| Born September 23, 1930, Ray Charles Robinson | | | | well. In later years, he was putting out songs that |
| would become one of the most famous and | | | | were either a success or not, and he made |
| influential pianists in the twentieth century. Though | | | | appearances on film and commercials. Ray Charles |
| he was blind from about the age of seven, he | | | | was also known for singing and he did vocals for |
| was able to learn how to play and compose music | | | | a few different projects as well. Some of his |
| at a school he attended for the deaf and blind. | | | | career may have been a little bumpy, as he was |
| Originally from Greenville, Florida, Ray Charles | | | | not perfect and did have addictions that he later |
| would become well-known for the many different | | | | dealt with, but none of this stopped him from |
| genres he played in, including Rhythm and blues, | | | | becoming a man who will continue to be |
| country blues, piano blues, pop, soul, country, jazz | | | | remembered by history. Much of his difficulties |
| and gospel, to name a few. He would shorten his | | | | are overlooked by those who continue to enjoy |
| name to Ray Charles and would continue to have | | | | his music. |
| many hits throughout his musical career. | | | | Today, his music is still being listened to by young |
| Though many people may not realize it, Ray | | | | audiences, including many young musicians who |
| Charles was not born blind. It wasn't until he was | | | | dream of having a musical successful musical |
| seven that he would completely lose his sight. It is | | | | career. He may have been blind, but this did not |
| thought that his sight could have been lost due to | | | | stop him from becoming one of the many |
| glaucoma, but even today no one is sure. After | | | | influential musicians of the late 1900s. He was also |
| this, he attended a school for the deaf and blind | | | | quite dynamic in that he wrote, played and saying |
| where he spent much of his time learning how to | | | | many different genres in music. He was not one |
| write music and play many musical instruments, | | | | to be limited by his lack of sight and he was |
| aside from his academic learning. In 1951, Ray | | | | obviously also not to be limited to one or two |
| Charles had his first successful hit and would sign | | | | specific genres in music. Music was what he loved |
| with Atlantic records in 1952. From there, he | | | | and he was quite experimental in it, which could |
| would continue to have many more hits and his | | | | also be another reason for his playing and |
| reputation in the world of music would grow as | | | | composing pieces in so many different genres. |