers | American pop pianists | American singer-songwriters | African American musicians | African-American singers | 1930 births | 2004 deaths | Blues Brothers | Blind musicians | Bandleaders | Blues Hall of Fame inductees | Crossover (music) | Grammy Award winners | Hollywood Walk of Fame | People from Albany, Georgia | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees | National Medal of Arts recipients | People treated for drug addiction
