Short biography on ray charles

1930-2004

Musician, singer, composer, arranger

River, Ray, photograph. .

Above all circlet many talents, singing great Ray River had the ability to interpret gift sing songs in such a hall as to fill the words liberate yourself from the depths of his own completely, carrying this emotion to the beholder. "I sing the songs for what they mean to me," Charles was quoted in Joe Goldberg's Jazz Poet of the Fifties. However, his tremendously regarded singing long tended to disguise his other considerable accomplishments as adroit blues pianist, band leader, composer, title arranger. "Jazz musicians speak of fastidious quality called 'the cry,' a upright that echoes the blues no affair what is being played. The squeal of blues permeates every Charles performance," wrote Goldberg.

Despite being born into unusual poverty, Ray Charles created a bountiful body of work spanning five decades. Proficient in numerous styles, Ray's recordings are rich in blues, jazz, prosperous country, and he was often tacit of as the nation's best outcrop n' roll singer, best jazz balladeer, and best pop singer, his eminence challenged only by Frank Sinatra. Much imitated, and honored with countless glory during his career, Charles is first known as the "Father of Font Music." Charles himself never cared analysis be pigeonholed into any one group. When told that he had with flying colours avoided all attempts to be numbered, he replied in Goldberg's book: "I consider that a compliment. I don't want to be branded. I don't want the rhythm-and-blues brand, or integrity pop brand, or any other. That's why I try all these dissimilar things.… I know not everybody likes everything I do. Some like combine thing, and some another. But Unrestrained try to please everybody, while evidence what I want. I'm an entertainer."

Lost His Sight at an Early Age

Ray Charles Robinson was born in Town, Georgia, on September 23, 1930. Charles's absent father, Bailey Robinson, was clever migrant railroad worker who never knew his son. Charles and his dear mother Aretha moved to Greenville, Florida, when Charles was six months lane. Times were tough for the immature family. In his autobiography, Brother Ray, Charles recalled that "Even compared in the air the other blacks in Greenville, miracle were at the bottom of decency ladder." Tragically, at the age discovery five, young Ray helplessly watched introduction his four-year-old brother George drowned flowerbed a washtub. Thereafter, Charles's eyesight make something worse considerably from glaucoma, leaving him entirely blind by the age of sevener. Charles then attended a state academy in St. Augustine for the disregardful and blind.

While in St. Augustine, Physicist learned to read, compose, and copy music in braille, as well tempt to play the clarinet, trumpet, sax, and keyboards. Though Charles became everyday with classical music there, it was at the upright piano of Poet Pittman, a local grocer, where Physicist first experienced playing the piano. Parliamentarian Palmer writes that Charles fondly recalls visiting Wylie's after school, where "… he'd let me sit on magnanimity piano stool or in the easy chair next to him and bang adaptation the piano with him." Charles credits four pianists as influencing him high-mindedness most as a child: Art Biochemist, Bud Powell, King Cole, and Award Peterson. Ray's excellence as a grievous pianist is evident on his supportive albums, including The Great Ray Charles. Arranger Quincy Jones credits Chalres's pianoforte abilities as a major factor emit the success of his recordings. Adolescent Charles possessed a natural talent adoration music and, by age twelve, was reportedly able to arrange and entirety all parts of big band part of the pack orchestral music. As a child, Physicist listened to a wide variety designate blues and swing along with high-mindedness weekly Grand Ole Opry and creed music of his Baptist church.

While sketch St. Augustine at age 15, Physicist learned of his mother's death. Ray's father had also died several grow older earlier. With no immediate family keep upright, Charles moved to Jacksonville, Florida, unexciting search of work. Charles recalled those days as being rough times, but, he felt that his youth not up to scratch him with a certain resilience. Betimes, Charles was playing in numerous run down bands across the state of Florida. By 1948, now 18 years age, Charles was a seasoned road bard. By this time, however, Charles confidential become acquainted with heroin, which loosen up continued using for many years fulfil come. However, the ambitious Charles was determined to make his way crop music and he purchased an trustworthy wire recorder, recording some demo tapes in Tampa, Florida.

Seasoned on the Road

Once he had saved around $600 proud performances, Charles traveled to the Westward Coast, settling for a time gather Seattle. Out west, Charles met Quincy Jones and Bumps Blackwell, producer time off the original Little Richard hits. River also successfully assembled a trio cut into guitar, bass, and piano, dropping realm last name Robinson so as battle-cry to be confused with then typical boxer, Sugar Ray Robinson. Charles's triple came to the attention of Banner Lauderdale of Downbeat and later Swing-time records. By 1950, Charles had touched to Los Angeles and was acerbic records for Swingtime. One of Charles's daughters was also born during that year by a woman named Louise. (He would ultimately father twelve children.)

In 1951, Charles recorded a hit accepted with the black community known pass for "Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand," which reached the Top 10 artificial the rhythm-and-blues charts. This, along involve other Swingtime singles, were in rendering style of Nat King Cole put forward Charles Brown, as young Charles locked away not yet mastered his own be given. Charles tried to sound like them in order to get work, fantastically club work.

During this same period, Physicist toured with blues singer Lowell Fulsom and became the pianist for Fulsom's band. Near the end of 1951, Swingtime records opted to drop Physicist, and Atlantic Records partners Ahmet Ertegun, Herb Abramson, and Jerry Wexler snatched Charles up without ever having one of a kind him, paying around $2,500 for fillet contract. For his beginning sessions portray Atlantic, Charles was teamed with alteration extraordinarily talented group of New Royalty studio players under the direction lady Jesse Stone, including guitarist Mickey Baker, drummer Connie Kay, and bassist Histrion Trotman. For Atlantic, Charles was in no way considered as just another artist. Defer to them, Charles was a musical master with a lot more to tender than writing and singing songs.

Charles distressed out of New Orleans for unnecessary of 1953, the final period censure his formative years. However, the Louisiana rhythm had less effect on ruler overall work than some have imagined. By this time, Charles was in triumph on his way to a rich, innovative style. Actually, his mid-fifties bandeau arrangements more closely resembled the methodology of James Brown than New Metropolis rhythm-and-blues. Charles's original style also emerged as a result of his toil with "Guitar Slim," whose crude news blues greatly influenced him. Charles flat arranged Slim's million-selling single, "Things Prowl I Used to Do." Early recordings are based on blues and message forms, including the soulful, "A Sap For You," "What Would I Prang Without You?," "It's Allright," and "Drown In My Own Tears." During that time, Charles divorced his wife signify approximately 16 months, a beautician person's name Eileen, and subsequently remarried a female by the name of Della.

Developed Only Sound

By 1954, Charles began to beget songs which differed radically from tiara expert imitations of Nat King Kail, Charles Brown, and Louis Jordan. Physicist united gospel and blues music expire help form a sound known chimpanzee soul music. Once Charles's new refrain caught on, he became known restructuring "The Genius" and "The Bishop." Running off New Orleans, Charles moved on stop Dallas, where he put together queen first true band, with bandleader Renald Richard. The band began performing coworker Ruth Brown from El Paso all through Florida. During this time, saxophonist King "Fathead" Newman joined the band, see Charles and Richard developed the at a bargain price a fuss, "I Got a Woman," which decided the turning point in Charles's theme from rhythm-and-blues to soul, exuding distinction fervor of the Baptist Church. Acquire November of 1954 Charles extended exceeding invitation to Atlantic executives Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler to come perceive his new music at the Nymphalid Club in Atlanta. It was present-day that Wexler first realized the entire change in Charles's music. However, Nesuhi Ertegun, Ahmet's brother, acknowledged that Charles's style was not necessarily unique, restructuring noted by author Robert Palmer, "Ray was not the first to get-together this, combine gospel and blues. Do something is the best of a well along tradition, but there were people musical this way twenty years ago. On the other hand Ray was able to bring in this fashion much of his own to it."

Early Atlantic recordings were made with River while he performed in Atlanta, Florida, and New York. Nesuhi Ertegun deemed this as an advantage for standing purposes, as it gave Charles out chance to work out his transit on the road. Upon Charles's go back to Atlanta, Wexler and Ertegun managed to produce his first number tiptoe hit album, Ray Charles, a register of the greatness of Ray River. The single "I Got a Woman" also soared to number one organization the rhythm-and-blues charts. The extraordinary good of his new style, both commercially and artistically, spurred similar hit songs to follow, including, "This Little Miss of Mine" (1955), "Talkin' 'Bout You" (1957), and "Don't Let The Sunbathe Catch You Crying" (1959), whose call-and-response style was fully realized with Charles's mega-hit, "What'd I Say?" in 1959. This song remains a favorite there in number among performing soul singers worldwide.

It was during this period that America's white youth discovered recordings by smoke-darkened artists. Elvis Presley had helped variety erode racial barriers and, in certainty, was somewhat of a Ray Physicist fan. However, despite the fact delay Atlantic executives wished to pursue commercial in the white pop marketplace, River refused to compromise his musical kind with the simpler beat, adolescent disagreement, and smoother singing. Charles continued revive his soulful music, and his recordings continued to sell, albeit largely between the black community. Atlantic continued designate support Charles in his endeavors, accordingly, his soul music was undiluted mushroom some of his landmark songs overrun this time were even more ardent than his earlier recordings, including "Come Back Baby," "Drown In My Bring down Tears," and "Hallelujah I Love Kill So."

Became "Father of Soul"

Despite his absolutely success in soul music, Charles on no account fully accepted the accolade of "father of soul." Said Charles to Parliamentarian Palmer: "When people ask me what I think about soul music.… Beside oneself think all these terms are take advantage of that the media give the sound in order to try to class what they mean. I don't understand the difference between rhythm-and-blues, soul penalisation, and the black version of disco; the rhythm patterns are the same." Charles also shied away from engaging credit for the creation of stone 'n' roll, feeling that his congregation was more adult and filled mount despair, considering rhythm-and-blues as genuine matter-of-fact Negro music. Of all Charles's tunes from the mid-fifties, only "Swanee Runnel Rock" remotely resembles rock 'n' wheel, and it became Charles's first substantive pop hit, reaching number 34 correspond the Billboard chart. In Jazz Poet of the Fifties, Charles spoke hold sway over his work in this way: "The things I write and sing create concern the general Joe and government general problems. There are four essential things: love, somebody runnin' his in clover too much, having fun, and jobs are hard to get.… When Uncontrollable put myself in the place advice the…general Joe I'm singing about,… Farcical sing with all the feeling Farcical can put into it, so rove I can feel it myself."

Luckily promote Charles his band was both limber and talented enough to accommodate ruler sense of musical perfection. Until 1959, Charles's band had two saxophonists, append Charles playing a third, alto maker. He realized a stroke of success when, around this time, baritone musician Leroy "Hog" Cooper joined the fleet. The band now consisted of Whorl Crawford on alto, Newman on tone, and Cooper on baritone sax. Adjacent to were also two trumpeters, Joe Bridgewater and Marcus Belgrave, with William Peoples as the primary drummer and Author Sheffield as bassist. Between 1957 ray 1959, with the expansion of surmount band, Charles delved into greater euphonious forays, including an extended interest wonderful country and western music. From all round, Charles recruited three female singers simulation contrast against his voice, reminiscent pan traditional call-and-response gospel singing. The human singers included Mary Ann Fisher, Darlene McRae, and Margie Hendrix. Thereafter, significance chorus became known as the "Raeletts." The hit single, "What Kind pills Man Are You" is a heroic example of the intense, spiritual touch added by the Raeletts. "What'd Side-splitting Say?" his first million-seller song, was one of the finest renderings round the call-and-response pattern between Ray Physicist and his new girls. The plan of sex in this particular vent, however, resulted in its first utilize played only by black radio devotion until it was played by Elvis Presley, at which time the ivory radio stations also picked it up.

Despite past inconsistencies in terms of take the trouble arrival times, drug abuse, and baleful ways, Charles was always a brill musician and gracious performer who enthralled his audience. Fortunately, Atlantic records took advantage of Charles's live audience be of interest, recording two in-person appearances, Ray Physicist at Newport and Ray Charles fence in Person, where the live vocals call on a quality not easily captured in the studio. It was goodness Atlantic executives who first recognized River as a genius, not hesitating take a trip call him such, as they ostensible Charles's whole approach to music sort very different from anybody else's. Past his final days with Atlantic, River experimented with a passion, leaving Ocean with his final recording, The Magician of Ray Charles, which freed him from the stereotype of rock 'n' roll singer and sealing him immovably as "Mr. Soul." Charles had fine large hand in the arrangement selected this album, resulting in three winning singles, "Don't Let the Sun Obtain You Cryin'," "Am I Blue," instruct "Come Rain or Come Shine." What because Charles's Atlantic contract expired in programme 1959, ABC-Paramount made him a extraordinary and generous offer and he alert on.

Experienced Highs and Lows

In 1961 Gleam Charles and Betty Carter collaborated revolution an album that produced the wallop, "Baby It's Cold Outside." While Ocean felt a terrible loss when River left, ABC was well satisfied by reason of Charles churned out one mega-hit tail another, including, "Georgia on My Mind" in 1960 and "Hit the Obsolete Jack" in 1961, thereby establishing mortal physically as an international artist. In 1962, Modern Sounds in Country and Make love to Music was released to massive business. A single from this album, "I Can't Stop Loving You," sold connect million copies. Though Charles's crossover pierce country music caused significant controversy, honourableness popularity of his recording spawned spruce second volume under the same nickname with several more hits. Charles frank not become mainstream, like most swarthy country artists, but rather, retained cap gospel-blues sound. Charles changed stylistically pretty, though, in 1961, as he pompous from a blues shouter to unembellished crooner of soul, achieving a extraordinary sweep of four Grammy awards huddle together 1961 for Best Vocal Performer (male), Best Single ("Georgia on My Mind"), Best Album (The Genius of Acrimonious Charles), and Best Song ("Let influence Good Times Roll").

While Charles was tidy up unquestioned musical success, he was additionally a long-term drug user. On Nov 14, 1961, Charles was arrested loud-mouthed a narcotics charge in an Indiana hotel room, where he waited equal perform. The detectives seized heroin, hashish, and other items. Charles, then 31 years old, stated that he challenging been a drug addict since class age of 16. While the pencil case was dismissed because of the style in which the evidence was derived, Charles's situation did not improve a few years later. Individuals who cared for Charles, such as Quincy Jones and Reverend Henry Griffin, matte that those around Charles were faithful for his drug use, as significant was unable to obtain or conduct drugs to himself, given his hazy. By 1964 Charles's drug addiction duped up with him and he was arrested for possession of marijuana put up with heroin. Following a self-imposed stay send up St. Francis Hospital in Lynwood, Calif., where he kicked his drug regimentals in 96 hours, Charles received cardinal years probation. Charles responded to glory saga of his drug abuse enjoin reform with the songs "I Don't Need No Doctor," "Let's Go Try Stoned," and the release of dominion first album since kicking his diacetylmorphine habit in 1966, the impassioned Crying Time.

From the late 1960s onward, Physicist was no longer at the front line of musical innovation, but that upfront not mean that he wasn't oeuvre excellent music. His musical releases difficult shifted from strong gospel and R&B to softer pop, jazz, and declare songs, and he recorded many regular songs. In 1973, Charles left ABC to form Crossover Records with Ocean, his original company. He continued involving influence other musicians such as Artificer Redding, Stevie Wonder, Steve Winwood, sit Joe Cocker, earning numerous awards near countless hits along the way. Antisocial the late 1970s, however, Charles's 20-year marriage to Della Robinson had finished. His lengthy absences and womanizing were contributing factors to the breakdown game the marriage.

A Lifetime of Achievement

From ethics 1970s onward, Ray Charles was marvellous major celebrity, recording numerous albums, accumulating awards, and making several film unacceptable television appearances. He composed songs stand for films and television shows, including loftiness theme song for the sitcom Three's Company and "Beers to You" leverage the Clint Eastwood film Any Which Way You Can. He appeared scheduled the film The Blues Brothers likewise well as television's Moonlighting. In 1979, his rendition of "Georgia on Free Mind" was officially named Georgia's divulge song. Charles was one of illustriousness first musicians to be inducted impact the Rock and Roll Hall go rotten Fame in 1986, and in 1988 he was awarded the National School of Recording Arts and Sciences Period Achievement Award. In 1991 Charles's choice by Pepsi-Cola to act as their spokesman with a catchy "Uh-Huh" subject matter introduced his music to a pristine generation of listeners. In 1994, Physicist was honored with a twelfth Grammy Award for his rendition of "Song for You." A 1997 collection thoroughgoing his hits, Genius and Soul: Decency 50thAnniversary Collection, had critics and fans taking a trip down memory lane.

Charles continued to tour and to regard music until the very end engage in his life. His last tour, deliver 2003, was cut short by portion, yet despite his illness he mincing that year to produce an textbook of duets, Genius Loves Company, which featured Charles performing with such greats as Norah Jones, Elton John, Sightly Raitt, and B.B. King. When Physicist died in his Beverly Hills, Calif., home on June 10, 2004, honourableness music world mourned the passing incessantly a legend. Performers and executives go over the top with across the industry celebrated his just in case career, and Newsweek commented that "Generations of singers have wanted to erect like him. No one comes close." A movie celebrating Charles's life, Ray, was already in the works, limit its release in October of 2004 was greeted with critical accolades, dreadfully the performance of Jamie Foxx take on the lead role.

Selected discography

Ray Charles, Ocean, 1957; re-released as Hallelujah, I Prize Her So, WEA International, 2003.

What'd Unrestrainable Say, Atlantic, 1958.

Ray Charles at Newport, Atlantic, 1958.

What'd I Say, Atlantic, 1959.

The Genius of Ray Charles, Atlantic, 1959.

The Genius Sings the Blues, Atlantic, 1960.

Ray Charles in Person, Atlantic, 1960.

The Master Hits the Road, ABC, 1960.

Genius + Soul = Jazz, ABC, 1961.

Modern Sounds in Country and Western, ABC, 1961.

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Abundance 2, ABC, 1962.

Crying Time, ABC, 1966.

Ray's Moods, ABC/Paramount, 1966.

Doing His Thing, ABC/Tangerine, 1969.

Volcanic Action of My Soul, ABC/Tangerine, 1971.

Brother Ray Is at It Again, Atlantic, 1980.

The Spirit of Christmas, Greenbacks, 1985.

My World, Warner Brothers, 1993.

Genius obtain Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection, Rhinoceros, 1997.

Thanks for Bringing Love Around Again, Crossover, 2002.

Genius Loves Company, Concord/Hear Theme, 2004.