Ray Charles
Ray Charles (Ray Charles Robinson) was born on September 23rd, 1930. Ray passed away June 10th, 2004 at 73 years old. Ray Charles was born in Albany, GA, USA.
Ray Charles was an American bandleader, pianist, composer, and singer who was nicknamed the Genius. Charles combined jazz, rhythm, and blues and gospel music to come up with the style that would come to be known as soul music.
He was still under a year when his family moved to Florida and settled in Greenville. At five years old, he learned how to play the piano in a neighborhood cafe, thus launching his music career. When he was six, he began losing his sight, and by the time he was seven, he was completely blind.
Very early on, Ray Charles was known for the emotionally charged performances as he drew inspiration from Nat King Cole, the Jazz and Blues pianist. By 1954, he had several successful songs influenced by gospel and blues, and this got him an offer from
Atlantic Records. In no time at all, he had a bestselling title in
What’d I Say.
Ray Charles is credited with reviving jazz through his arrangements and rhythmic piano playing, even though he has songs in other genres. In pop,
Hit the Road Jack was a big hit while
Modern Sounds in Country and Western was a bestseller with more than a million copies sold.
During the mid-1950s, Ray Charles toured all over the US alongside
The Raelettes, his female backup quartet, similar to many gospel groups of the time. He also got into film and television as a sound soundtrack composer and featured actor.
Over his long career, he won many international and national awards, including a
Lifetime Achievement Award, the
National Medal of Arts, and 13
Grammy Awards. He was also inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Ray’s career and life were showcased in
Ray, the biopic which came out in 204 and starred Jamie Foxx in he leading role, which won him an Academy Award.
In 1978, Ray Charles published his memoir titled
Brother Ray: Ray Charles' Own Story. In the work, he tells the story of how he developed as a musical artist, how he got addicted to heroin, and his complicated romantic life.
He overcame the loss of his parents, blindness, poverty, and racism of his time to become a mega star by the time he turned 32. Combining several genres of music, he pioneered a new genre of music that became modern soul.
Charles would go on to have a very successful career that spanned more than fifty years.
Ray Charles: F.A.Q
When was Ray Charles Born?
Ray Charles was born on September 23rd, 1930.
When did Ray Charles die?
Ray Charles died on June 10th, 2004 at 73 years old.
Where was Ray Charles Born?
Ray Charles was born in Albany, GA, USA.
What was the first book Ray Charles wrote?
The first book written by Ray Charles was Brother Ray: Ray Charles' Own Story, published in 1978.
What was the most recent book Ray Charles wrote?
His most recently released work was Brother Ray: Ray Charles' Own Story on January 1st, 1978.
How many books has Ray Charles written?
Ray Charles has written 1 book. All of his books are Non-Fiction Books.