Who is Ray Charles?
Ray Charles was a talented singer, songwriter, composer, and pianist from the United States. Combining various musical styles, such as rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues, he pioneered the soul music genre. ‘Hit the Road Jack,’ ‘Georgia On My Mind,’ and ‘Unchain My Heart’ were some of the hits produced by this new music genre. Ray Charles, who was known as the ‘Father of Soul Music,’ has left an indelible mark on the world of music that is still felt today.
His secular lyrics and popular jazz arrangements earned him a reputation for being largely improvisational. His career, which lasted over five decades, saw him inspire many other musicians and singer-songwriters. The fact that he didn’t let his visual impairment interfere with his music, personal life, and career made him an even bigger international star.
Charles was a man who enjoyed taking on responsibilities and was very friendly towards his peers and other musicians. Today, he is remembered for his pleasant and hospitable demeanor, and is recognized as one of the ‘godfathers’ of soul music. His songs have reverberated in the music world, starting with ‘Confession Blues’ and ending with ‘What’d I Say’.
| Real Name/Full Name | Ray Charles Robinson |
| Date Of Birth | 23 September 1930 |
| Died On | 10 June 2004 |
| Age | 94 years old |
| Birthplace | Albany, Georgia, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Zodiac sign | Libra |
| Father Name | Bailey Robinson |
| Mother Name | Aretha Robinson |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Height | 5 feet 7 inch |
| Weight | 60 kg |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Spouse Name | Eileen Williams(M. 1951 TO Div. 1952), Della Beatrice Howard(M. 1955 TO Div. 1977) |
| Children Name | Alexandra Bertrand, Charles Wayne Hendricks, David Robinson, Evelyn Robinson, Raenee Robinson, Ray Charles Robinson Jr., Reatha Butler, Robert Robinson, Robyn Moffett, Ryan Corey Robinson, Sheila Raye Charles, and Vincent Kotchounian |
| Siblings Name | George Robinson |
| Profession | Singer, Musician, Songwriter, and Composer |
| Net Worth | $75 Million |
Early Life & Education
September 23, 1930 marked the occurrence of Ray Charles Robinson’s birth in Albany, Georgia, United States. His parents, Aretha Robinson and Bailey Robinson, were responsible for his upbringing and he grew up with his brother, George Robinson.
Charles’ eyesight began declining at the age of four or five, and by age seven, he was completely blind, most likely because of glaucoma. Due to his mother’s recognition of his musical potential, he was enrolled in the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine. He learned Braille music reading and writing and was introduced to classical composers such as Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven, which established a strong foundation for his future musical endeavors.
Career
After completing school, Charles relocated to Jacksonville to live with Charles Wayne Powell, who had been a friend of his late mother. For more than a year, he played the piano for bands at the Ritz Theatre in LaVilla, earning a substantial salary. He joined Local 632 of the American Federation of Musicians, in the hope that it would help him get work, and was able to use the union hall’s piano to practice, since he did not have one at home; he learned piano licks from copying the other players there.
He started to build a reputation as a talented musician in Jacksonville, but the jobs did not come fast enough for him to construct a strong identity, so, at age 16, he moved to Orlando, where he lived in borderline poverty and went without food for days. In 1947, Charles auditioned unsuccessfully to play piano for Lucky Millinder and his sixteen-piece band after starting to write arrangements for a pop music band.
He relocated to Seattle in 1947 and joined the ‘Maxin Trio’ with Milton Garrett and G.D. McKee. Their first single, ‘Confession Blues’, was recorded by the trio at ‘Down Beat Records’ and became an R&B hit. In 1951, he signed a contract with ‘Down Beat Records,’ which became ‘Swing Time Records,’ and produced a hit single called ‘Let Me Hold Your Hand’. In the following year, he released another hit single titled ‘Kissa Me Baby’, and after the success of these two singles, Atlantic Records signed him.
In 1953, he recorded ‘Mess Around’ and it became his first hit with Atlantic Records. Following that, he recorded multiple other singles, such as ‘It Should’ve Been Me’ and ‘Don’t You Know.’ His first No. 1 hit was his own composition ‘I Got a Woman,’ which he recorded in 1954. He was recognized across the country as a result of it. During his time recording, he recorded singles such as ‘This Little Girl of Mine,’ ‘Drown in My Own Tears,’ ‘Lonely Avenue,’ and ‘Night Time Is the Right Time.’
He started his own female-singing group called ‘Cookies’ in 1956, which later became known as ‘The Raelettes.’ Atlantic Records released both his debut album and an instrumental album titled ‘The Great Ray Charles’ in 1957. His career reached its peak in 1959 when he released his single ‘What’d I Say’. The song was a massive success and he succeeded in breaking into crossover mainstream pop music. Towards the end of the year, he released a rendition of a country song called ‘Movin’ On’.
In 1960, he also produced a hit single called ‘Hit the Road Jack’ with Margie Hendricks on vocals. It has become one of his greatest works and it has topped all R&B charts. In 1961, the Genius Sings the Blues, Soul Meeting, and The Genius After Hours were followed by three more albums.
Ray Charles had established himself as an influential musician by 1962. In such a short period of time, he became one of the rare black artists at the time to gain such popularity. He produced albums like ‘Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music’ and its sequel ‘Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume Two’ in the same year. In that year, he established Tangerine Records as his own record label.
‘True to Life’ was recorded by him after signing with Atlantic Records in 1977. In that same year, he made an appearance on Saturday Night Live. Georgia On My Mind was declared as the song of Georgia two years later. He appeared in the movie ‘The Blues Brothers’ in 1980. 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.
His catchphrase ‘You Got the Right One, Baby’ became a global icon in 1991, thanks to the ‘Diet Pepsi’ commercials. In two years, he gave a performance at Bill Clinton’s inauguration. Between 1997 and 1998, he was a part of four episodes of the popular TV series ‘The Nanny’. He appeared in several commercials for the New Jersey Lottery in the new millennium.
The album ‘Thanks for Bringing Love Around Again’ was released by him in 2002. He produced ‘Ray Charles Celebrates a Gospel Christmas with the Voices of Jubilation’ and ‘Live at Olympia 2000’ two years after that. His last public appearance occurred on April 30, 2004 when his music studio was deemed a historic landmark in Los Angeles.
Personal Life
Ray Charles and Eileen Williams got married in 1951, but they broke up in 1952. In 1955, Della Beatrice became the wife of Ray Charles. Their partnership resulted in the birth of three children.
In 1977, the couple parted ways. Ray Charles had a total of nine women in his family, including twelve children.
Net Worth
Ray Charles’ net worth was estimated to be around $75 million when he passed away in 2004. His main source of income was his successful music career, which included album sales, concerts, and royalties. Charles’ philanthropy was exemplified by establishing the Ray Charles Foundation to support educational initiatives for the hearing and visually impaired.
