Ray Charles invented Soul music by mixing Saturday night blues with Sunday morning gospel. You likely recognize his dark glasses and swaying smile. However, his life was full of incredible contradictions. He was a blind man who drove cars and flew airplanes. Furthermore, he battled a severe addiction and won. He stood up against segregation and changed the laws of his home state. Let’s explore the life of the Genius.
Ray Charles
Ray Charles was not born blind. He began losing his sight at age four because of glaucoma. Sadly, he went completely blind by the age of seven.
He famously drove his own car on several occasions. He would drive his Peugeot in parking lots while his staff gave him directions. Consequently, he satisfied his need for speed despite his disability.
The musician was an excellent chess player. He used a special board with raised squares and holes for the pieces. Thus, he could feel the board to strategize against opponents like Willie Nelson.
He owned and flew his own airplane. Of course, a licensed pilot sat in the co-pilot seat to handle takeoffs and landings. However, Ray Charles controlled the plane once it reached a cruising altitude.
Ray Charles Robinson dropped his last name early in his career. He wanted to avoid confusion with the famous boxer Sugar Ray Robinson. Therefore, he performed simply as Ray Charles.
He refused to play for a segregated audience in Georgia in 1961. The promoter sued him for breach of contract, and the state effectively banned him. Decades later, the state government issued a formal public apology.
He read and wrote music using Braille. Remarkably, he could hear a full big band arrangement in his head. Then, he would dictate the notes to his team note by note.
Frank Sinatra called him the only true genius in show business. This high praise came from a man who rarely complimented other male singers. Thus, the nickname “The Genius” stuck with him forever.
He struggled with a heroin addiction for nearly two decades. Finally, he got arrested at an airport and decided to go to rehab. He successfully quit the drug in 1966 and remained clean thereafter.
Pepsi paid him millions to star in their commercials in the 90s. The catchy slogan “You Got the Right One, Baby” became a global phenomenon. Consequently, a new generation of fans discovered his music.
“Georgia On My Mind” became the official state song of Georgia. The state legislature adopted it in 1979 to honor the man they once banned. Ray Charles performed it live on the floor of the legislature.
He fathered a total of twelve children with ten different women. Despite his busy touring schedule, he reportedly gave each child 500,000 dollars. He wanted to ensure they had a good start in life.
Ray Charles never used a cane or a guide dog. Instead, he relied on the sound of his hard-soled shoes to navigate rooms. He listened to the echoes to judge distances and objects.
He founded a charitable organization for the people with hearing loss. Although he was blind, he believed that losing hearing was a worse fate for a musician. Therefore, he donated millions to help people keep their hearing.
He combined gospel music with secular blues lyrics. Religious leaders initially called his music blasphemous and sinful. However, this controversial mixture eventually created the entirely new genre of Soul music.
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