Ray Charles - Pianist, Singer & All Around Musical Genius

Ray Charles was born Ray Charles Robinson on1959. He conquered more group with his
the 23rd of September, 1930 in Albany, Georgia.improvised hit What I'd Say when it made the top
He was the son of poor parents. His life was aten on the pop charts.
tragic story. He and his family were plagued byAfter four years with Atlantic, he got a better
poverty. His mother had to bring up both him anddeal with ABC which made him switch labels. His
his brother on her own. When he was five, hetime with ABC saw him make a successful
was witness to a mishap due to which hiscrossover in pop music with Hit The Road Jack,
younger passed away after he drowned in aUnchain My Heart and Georgia On My Mind. It was
laundry tub.with the ABS that released the landmark album in
Ray Charles started becoming blind when he was1962 Modern Sound in Country and Western
five. Two years later by age seven, he wasMusic and its sequel Vol. 2.
completely blind. Though there is no confirmedHe was arrested of heroin possession in 1965. He
reason, as to why he lost his sight, the twomanaged to get himself out a jail sentence, by
probable reasons why he could have lost his sightopting to go to rehab. While recuperating, he
is either due to glaucoma (an optic nerve disease)continued to have hits. Crying Time reached the
or from an infection in his eyes from soap waterNo. 6 spot on the charts. Georgia On My Mind
that was not treated in time.was made the state song of Georgia. He further
He studied in St Augustine School for the Deafetched himself into history by rendering America
and The Blind. During his school years, tragedyThe Beautiful on TV - the version of the song
stuck when his parents died - his father twowhich is the most revered.
years after his mother. Before he was out ofIn 1980, he made a cameo in the film The Blues
school, he was able to write music and play aBrothers. He appeared in a Coca Cola
number of musical instruments. Well before headvertisement in the early 1990's and said "You
was out of school, he was gigging with bandsGot the Right One Baby". He graced two
which played varied styles of music. One suchPresidential occasions - Ronald Reagan's second
stunt with a band called The Florida Playboys isand Bill Clinton's first inauguration.
from where he caught on with the style ofRay Charles continued to be active until his death
always wearing shades.on the 10th of June, 2004. In 2002, he was part
In 1947 at age 17, he moved to Seattle. He wasof a Rome peace concert - the first event in the
signed to Swingtime Records and had his first hitColosseum since AD 404. Ray Charles was
Confession Blues with them in 1949. Confessinginducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame by his
Blues was his only hit with Swingtime Recordsfan blues singer Van Morrison with whom he sang
other than the 1951 recorded number Baby, LetMoondance. He gave his last performance on the
Me Hold Your Hand. Confession Blues reached the30th of April, 2004 singing the two songs he is
no 2 spot on the R&B charts.most known for - America The Beautiful and
In 1952, he signed with Ahmet Ertegun's recordGeorgia On My Mind, at the dedication ceremony
label Atlantic Records. He scored big early in theof his music studio in Los Angeles.
deal with two huge hits in 1953 - Mess AroundHis album aptly titled "Genius & Friends" was
(composed by Ahmed Ertegun) and It Shouldreleased two months after he passed away. It
Have Been Me. His 1955 song I Got A Womanhad him collaborating with many singers whom he
topped the charts. A string of hits - Drown in Mypersonally choose. An album with the
Own Tears. This Little Girl of Mine, The Nightaccompaniment of the Count Basie orchestra
Time (Is The Right Time), Mary Ann and Lonelyfollowed - Ray Sings, Basie Swings.
Avenue - which were released all the way up to