Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23, 1930, in Albany, Georgia. He later dropped his last name to avoid confusion with the famous boxer Sugar Ray Robinson.
Ray Charles began losing his sight at the age of five due to glaucoma and was completely blind by the age of seven. He attended the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. Here he learned to read and write music in Braille.
Charles mastered the piano, clarinet, saxophone, and trumpet as a musical prodigy. A wide range of music, including gospel, blues, jazz, and country, deeply influenced him.
In the early 1950s, Ray Charles signed with Atlantic Records, where he began to develop his unique sound, blending gospel and blues to create what would later be known as soul music.
Listeners widely consider Ray Charles's 1954 hit "I Got a Woman" one of the first soul songs. It combines gospel fervor with secular lyrics and rhythm and blues instrumentation.
People admired Ray Charles for his ability to cross musical genres. He achieved groundbreaking success with his 1962 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, which blended country with soul and jazz.
Charles released his hit song "Georgia on My Mind" in 1960, and Georgia adopted it as the official state song in 1979. Audiences widely regard it as one of his most iconic performances.
Ray Charles won 17 Grammy Awards during his career, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. His influence on music is immeasurable. He is often credited with helping to shape modern pop, R&B, and soul.
In 1986, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Ray Charles as one of its first members, recognizing his profound impact on the development of rock and roll.
Fans recognized Charles for collaborating with other artists, including his famous duet with Willie Nelson on Seven Spanish Angels and performances with artists like Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin.
Despite his success, Ray Charles struggled with heroin addiction for many years. He was arrested several times before finally overcoming his addiction in the 1960s.
Ray Charles was an advocate for civil rights and used his platform to support the movement. He refused to perform in segregated venues, including a famous incident in Georgia. There he canceled a concert because black and white audiences were seated separately.
Filmmakers chronicled Charles' life in the 2004 biographical film Ray, with Jamie Foxx delivering an Academy Award-winning portrayal of the legendary musician.
Ray Charles was also a successful businessman, founding his own record label Tangerine Records. His music publishing companies, which allowed him greater control over his work.
Ray Charles passed away on June 10, 2004, at the age of 73, but his music continues to inspire and influence artists across all genres, solidifying his place as one of the greatest musicians of all time.
