Ray Charles

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This article is about the rhythm and blues singer. For other uses, see Ray Charles (disambiguation).

It has been suggested that Sheila Raye Charles be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since June 2017.

Ray Charles
Charles in 1990
Background information
Birth name	Horace Charles Robinson[1]
Born	September 23, 1930 Albany, Georgia, U.S.[2]
Origin	Greenville, Florida, U.S.
Died	June 10, 2004 (aged 73) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul blues gospel country jazz pop rock and roll
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer, songwriter, composer
Instruments	Vocals piano keyboards
Years active	1947–2004
Labels	Atlantic ABC Warner Bros. Swing Time Concord Columbia Flashback
Associated acts	The Raelettes USA for Africa Billy Joel Gladys Knight
Website	www.raycharles.com

Horace Charles Robinson^[1] (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004), known professionally as Ray Charles, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and composer. Among friends and fellow musicians he preferred being called "Brother Ray." He was often referred to as "The Genius."^[3][4] Charles was blind from the age of seven.

He pioneered the genre of soul music during the 1950s by combining blues, rhythm and blues, and gospel styles into the music he recorded for Atlantic Records.^[5][6][7] He also contributed to the integration of country music, rhythm and blues and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, most notably with his two Modern Sounds albums.^[8][9][10] While he was with ABC, Charles became one of the first black musicians to be granted artistic control by a mainstream record company.^[6]

Charles cited Nat King Cole as a primary influence, but his music was also influenced by country, jazz, blues, and rhythm and blues artists of the day, including Louis Jordanand Charles Brown.^[11] He became friends with Quincy Jones. Their friendship lasted until the end of Charles's life. Frank Sinatra called Ray Charles "the only true genius in show business," although Charles downplayed this notion.^[12]

In 2002, Rolling Stone ranked Charles number ten on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time,"^[3] and number two on their November 2008 list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time."^[13] Billy Joel observed, "This may sound like sacrilege, but I think Ray Charles was more important than Elvis Presley".^[14]

Contents

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• 1Early life and education
• 2Career
  • 2.11945–1952: Life in Florida, Los Angeles, Seattle and first hits
  • 2.21952–1959: Atlantic Records
  • 2.31959–1971: Crossover success
  • 2.41971–1983: Commercial decline
  • 2.51983–2004: Later years
• 3Death
• 4Personal life
  • 4.1Substance abuse and legal issues
  • 4.2Other interests
• 5Legacy
  • 5.1Influence on music industry
  • 5.2Awards and honors
  • 5.3Contribution to civil rights movement
  • 5.4The Ray Charles Foundation
• 6Discography
• 7Filmography
• 8Television
• 9References
• 10Bibliography
• 11External links
  Note from author: I don't know why but he was really in my spirit to write about him. I am a very spiritual person and I will tell you he want all to know that he is proud of his family and all those he miss.