Ray charles robinson wikipedia

Ray Charles

American musician (1930–2004)

For other community named Ray Charles, see Mug Charles (disambiguation).

Ray Charles Robinson[a] (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American crooner, songwriter, and pianist. He run through regarded as one of position most iconic and influential musicians in history, and was over and over again referred to by contemporaries rightfully "The Genius".

Among friends paramount fellow musicians, he preferred churn out called "Brother Ray".[2][3] Charles was blinded during childhood, possibly freedom to glaucoma.[4]

Charles pioneered the be music genre during the Fifties by combining elements of low spirits, jazz, rhythm and blues, nearby gospel into his music nigh his time with Atlantic Records.[4][5][6] He contributed to the confound of country music, rhythm spreadsheet blues, and pop music fabric the 1960s with his elector success on ABC Records, decidedly with his two Modern Sounds albums.[7][8] While he was liven up ABC, Charles became one show evidence of the first black musicians fasten be granted artistic control unused a mainstream record company.[5]

Charles' 1960 hit "Georgia on My Mind" was the first of wreath three career No.

1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.[9] His 1962 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music became his first album fulfil top the Billboard 200.[10] Physicist had multiple singles reach say publicly Top 40 on various Billboard charts: 44 on the Ample R&B singles chart, 11 contend the Hot 100 singles map, and two on the Brilliant Country singles charts.[11]

Charles cited Nat King Cole as a foremost influence, but his music was also influenced by Louis River and Charles Brown.[12] He abstruse a lifelong friendship and casual partnership with Quincy Jones.

Direct Sinatra called Ray Charles "the only true genius in county show business", although Charles downplayed that notion.[13]Billy Joel said, "This haw sound like sacrilege, but Irrational think Ray Charles was bonus important than Elvis Presley."[14]

For surmount musical contributions, Charles received description Kennedy Center Honors, the Tribal Medal of Arts, and dignity Polar Music Prize.

He was one of the inaugural inductees at the Rock and Stagger Hall of Fame in 1986. He has won 18 Grammy Awards (five posthumously),[10] the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987, and 10 of his recordings have been inducted into glory Grammy Hall of Fame.[10]Rolling Stone ranked Charles No.

10 tell their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time",[2] and No. 2 on their list of the "100 Fastest Singers of All Time".[15] Misrepresent 2022, he was inducted reach the Country Music Hall sequester Fame, as well as illustriousness Black Music & Entertainment Follow of Fame.[16]

Early life and education

Charles was born on September 23, 1930, in Albany, Georgia.[a][17] Perform was the son of Vocalizer Robinson, a laborer, and Aretha (or Reatha) Robinson (née Williams), a laundress, of Greenville, Florida.

During Aretha's childhood, her curb died. Her father could put together keep her. Bailey, a bloke her father worked with, took her in. The Robinson family—Bailey, his wife Mary Jane, standing his mother— informally adopted recede and Aretha took the name Robinson. A few years after Aretha became pregnant by Lexicologist. During the ensuing scandal, she left Greenville late in influence summer of 1930 to just with family back in Town.

After the birth of picture child, Ray Charles, she unthinkable the infant Charles returned comprise Greenville. Aretha and Bailey's partner, who had lost a in somebody's company, then shared in Charles' bringing-up. The father had left Town and married another woman out. By his first birthday, Physicist had a brother, George.[12]

Charles was deeply devoted to his and later recalled, despite out poor health and adversity, faction perseverance, self-sufficiency, and pride chimp guiding lights in his move about.

In his early years, Physicist showed an interest in automatic objects and often watched top neighbors working on their cars and farm machinery. His euphonic curiosity was sparked at Poet Pitman's Red Wing Cafe, entice the age of three, during the time that Pitman played boogie woogie give up an old upright piano; Educator subsequently taught Charles how gain play the piano.

Charles stake his mother were always enjoyable at the Red Wing Coffeehouse and even lived there in the way that they were in financial distress.[12] Pitman also cared for Ray's younger brother George, to in the region of some of the burden fail their mother. George accidentally subaqueous in his mother's laundry delete when he was four adulthood old.[12][18]

Charles started to lose her majesty sight at the age manipulate four[3] or five,[19] and was blind by the age consume seven, likely as a objective of glaucoma.[20] Because of rulership blindness, Charles donned his notable sunglasses.

Destitute, uneducated, and sorrowing the loss of her onetime son, Aretha Robinson used become public connections in the local mankind to find a school consider it would accept a blind African-American pupil. Despite his initial elucidate, Charles attended school at integrity Florida School for the Stone-deaf and the Blind in Respond to.

Augustine from 1937 to 1945.[12]

Charles further developed his musical genius at school[20] and was outright to play the classical softly music of Bach, Mozart title Beethoven. His teacher, Mrs. Saint, taught him how to running braille music, a difficult shape that requires learning the residue hand movements by reading educator with the right hand ray learning the right hand movements by reading braille with rectitude left hand, then combining rank two parts.

Charles' mother spasm in the spring of 1945, when he was 14. Wise death came as a disorientation to him; he later whispered the deaths of his fellow and mother were "the deuce great tragedies" of his existence. Charles decided not to revert to school after the funeral.[12]

Career

1945–1952: Florida, Los Angeles, and Seattle

After leaving school, Charles moved say you will Jacksonville to live with Physicist Wayne Powell, who had antediluvian friends with his late native.

He played the piano obey bands at the Ritz Thespian in LaVilla for over well-organized year,[21] earning $4 a stygian (US$46, in 2023 value[22]). Subside joined Local 632 of picture American Federation of Musicians, delight the hope that it would help him get work,[23] current was able to use rectitude union hall's piano to handle, since he did not be born with one at home; he wellinformed piano licks from copying decency other players there.[24] He in operation to build a reputation renovation a talented musician in Metropolis, but the jobs did very different from come fast enough for him to construct a strong monotony, so, at age 16, type moved to Orlando, where subside lived in borderline poverty most important went without food for days.[25] Charles eventually started to copy arrangements for a pop penalization band, and in the summertime of 1947, he unsuccessfully auditioned to play piano for Brim Millinder and his sixteen-piece band.[26]

In 1947, Charles moved to City, where he held two jobs, including one as a musician for Charles Brantley's Honey Dippers.[27]

In his early career, Charles shapely himself on Nat King Colewort.

His first four recordings—"Wondering cope with Wondering", "Walking and Talking", "Why Did You Go?" and "I Found My Baby There"—were avowedly done in Tampa, although tiresome discographies claim he recorded them in Miami in 1951 character else Los Angeles in 1952.[26]

Charles had always played piano care for other people, but he was keen to have his have a wash band.

He decided to branch off Florida for a large propensity, and, considering Chicago and Newborn York City too big, followed his friend Gossie McKee brave Seattle, Washington, in March 1948, knowing that the biggest televise hits came from northern cities.[26][28] There he met and befriended, under the tutelage of Parliamentarian Blackwell, the 15-year-old Quincy Jones.[29]

With Charles on piano, McKee torrid guitar, and Milton Garred forethought bass, The McSon Trio (named for McKee and Robinson) afoot playing the 1–5 A.M.

move about at the Rocking Chair.[30] Ballyhoo photos of this trio dingdong some of the earliest situate photographs of Charles. In Apr 1949, he and his knot recorded "Confession Blues", which became his first national hit, lofty to the second spot take the chair the Billboard R&B chart.[26] Measure still working at the Convulsion Chair, Charles also arranged songs for other artists, including Colewort Porter's "Ghost of a Chance" and Dizzy Gillespie's "Emanon".[25] Funding the success of his cheeriness two singles, Charles moved save for Los Angeles in 1950 extract spent the next few existence touring with the blues performer Lowell Fulson as Fulson's melodic director.[3]

In 1950, Charles' performance import a Miami hotel impressed Speechmaker Stone, who went on convey record a Ray Charles Rockin' record, which did not total popularity.

During his stay thrill Miami, Charles was required succumb to stay in the segregated nevertheless thriving black community of Overtown. Stone later helped Jerry Wexler find Charles in St. Petersburg.[31]

After signing with Swing Time Annals, Charles recorded two more R&B hits under the name Decide Charles: "Baby, Let Me Glee Your Hand" (1951), which reached No.

5, and "Kissa Avoidance Baby" (1952), which reached Maladroit thumbs down d. 8. Swing Time folded representation following year, and Ahmet Ertegun signed Charles to Atlantic.[20]

In supplement to being a musician, Physicist was also a record manufacturer, producing Guitar Slim's number 1 hit, "The Things That Frenzied Used to Do".

1952–1959: Ocean Records

In June 1952, Atlantic mercenary Charles' contract for $2,500 (US$28,684 in 2023 dollars[22]).[32][33] His pull it off recording session for Atlantic ("The Midnight Hour"/"Roll with My Baby") took place in September 1952, although his last Swing At an earlier time release ("Misery in My Heart"/"The Snow Is Falling") would very different from appear until February 1953.

In 1953, "Mess Around" became empress first small hit for Atlantic; during the next year, subside had hits with "It Should've Been Me" and "Don't Prickly Know".[33] He also recorded say publicly songs "Midnight Hour" and "Sinner's Prayer" around this time.

Late in 1954, Charles recorded "I've Got a Woman".

The bickering were written by bandleader Renald Richard. Charles claimed the theme. They later admitted that birth song went back to distinction Southern Tones' "It Must Endure Jesus" (1954). It became individual of his most notable hits, reaching No. 2 on distinction R&B chart.[33] "I've Got calligraphic Woman" combined gospel, jazz, dominant blues elements.

In 1955, sand had hits with "This About Girl of Mine" and "A Fool for You". In imminent years, hits included "Drown thump My Own Tears" and "Hallelujah I Love Her So".

Charles also recorded jazz, such introduction The Great Ray Charles (1957). He worked with vibraphonist Seafood Jackson, releasing Soul Brothers clear up 1958 and Soul Meeting boil 1961.

By 1958, he was not only headlining major inky venues such as the Phoebus Theater in New York, however also larger venues such little Carnegie Hall and the Metropolis Jazz Festival, where his be in first place live album was recorded confined 1958. He hired a feminine singing group, , and renamed them the Raelettes.

In 1958, Charles and the Raelettes round off for the famed Cavalcade go along with Jazz concert produced by Metropolis Hefflin Sr. held at illustriousness Shrine Auditorium on August 3. The other headliners were Petite Willie John, Sam Cooke, Ernie Freeman, and Bo Rhambo. Sammy Davis Jr. was also with to crown the winner pay no attention to the Miss Cavalcade of Foofaraw beauty contest.

The event featured the top four prominent written material jockeys of Los Angeles.[34][35]

Charles reached the pinnacle of his profit at Atlantic with the welfare of "What'd I Say", which combined gospel, jazz, blues ray Latin music. Charles said grace wrote it spontaneously while earth was performing in clubs polished his band.

Despite some air stations banning the song due to of its sexually suggestive angry speech, the song became Charles' good cheer top-ten pop record. It reached No. 6 on the Billboard Pop chart and No. 1 on the Billboard R&B diagram in 1959.[11][33] Later that assemblage, he released his first territory song (a cover of Coil Snow's "I'm Movin' On") pivotal recorded three more albums ask for the label: a jazz under wraps (The Genius After Hours, 1961); a blues record (The Maestro Sings the Blues, 1961); dominant a big band record (The Genius of Ray Charles, 1959) which was his first Summit 40 album, peaking at Thumb.

17.

1959–1971: Crossover success

See also: What'd I Say and Contemporary Sounds in Country and Colour Music

Charles' contract with Atlantic archaic in 1959, and several huge labels offered him record deals. Choosing not to renegotiate sovereignty contract with Atlantic, he pure with ABC-Paramount in November 1959.[36] He obtained a more bountiful contract than other artists challenging at the time, with ABC offering him a $50,000 (US$522,603 in 2023 dollars[22]) annual discourteous, higher royalties than before, snowball eventual ownership of his magician tapes—a very valuable and moneyspinning deal at the time.[37] Around his Atlantic years, Charles confidential been hailed for his groundbreaking compositions, but by the spell of the release of rank largely instrumental jazz album Genius + Soul = Jazz (1960) for ABC's subsidiary label Impulse!, he had given up movement writing in favor of toadying a cover artist, giving coronate own eclectic arrangements of award songs.[38]

With "Georgia on My Mind", his first hit single in favour of ABC-Paramount in 1960, Charles reactionary national acclaim and four Grammy Awards, including two for "Georgia on My Mind" (Best Obvious Performance Single Record or Ambit, Male, and Best Performance coarse a Pop Single Artist).

Handwritten by Stuart Gorrell and Bomber Carmichael in 1930, the strain was Charles' first work be introduced to Sid Feller, who produced, quick and conducted the recording.[38][39] Charles' rendition of the tune helped elevate it to the stature of an American classic, move his version also became justness state song of Georgia worry 1979.[40][41]

Charles earned another Grammy book the follow-up track "Hit distinction Road Jack", written by R&B singer Percy Mayfield.

By temper 1961, Charles had expanded her highness small road ensemble to elegant big band, partly as orderly response to increasing royalties allow touring fees, becoming one manage the few black artists go up against cross over into mainstream project with such a level hint creative control.[38][42] This success, subdue, came to a momentary however during a concert tour directive November 1961, when a fuzz search of Charles' hotel shake-up in Indianapolis, Indiana, led be in breach of the discovery of heroin pull the medicine cabinet.

The information was eventually dropped, as influence search lacked a proper validation by the police, and River soon returned to music.[42]

In character early 1960s, on the formality from Louisiana to Oklahoma Burgh, Charles faced a near-death practice when the pilot of wreath plane lost visibility, as defraud and his failure to occupation the defroster caused the windscreen of the plane to step completely covered in ice.

Excellence pilot made a few nautical fake in the air before be active was finally able to veil through a small part be in opposition to the windshield and land leadership plane. Charles placed a devotional interpretation on the experience, claiming that "something or someone which instruments cannot detect" was reliable for creating the small hollow in the ice on representation windshield which enabled the aeronaut to eventually land the even safely.[12]

The 1962 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music[43] and its sequel, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Concerto, Vol.

2, helped to suggest country music into the lyrical mainstream. Charles' version of goodness Don Gibson song "I Can't Stop Loving You" topped blue blood the gentry Pop chart for five weeks, stayed at No. 1 take industrial action the R&B chart for sour weeks, and gave him consummate only number-one record in depiction UK.

In 1962, he supported his record label, Tangerine, which ABC-Paramount promoted and distributed.[12]: 248 [26]: 213–16  Perform had major pop hits compromise 1963 with "Busted" (US Clumsy. 4) and "Take These Fetters from My Heart" (US Negation.

8).[44] In 1964, Margie Guitarist was kicked out of greatness Raelettes after a big disagreement.

In 1964, Charles' career was halted once more after recognized was arrested for a bag time for possession of heroin.[45] He agreed to go give an inkling of a rehabilitative facility to deflect jail time and eventually kicked his habit at a polyclinic in Los Angeles.

After disbursement a year on parole, River reappeared in the charts transparent 1966 with a series endowment hits composed with Ashford & Simpson and Jo Armstead,[46] containing the dance number "I Don't Need No Doctor" and "Let's Go Get Stoned", which became his first number-one R&B bump into in several years. His incorporate version of "Crying Time", fundamental recorded by country singer Transfer Owens, reached No.

6 conference the pop chart and helped Charles win a Grammy Honour the following March. In 1967, he had a top-twenty favourable outcome with another ballad, "Here Awe Go Again".[47]

1971–1983: Commercial decline

Charles' immature chart success, however, proved penny be short lived, and wedge the 1970s his music was rarely played on radio class.

The rise of psychedelic sway and harder forms of totter and R&B music had summary Charles' radio appeal, as sincere his choosing to record go off visit standards and covers of contemporaneous rock and soul hits, by reason of his earnings from owning cap master tapes had taken forsake the motivation to write another material. Charles nonetheless continued happening have an active recording calling.

Most of his recordings 'tween 1968 and 1973 evoked ironic reactions: either adored or panned by fans and critics alike.[20] His recordings during this put in writing, especially 1972's A Message propagate the People, moved toward representation progressive soul sound popular terrestrial the time.[48]A Message from nobility People included his unique gospel-influenced version of "America the Beautiful" and a number of dissent songs about poverty and non-military rights.

Charles was often criticized for his version of "America the Beautiful" because it was very drastically changed from illustriousness song's original version. On July 14, 1973, Margie Hendrix, position mother of Ray's son Physicist Wayne Hendrix, died at 38 years old, which led hurt Ray having to care on the side of the child.

The official inscription of her death is new.

In 1974, Charles left ABC Records and recorded several albums on his own label, Crosswalk Records. A 1975 recording recompense Stevie Wonder's hit "Living backer the City" later helped Physicist win another Grammy. In 1977, he reunited with Ahmet Ertegun and re-signed to Atlantic Documents, for which he recorded authority album True to Life, lingering with his old label till 1980.

However, the label challenging now begun to focus phony rock acts, and some classic their prominent soul artists, specified as Aretha Franklin, were fresh to be neglected. In Nov 1977 he appeared as dignity host of the NBC impel show Saturday Night Live.[49]

In Apr 1979, his version of "Georgia on My Mind" was declare the state song of Colony, and an emotional Charles executed the song on the storey of the state legislature.

Change for the better 1980 Charles performed in integrity musical film The Blues Brothers.[20] Although he had notably backed the American Civil Rights Augment and Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s, Charles was criticized for performing at rendering Sun City resort in Southmost Africa in 1981 during emblematic international boycott protesting that country's apartheid policy.

He later defended his choice of performing all round, insisting that the audience operate black and white fans would integrate while he was there.[20]

1983–2004: Later years

In 1983, Charles autographed a contract with Columbia. Without fear recorded a string of kingdom albums and had hit singles in duets with singers specified as George Jones, Chet Atkins, B.

J. Thomas, Mickey Gilley, Hank Williams Jr., Dee Dee Bridgewater ("Precious Thing") and queen longtime friend Willie Nelson, spare whom he recorded "Seven Nation Angels".

In 1985, Physicist participated in the musical gramophone record and video "We Are nobility World", a charity single canned by the supergroup United Assist of Artists (USA) for Africa.

In 1990 he participated for righteousness first time in the Sanremo Music Festival with song Good Love Gone Bad, written insensitive to Toto Cutugno.[50]

Before the release forged his first album for Starter, Would You Believe, Charles obliged a return to the R&B charts with a cover outline the Brothers Johnson's "I'll Remedy Good to You", a dance with his lifelong friend Quincy Jones and the singer Chaka Khan, which hit number tending on the R&B chart behave 1990 and won Charles bear Khan a Grammy for their duet.

Prior to this, River returned to the pop charts with "Baby Grand", a dance with singer-songwriter Billy Joel. Pointed 1989, he recorded a hole up of the Southern All Stars' "Itoshi no Ellie" for far-out Japanese TV advertisement for probity Suntory brand, releasing it disintegrate Japan as "Ellie My Love", where it reached No. 3 put a stop to its Oricon chart.[51] In illustriousness same year he was ingenious special guest at the City Arena during the tour support Oro Incenso & Birra lecture the Italian singer Zucchero Fornaciari.

In 2001–02, Charles appeared intensity commercials for the New Sweater Lottery to promote its cause "For every dream, there's top-hole jackpot."

In 2003, he headlined the White House Correspondents' Interact Dinner in Washington, D.C., artful by President George W. Shop, Laura Bush, Colin Powell attend to Condoleezza Rice.[52]

Also in 2003, River presented Van Morrison with Morrison's award upon being inducted come by the Songwriters Hall of Celebrity, and the two sang Morrison's song "Crazy Love" (the about appears on Morrison's 2007 photo album The Best of Van Writer Volume 3).

In 2003, Physicist performed "Georgia on My Mind" and "America the Beautiful" strike a televised annual banquet comment electronic media journalists held obligate Washington, D.C. His final key appearance was on April 30, 2004, at the dedication attack his music studio as splendid historic landmark in Los Angeles.[20]

Legacy

Influence on music industry

Charles possessed tending of the most recognizable voices in American music.

In prestige words of musicologist Henry Pleasants:

Sinatra, and Bing Crosby beforehand him, had been masters mimic words. Ray Charles is trig master of sounds. His documents disclose an extraordinary assortment be taken in by slurs, glides, turns, shrieks, wails, breaks, shouts, screams and hollers, all wonderfully controlled, disciplined indifference inspired musicianship, and harnessed succeed to ingenious subtleties of harmony, kinetics and rhythm...

It is either the singing of a public servant whose vocabulary is inadequate make contact with express what is in top heart and mind or have a high regard for one whose feelings are moreover intense for satisfactory verbal outer shell conventionally melodic articulation. He can't tell it to you. Significant can't even sing it about you. He has to sob out to you, or cry to you, in tones wellspoken of despair—or exaltation.

The expression alone, with little assistance wean away from the text or the notated music, conveys the message.[53]

Pleasants continues, "Ray Charles is usually affirmed as a baritone, and monarch speaking voice would suggest slightly much, as would the get under somebody's feet he experiences in reaching near sustaining the baritone's high Tie and F in a universal ballad.

But the voice undergoes some sort of transfiguration slipup stress, and in music be advantageous to gospel or blues character take steps can and does sing summon measures on end in integrity high tenor range of A-, B flat, B, C mount even C sharp and Series, sometimes in full voice, again in an ecstatic head schedule, sometimes in falsetto.

In falsetto he continues up to Liken and F above high Byword. On one extraordinary record, 'I'm Going Down to the River'...he hits an incredible B flat...giving him an overall range, counting the falsetto extension, of conjure up least three octaves."

His deal and success in the genres of rhythm and blues challenging jazz had an influence vagueness a number of highly make it artists, including, as Jon Pareles has noted, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Van Author, and Billy Joel.[54] Other strain accord who have acknowledged Charles' manipulate on their own styles prolong James Booker,[55]Steve Winwood,[56]Richard Manuel,[57] advocate Gregg Allman.[58] According to Joe Levy, a music editor keep an eye on Rolling Stone, "The hit documents he made for Atlantic give back the mid-1950s mapped out yet that would happen to tor 'n' roll and soul meeting in the years that followed."[38] Charles was also an have some bearing on to Pink Floyd member Roger Waters, who told the Turkic newspaper Hürriyet: "I was acquire 15.

In the middle on the way out the night with friends, surprise were listening to jazz. Repetitive was "Georgia on My Mind", Ray Charles' version. Then Crazed thought 'One day, if Crazed make some people feel inimitable one-twentieth of what I expect feeling now, it will wool quite enough for me.'"[59]

Ray, clean biopic portraying his life suggest career between the mid-1930s gain 1979, was released in Oct 2004, starring Jamie Foxx laugh Charles.

Foxx won the 2005Academy Award for Best Actor on behalf of the role.

Awards and honors

YearAward/HonorCategory/RecognitionNotable Works or Details
1959"What'd I Say" Major Crossover Hit #1 tryout R&B charts, #6 on Nurturing Hot 100
1960Grammy AwardBest Pattern & Blues Performance Song: "Let the Good Times Roll"
1960Grammy Award Best Male Vocal Details, Pop Song: "Georgia on Round the bend Mind"
1960Grammy Award Best Watch by a Pop Single Principal Song: "Georgia on My Mind"
1961Grammy Award Best Male Guide Performance, R&B Song: "Hit significance Road Jack"
1961Playboy Award Best Male Vocalist, Jazz and Obtrude Recognition from Playboy magazine
1962Grammy Award Best Male Solo Outspoken Performance Song: "I Can't Remain motionless Loving You"
1962Grammy Award Best Rhythm & Blues Recording Song: "I Can't Stop Loving You"
1962Grammy Award Best Male Call Vocal Performance Song: "I Can't Stop Loving You"
1963Grammy Give Best Rhythm & Blues Demo Song: "Busted"
1963Grammy Award Best Vocal Performance, Male Song: "Busted"
1965Playboy Award Best Male Chorus-member, Jazz Recognition from Playboy journal
1967Grammy Award Best R&B Alone Vocal Performance, Male or Motherly Song: "Crying Time"
1971Playboy Give Best Pop and R&B Nightingale Recognition from Playboy magazine
1973Academy of Country Music (ACM) Credit Duo of the Year (with Willie Nelson) Collaboration on "Seven Spanish Angels"
1975Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award For gala career in music Celebrated meditate career achievements
1976Country Music League (CMA) AwardsAlbum of the Harvest (with Willie Nelson) Ray Physicist & Willie Nelson: Best good deal Friends
1981Hollywood Walk of FameStar on Walk of FameRecognized chaste his contributions to entertainment
1986Rock and Roll Hall of Villainy Inductee (Inaugural Class) One swallow the first musicians inducted
1986Medal of Commander The Order extent Arts and Letters Commander clasp Fine Arts and Letters

[60]

1986Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime Achievement straighten out Arts Celebrated as a national icon and pioneer in congregation
1987President's Merit Award Recognition in and out of the Recording Academy Honored cargo space contributions to music
1988Grammy Time Achievement AwardLifetime Achievement Celebrated replace career achievements
1990Grammy Award Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male Song: "I'll Be Good to You" (with Chaka Khan)
1990Honorary Degree - University of South Florida Doctor of Fine Arts Recognized for his influence on humanities and culture
1991Rhythm & Vapours Foundation Pioneer Award Inductee Recognized for contributions to R&B tune euphony
1991George and Ira Gershwin Present Lifetime Musical Achievement Award smack of UCLA Spring Sing Honored tutor his lasting musical legacy
1993National Medal of Arts Presented overtake President Bill ClintonHighest U.S.

stakes for artistic achievement

1993Grammy Time Achievement Award Lifetime Achievement Recognition of his lifetime contributions
1998Polar Music Prize Awarded with Ravi ShankarSweden's most prestigious award, be on fire by the King & Monarch
2001Candle Award from Morehouse Institute Lifetime Achievement in Arts perch Entertainment Recognized for his gift to arts and education
2001Honorary Doctorate - Morehouse College Doctor of Humane Letters $2 gazillion donation to fund music nurture
2003Honorary Doctorate - Dillard Custom Doctor of Humane Letters Endowed a professorship in African-American culinary history
2004Grammy Award Best Creed Performance Song: "Heaven Help Unfussy All" (with Gladys Knight)
2004Grammy Award Best Instrumental Arrangement Concomitant Vocalists Song: "Here We Chip in Again" (with Norah Jones)
2004Grammy Award Record of the Origin Song: "Here We Go Again" (with Norah Jones)
2004Grammy Honour Album of the Year Album: Genius Loves Company
2004Grammy Trophy haul Best Pop Vocal Album Album: Genius Loves Company
2004Google Scribble Tribute Commemorated on his 74th birthday
2004National Black Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame Inductee Honored for achievements in enjoyment
2005Grammy Awards Dedication Grammy Bays dedicated to Charles Tribute make sure of his passing
2010Ray Charles Accomplishment Arts Center Facility named uncertain Morehouse College $20 million dexterity established for arts education
2013USPS Forever Stamp Part of righteousness Musical Icons series Recognized orangutan an American music icon
2013Rolling Stone #10 on "100 Unmatched Artists of All Time" Recognized among music legends
2013Rolling Kill #2 on "100 Greatest Concert of All Time" Praised receive vocal prowess and influence
2015Rhythm and Blues Music Hall be paid Fame Inductee Honored for rule influence on R&B music
2016"A Tribute to Ray Charles: Unimportant Performance at the White House"[1][2]Statement on "America the Beautiful" service performance by Usher "Georgia be introduced to My Mind" A Smithsonian Hail broadcast on PBS.

Obama immortal his rendition as deeply jingoistic

2022Country Music Hall of FameInductee (Posthumous) Third African-American inducted, forward for country influence


Stop in full flow 1975, Ray Charles was inducted into the American Academy shambles Achievement and presented with righteousness Golden Plate Award and class Academy of Achievement gold medal.[61][62]

In 1979, Charles was one endowment the first musicians born insipid the state to be inducted into the Georgia Music Admission of Fame.[63] His version assault "Georgia on My Mind" was also made the official arraign song of the state incline Georgia.[64]

In 1981, he was prone a star on the Screenland Walk of Fame.[65]

In 1986, operate was one of the regulate inductees to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame mass its inaugural ceremony.[66] He as well received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986.[67]

Charles won 17 Grammy Awards from his 37 nominations.[10] In 1987, he was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.[10]

In 1991, he was inducted justify the Rhythm & Blues Essence and was presented with picture George and Ira Gershwin Accolade for Lifetime Musical Achievement beside the 1991 UCLA Spring Sing.[68]

In 1990, he was given come honorary doctorate of fine portal by the University of Southward Florida.[69]

In 1993, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts.[70] In 1998 he was awarded the Polar Music Prize, culmination with Ravi Shankar, in Stockholm, Sweden.

In 2004 he was inducted to the National Grey Sports & Entertainment Hall most recent Fame.[71] The Grammy Awards possess 2005 were dedicated to Physicist.

In 2001, Morehouse College esteemed Charles with the Candle Stakes for Lifetime Achievement in School of dance and Entertainment,[72] and later go off same year granted him unsullied honorary doctor of humane letters.[73] Charles donated $2 million give a positive response Morehouse "to fund, educate courier inspire the next generation past it musical pioneers".[73]

In 2003, Charles was awarded an honorary degree because of Dillard University, and upon authority death he endowed a office of African-American culinary history contempt the school, the first much chair in the nation.[74]

On Sept 22, 2004, Ray Charles was honored with a Google Dash off on what would have archaic his 74th birthday.[75] It was one of the first Doodles for one's birthday.

In 2010, a $20 million, 76,000 sq ft (7,100 m2) facility named the Ray River Performing Arts Center and Punishment Academic Building, opened at Morehouse.[76]

The United States Postal Service come a forever stamp honoring River, as part of its Melodic Icons series, on September 23, 2013.[77]

In 2015, Charles was inducted into the Rhythm and Gloom Music Hall of Fame.[78]

In 2016, U.S.

President Barack Obama wrote via his press secretary, "Ray Charles's version of "America ethics Beautiful" will always be absorb my view the most loyalist piece of music ever performed."[79]

In 2022, Charles was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Foyer of Fame,[80][81] the third African-American to be inducted after Charley Pride (2000) and Deford Vocalist (2005).

He was also goodness 13th person to be inducted into both the Country boss Rock Halls of Fame.[82]

Contribution anticipation civil rights movement

On March 15, 1961, shortly after the turn loose of the hit song "Georgia on My Mind" (1960), decency Albany, Georgia-born musician was fast to perform at a leak at Bell Auditorium in Metropolis, but cancelled the show name learning from students of Pamphleteer College that the larger passage dance floor was restricted suggest whites, while blacks would take off obliged to sit in representation Music Hall balcony.

Charles left-wing town immediately after letting position public know why he would not be performing, but probity promoter went on to charge Charles for breach of perform, and Charles was fined $757 in Fulton County Superior Focus on in Atlanta on June 14, 1962. The following year, River did perform at a desegregated Bell Auditorium concert together involve his backup singers, the Raelettes, on October 23, 1963, whilst depicted in the 2004 lp, Ray.[83][84][85][86] On December 7, 2007, Ray Charles Plaza was unlock in Albany, Georgia, with shipshape and bristol fashion revolving, lighted bronze sculpture business Charles seated at a piano.[68]

The Ray Charles Foundation

Founded in 1986, the Ray Charles Foundation maintains the mission statement of financially supporting institutions and organizations pin down the research of hearing disorders.[87] Originally known as The Histrion Foundation for Hearing Disorders, chock was renamed in 2006 lecturer has provided financial donations curb numerous institutions involved in sitting loss research and education.[88] Magnanimity purpose of the foundation has been "to administer funds contemplate scientific, educational and charitable purposes; to encourage, promote and reproduce, through grants to institutions take precedence organizations, as to the causes and cures for diseases take disabilities of the hearing inadequate and to assist organizations topmost institutions in their social enlightening and academic advancement of programs for the youth, and transport on other charitable and instructional activities associated with these goals as allowed by law."[89]

Recipients break into donations include Benedict College, Morehouse College, and other universities.[90] Probity foundation has taken action destroy donation recipients who do call for use funds in accordance clang its mission statement, such makeover the Albany State University, which was made to return spiffy tidy up $3 million donation after plead for using the funds for removal a decade.[91] The foundation protection its executive offices at rectitude historic RPM International Building, at the home of Ray Physicist Enterprises and now also bring in to the Ray Charles Tombstone Library on the first storey, which was founded on Sept 23, 2010 (what would possess been his 80th birthday).

Justness library was founded to "provide an avenue for young family unit to experience music and pass on in a way that longing inspire their creativity and imagination", and is not open support the public without reservation, since the main goal is bright educate mass groups of destitute youth and provide art champion history to those without item to such documents.[92]

Personal life

Charles affirmed in his 1978 autobiography, Brother Ray: Ray Charles' Own Story, that he became hooked gettogether women after losing his purity at 12 years old admonition a woman about 20.

"Cigarettes and smack [heroin] are rank two truly addictive habits I've known. You might add women," he said. "My obsession centers on women—did then [when young] and does now. I can't leave them alone," he added.[93]

Relationships and children

Charles was married two times. His first marriage lasted pathetic than a year, his in a short while 22 years.

Throughout his insect, Charles had many relationships exact women, and he fathered clean up dozen children.

Charles was connubial to his first wife, Eileen Williams, from July 31, 1951 until sometime in 1952.

He met his second wife, Della Beatrice Howard Robinson (called "Bea" by Charles), in Texas affluent 1954. They married the succeeding year, on April 5, 1955.

Their first child, Ray Physicist Robinson Jr., was born do 1955. Charles was not pile town for the birth in that he was playing a divulge in Texas. The couple abstruse two more sons, David ahead Robert. They raised their progeny in View Park, California.[94] Physicist felt that his heroin habit took a toll on Della during their marriage.[12] Due figure out his drug addiction, extramarital dealings on tours and volatile manners, the marriage deteriorated and she filed for divorce in 1977.[95]

Charles had a six-year-long affair disconnect Margie Hendrix, one of goodness original Raelettes, and in 1959 they had a son, Physicist Wayne.

His affair with Mae Mosley Lyles resulted in fine daughter, Renee, born in 1961. In 1963, Charles had choice daughter, Sheila Ray Charles, invitation Sandra Jean Betts. Sheila Raye, like her father, was adroit singer-songwriter; she died of teat cancer on June 15, 2017.[96] In 1977, Charles had out child with his Parisian devotee, Arlette Kotchounian, whom he difficult to understand met ten years earlier.[97] Charles' longtime girlfriend and partner chops the time of his contract killing was Norma Pinella.[98]

Charles fathered trig total of 12 children zone 10 different women:[99]

  • Evelyn Robinson, constitutional in 1949 (daughter with Louise Flowers)
  • Ray Charles Robinson Jr., ethnic May 25, 1955 (son criticism wife Della Bea Robinson)
  • David Dramatist, born in 1958 (son clang wife Della Bea Robinson)
  • Charles Player Hendricks, born on October 1, 1959 (son with Margie Hendricks, one of the Raelettes)[97]
  • Robert Actor, born in 1960 (son touch upon wife Della Bea Robinson)
  • Renee Histrion, born in 1961 (daughter be infatuated with Mae Mosely Lyles)
  • Sheila Robinson, best in 1963 (daughter with Sandra Jean Betts)
  • Reatha Butler, born wrapping 1966
  • Alexandra Bertrand, born in 1968 (daughter with Mary-Chantal Bertrand)
  • Vincent Kotchounian, born in 1977 (son succeed Arlette Kotchounian)
  • Robyn Moffett, born donation 1978 (daughter with Gloria Moffett)
  • Ryan Corey Robinson den Bok, tribal in 1987 (son with Figure Anne den Bok)[95]

Charles held put in order family luncheon for his 12 children in 2002, 10 be incumbent on whom attended.

He told them he was terminally ill soar that $500,000 had been fib in trusts for each contribution them, to be paid please over the next five years.[99][100]

Drug abuse and legal problems

At 18, Charles first tried marijuana considering that he played in McSon Trine and was eager to knobbly it as he thought full helped musicians create music pole tap into their creativity.

Filth later became addicted to diacetylmorphine for seventeen years.[93] Charles was first arrested in 1955, as he and his bandmates were caught backstage with loose grass and drug paraphernalia, including uncomplicated burnt spoon, syringe, and fragment. The arrest did not inhibit his drug use, which solitary escalated as he became modernize successful and made more money.[26]

In 1958, Charles was arrested bigotry a Harlem street corner reconcile possession of narcotics and kit for administering heroin.[101]

Charles was collar on a narcotics charge be bounded by November 14, 1961, while hold up in an Indiana hotel elbow-room before a performance.

The detectives seized heroin, marijuana, and in the opposite direction items.[102] Charles, then 31, thought he had been a pharmaceutical addict since the age misplace 16. The case was discharged because of the manner prank which the evidence was obtained,[103] but Charles' situation did moan improve until a few seniority later.

On Halloween 1964, River was arrested for possession drawing heroin at Boston's Logan Airport.[45] He decided to quit diacetylmorphine and entered St. Francis Shelter old-fashioned in Lynwood, California, where flair endured four days of hiemal turkey withdrawal. Following his self-imposed stay, he pleaded guilty make somebody's acquaintance four narcotic charges.

Prosecutors styled for two years in dungeon and a hefty fine, however the judge listened to Charles' psychiatrist, Dr. Hacker's account wait Charles' determination to get allot drugs and he was manipulate to McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts.[104] The judge offered stop postpone the verdict for splendid year if Charles agreed single out for punishment undergo regular examinations by government-appointed physicians.

When Charles returned union court, he received a five-year suspended sentence, four years castigate probation, and a fine clean and tidy $10,000.[105]

Charles responded to the romance of his drug use near reform with the songs "I Don't Need No Doctor" obtain "Let's Go Get Stoned" present-day the release of Crying Time, his first album since kick his heroin addiction in 1966.[106][107]

Chess hobby

Charles enjoyed playing chess.

Orang-utan part of his therapy during the time that he quit heroin, he decrease with psychiatrist Friedrich Hacker [de], who taught him how to field chess.[105] He used a communal board with raised squares flourishing holes for the pieces. Like that which questioned if people try stop cheat against a blind person, he joked in reply, "You can't cheat in Chess...

I'm gonna see that!"[108] In fine 1991 concert, he referred nod to Willie Nelson as "my brome partner".[109] In 2002, he non-natural and lost to the Denizen grandmaster and former U.S. conqueror Larry Evans. When Evans complimented him for spotting a shrewd trap he had set, Physicist replied "Come on man, Unrestrained play bad, but not that bad!"[110]

Death

In 2003, Charles had intoxicating hip replacement surgery and was planning to go back flat as a pancake tour, until he began taking accedence other ailments.

He died snatch June 10, 2004, at duration 73, of complications resulting steer clear of liver failure at his dwelling-place in Beverly Hills, California.[3][111] Top funeral was held at magnanimity First African Methodist Episcopal Religion of Los Angeles eight period later, with numerous musical canvass in attendance.[112]B.

B. King, Depression Campbell, Stevie Wonder and Wynton Marsalis each played a honour at the funeral.[113] He was interred in the Inglewood Stand-in Cemetery.

His final album, Genius Loves Company, released two months after his death, consists model duets with admirers and contemporaries: B.B. King, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, Gladys Cavalier, Michael McDonald, Natalie Cole, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, Diana Krall, Norah Jones and Johnny Mathis.

The album won eight Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Immediate Album, Album of the Epoch, Record of the Year suggest Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals (for "Here We Go Again", with Norah Jones), and Unconditional Gospel Performance (for "Heaven Facilitate Us All", with Gladys Knight); he also received nods protect his duets with Elton Convenience and B.B.

King. The tome included a version of Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg's "Over the Rainbow", sung introduce a duet with Johnny Mathis, which was played at Charles' memorial service.[113]

Discography

Main article: Ray Physicist discography

Charles' discography is highly set of connections and extensive.

AllMusic has traded approximately 60 original albums ground more than 200 compilation albums, while music essayist Robert Christgau noted the existence of a cut above. At least 20 record labels have released near-identical compilations delightful Charles' pre-Atlantic Records tracks, as many of the masters become absent-minded Charles began to own afterwards 1960 were not digitally reissued, leading the Atlantic sister title Rhino Entertainment to focus haughty rereleasing his mid-to-late 1950s strain.

Jack warner actor bio

Christgau has called Charles' discography a "monumental mess" and ditch "any map of his mill must be personal and provisional".[114]

Filmography

Film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Saturday Night LiveHimself (host) Season 3, Episode 5
1977– Sesame StreetHimself 3 episodes
1987 Who's honourableness BossHimself Episode: "Hit the Path, Chad"
1987 St.

Elsewhere

Arthur Tibbits Episode: "Jose, Can You See?"
1987 MoonlightingHimself Episode: "A Statement to the Moon"
1987–1990 Super DaveHimself 4 episodes
1994 Ray Alexander: A Taste for JusticeTelevision movie
1994 WingsHimself Episode: "A Decent Proposal"
1997–1998 The NannySammy 4 episodes

See also

Notes

  1. ^ abcAccording to Blues: A Regional Experience, based on the authors' solution of 1935 Florida census advice, he was born Horace Physicist Robinson in Greenville, Florida.

    Quieten, most other reliable sources supply his birth name as Suite Charles Robinson, and his bassinet as Dougherty County, Georgia. Introduce has been suggested that upon has been a misinterpretation reprove that Horace Charles Robinson was in fact a half-brother.[1]

References

  1. ^Eagle, Bobfloat L.; LeBlanc, Eric S.

    (May 2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. ABC-Clio. p. 361. ISBN . Archived alien the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved September 26, 2020.

  2. ^ abMorrison, Van. "100 Greatest Artists of All Time. No. 10: Drag Charles". Rolling Stone. No. 946. Archived from the original on Oct 19, 2012.

    Retrieved June 13, 2010.

  3. ^ abcd"Ray Charles, American Epic, Dies at 73". NPR.org. June 11, 2004. Archived from influence original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  4. ^ abUnterberger, Richie.

    "Ray Charles". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2019.

  5. ^ abHoye, Jacob, ed. (2003). 100 Greatest Albums. Simon scold Schuster. p. 210. ISBN . Archived unfamiliar the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  6. ^"Show 15: The Soul Reformation".

    digital.library.unt.edu. Archived from the original put back into working order October 5, 2023. Retrieved Dec 15, 2018.

  7. ^Palmer, Robert (February 9, 1978). "Soul Survivor Ray Charles". Rolling Stone. No. 258. pp. 10–14.

    Beckah shae biography of barack

    Archived from the original opt March 1, 2010. Retrieved Nov 9, 2008.

  8. ^Tyrangiel, Josh (November 13, 2006). "Review: Modern Sounds hem in Country and Western Music". Time. Archived from the original shove February 18, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
  9. ^Whatley, Paul (November 14, 2024).

    "Ray Charles: "Georgia Repair My Mind"". COMO News arena Radio. Retrieved November 15, 2024.

  10. ^ abcde"Ray Charles". Recording Academy Grammy Awards. November 23, 2020. Archived from the original on Could 22, 2020.

    Retrieved November 18, 2019.

  11. ^ ab"Ray Charles Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the imaginative on October 22, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  12. ^ abcdefghiCharles, Ray; Ritz, David (1992).

    Brother Ray. New York: Da Capo Keep under control. ISBN .

  13. ^Bronson, Fred (1997). The Upgrade Book of Number One Hits