Ray Charles was the stage name of Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004). He was a pioneering American pianist and soul musician who shaped the sound of rhythm and blues. He brought a soulful sound to country music, pop standards, and a rendition of "America the Beautiful" that Ed Bradley of 60 Minutes called the "definitive version of the song, an American anthem — a classic, just as the man who sang it."

Frank Sinatra called him "the only true genius in the business." And in 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Ray Charles #10 on their list of The Immortals: 100 Greatest Artists of All Time..

Ray Charles Robinson was born in Albany, Georgia to Bailey and Aretha Robinson. The family moved to Greenville, Florida, when Ray was an infant. Bailey had two more families, leaving Aretha to raise the family. When Charles was five, he witnessed his younger brother drown in his mother's large portable laundry tub.

When he was six, Charles began to go blind, becoming totally blind by the age of seven. Charles never knew exactly why he lost his sight, though there are sources which suggest Ray's blindness was due to glaucoma. He attended school at the St. Augustine School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine, Florida. He also learned how to write music and play various musical instruments. While he was there, his mother died. His father died two years later.

After he left school, Charles began working as a musician in several bands that played in various styles, including jazz and, in Tampa “with a hillbilly band called The Florida Playboys.

Charles moved to Seattle in 1947 or 1948. He soon started recording, first for the label Swingtime Records, achieving his first hit with "Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand" in 1951, then signed with Ahmet Ertegun at Atlantic Records a year later. When he entered show business, his name was shortened to Ray Charles to avoid confusion with boxer Sugar Ray Robinson.

Middle years

Almost immediately after signing with Atlantic, Charles scored his first branch of hits with the label with the rap-like "It Should Have Been Me" and the Ertegun-composed "Mess Around", both charting in 1953. But it was Charles' own self-composed "I Got a Woman" that broke the musician to national prominence. The song reached the top of Billboard's R&B singles chart in 1955 and from there until 1959, Charles would have a series of R&B chart-toppers including "This Little Girl of Mine", "Lonely Avenue", "Mary Ann", "Drown in My Own Tears" and "The Night Time (Is the Right Time)". During this time of transition, he recruited a young girl group from New York named the Cookies as his background singing group changing their name to the Raelettes in the process. In 1959, Charles crossed over to top 40 radio with the release of his impromptu blues number, "What'd I Say", which was initially conceived while Charles was in concert. The song would peak at number one R&B and would become Charles' first top ten single on the pop charts where it peaked at number-six. Charles would also record one of his finest albums, The Genius of Ray Charles, before leaving Atlantic for a more lucrative deal with ABC in 1959. Hit songs such as "Georgia On My Mind", "Hit the Road Jack" and "Unchain My Heart" helped him transition to pop success and his landmark 1962 album, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, helped to bring country into the mainstream.

Later years

In 1965, Charles was arrested for possession of heroin, a drug to which he had been addicted for 17 years. It was his third arrest for the offense, but he avoided prison time after kicking the habit in a clinic in Los Angeles. He spent a year on parole in 1966.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Charles' releases were hit-or-miss, with some big hits and critically acclaimed work, and some music that was dismissed as unoriginal and staid. His version of "Georgia On My Mind," was proclaimed the state song of Georgia on April 24, 1979, with Charles performing it on the floor of the state legislature. He also had success with his unique version of "America the Beautiful." In November 1977 Charles appeared as the host of NBC's Saturday Night Live.

In the late 1980s a number of events increased Charles' recognition among young audiences. He made a cameo appearance in the popular 1980 film The Blues Brothers. In 1985, "The Right Time" was featured in the episode "Happy Anniversary" of The Cosby Show on NBC. The cast members used the song to perform a wildly popular lip-synch that helped the show secure its wide audience.. Charles' new connection with audiences helped secure an advertising spot for Diet Pepsi. In a Pepsi Cola commercial of the early 1990s, Charles popularized the catchphrase "You Got the Right One, Baby!"

In 1989, Charles recorded cover version of the Japanese distinguished band Southern All Stars' song for the TV advertisement of Suntory Limited, a Japanese brewing company. It provided his later career with unexpected commercial success. The cover version called "Ellie My Love" climbed the Japan's Oricon chart and reached #3 on there. Eventually, it sold more than 400,000 copies, and became that year's best-selling single performed by Western artist on Japanese music market.

In the late '80s and early '90s, Charles made appearances on The Super Dave Osbourne Show, where he performed and appeared in a few vignettes where he was somehow driving a car, often as Super Dave's chauffeur. At the height of his newfound fame in the early nineties, Charles did guest vocals for quite a few projects. He also appeared (with Chaka Khan) on long time friend Quincy Jones' hit "I'll Be Good To You" in 1990, from Jones' album Back on the Block.

During the sixth season of Designing Women, Ray Charles vocally performed "Georgia On My Mind", rather than the song being rendered by other musicians without lyrics as in the previous five seasons.

Final appearances

Gladys Knight performed Charles' "Georgia On My Mind" during the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.

In 2002 Charles headlined during the Blues Passions Cognac festival in southern France. At one point in the performance a young fan rose to his feet and began to sing an a cappella version of Charles' early song, "Mess Around"; Charles responded by performing the song.

In June, 2003, Ray Charles presented one of his greatest admirers and influences, Van Morrison, with his award upon being inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the two sang Morrison's song from the Moondance album, "Crazy Love". This performance is captured on Morrison's 2007 album, The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3.

In 2003 Charles performed "Georgia On My Mind" and "America the Beautiful" at a televised annual electronic media journalist banquet held in Washington, D.C., at what may have been his final performance in public. Ray Charles' final public appearance came on April 30, 2004, at the dedication of his music studio as a historic landmark in the city of Los Angeles.

He died on June 10, 2004 of "liver disease", at his home in Beverly Hills, California, surrounded by family and friends. His death was not due to liver cancer as was erroneously reported on certain websites He was interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.

His final album, Genius Loves Company, released two months after his death, consists of duets with various admirers and contemporaries: B.B. King, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, Gladys Knight, Michael McDonald, Natalie Cole, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Idina Menzel, and Johnny Mathis. The album won eight Grammy Awards, including five for Ray Charles for Best Pop Vocal Album, Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Here We Go Again" with Norah Jones, and Best Gospel Performance for "Heaven Help Us All" with Gladys Knight; he also received nods for his duets with Elton John and B.B. King.

The album included a version of Harold Arlen's "Over the Rainbow", sung as a duet by Charles and Johnny Mathis; that recording was later played at his memorial service.

Two more posthumous albums,Genius & Friends ( Sept 05) and Ray Sings, Basie Swings (Oct 06), were released. Genius & Friends consisted of duets recorded from 97-05 with artists were personally chosen by Ray Charles. Ray Sings, Basie Swings consists of archived vocals of Ray Charles from a live 1973 performance added to Count Basie's music. Charles' vocals recorded from the concert mixing board were added to a new accompaniment by the Count Basie Orchestra (among others). Gregg Field, who had performed as a drummer with both Charles and Basie,produced this album.

Discography

• 1957: Ray Charles (or, Hallelujah I Love Her So)
• 1957: The Great Ray Charles
• 1957: Yes Indeed!
• 1958: Soul Brothers (with Milt Jackson)
• 1958: Soul Meeting (with Milt Jackson)
• 1959: Ray Charles at Newport
• 1959: What'd I Say (album)
• 1959: The Genius of Ray Charles
• 1960: In Person
• 1960: The Genius Hits the Road
• 1960: Dedicated to You
• 1961: Ray Charles and Betty Carter
• 1961: Genius + Soul = Jazz
• 1962: Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
• 1962: Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music Volume Two
• 1962: The Greatest Ever (Coronet CXS 203 - Includes songs by Harry Belafonte)
• 1963: Ingredients in a Recipe For Soul
• 1964: Sweet & Sour Tears
• 1964: Have A Smile With Me
• 1965: Live in Concert
• 1965: Together Again
• 1966: Crying Time
• 1966: Ray's Moods
• 1967: Invites You to Listen
• 1968: Portrait of Ray
• 1968: I'm All Yours Baby!
• 1969: Doing His Thing
• 1970: Love Country Style
• 1970: My Kind of Jazz
• 1971: Volcanic Action of My Soul
• 1972: A Message From the People
• 1972: Through the Eyes of Love
• 1972: Jazz Number II
• 1974: Come Live With Me
• 1975: Renaissance
• 1975: My Kind of Jazz, Part 3
• 1977: True to Life
• 1978: Love & Peace
• 1979: Ain't It So
• 1980: Brother Ray Is At It Again
• 1983: Wish You Were Here Tonight
• 1984: Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
• 1984: Friendship
• 1985: The Spirit of Christmas
• 1986: From the Pages of My Mind
• 1987: Live
• 1988: Just Between Us
• 1990: Would You Believe?
• 1993: My World (Ray Charles album)
• 1996: Strong Love Affair
• 2002: Thanks For Bringing Love Around Again
• 2004: Genius Loves Company
• 2005: Genius & Friends
• 2006: Ray Sings, Basie Swings

Ray: The Film

Charles was significantly involved in the biopic Ray, an October 2004 film which portrays his life and career between 1930 and 1966 and stars Jamie Foxx as Charles. Foxx won the 2005 Academy Award for Best Actor for the role.

Before shooting could begin, however, director Taylor Hackford brought Foxx to meet Charles, who insisted that they sit down at two pianos and play together. For two hours, Charles challenged Foxx, who revealed the depth of his talent, and finally, Charles stood up, hugged Foxx, and gave his blessing, proclaiming, "He's the one... he can do it."

Charles was able to attend a showing of the completed film, but he died before it opened in theaters.

As noted in the film's final credits, Ray is based on true events, but includes some characters, names, locations, events which have been changed and others which have been "fictionalized for dramatization purposes." One example of the film's use of dramatic license are the scenes which refer to Charles as being banned from Georgia.

The film's credits note that he is survived by 12 children, 21 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren.

Halls of Fame and other honors

Besides winning dozens of Grammy Awards in his career, Charles was also honored in many other ways. In 1979, he was one of the first honorees of the Georgia State Music Hall of Fame being recognized for being a musician born in the state. Ray's version of "Georgia On My Mind" was made into the official state song for Georgia. In 1981, he was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was one of the first inductees to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at its inaugural ceremony in 1986. He received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986. In 1987, he was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1991, he was inducted to the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, in 2004 he was inducted to the Jazz Hall of Fame, and inducted to the National Black Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame. Also in 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him #10 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time..

In August 2005, the United States Congress honored Charles by renaming the former West Adams Station post office in Los Angeles the "Ray Charles Station".

The Grammy Awards of 2005 were dedicated to Charles.

Personal life

Charles was married twice and fathered twelve children by seven different women. He was married for the first time to Eileen Williams on July 31, 1951. This marriage produced no children and ended in divorce in 1952. Three children are from his second marriage to Della Beatrice Howard Robinson, one of his original Raelettes, whom he married on April 5, 1955. They divorced in 1977. His long term girlfriend and partner at the time of his death was Norma Pinella.

Children

• Charles Wayne Hendricks (son of Marge Hendricks - one of the Raelettes)

• Evelyn Robinson (daughter of Louise Mitchell)

• Raenee Robinson (daughter of Mae Mosely Lyles)

• Sheila Robinson (daughter of Sandra Jean Betts)

• Vincent Kotchounian (son of Arlette Kotchounian - worked with him as photographer on "Would You Believe" album)

• David Robinson (son of Della Robinson)

• Ray Charles Robinson, Jr. (son of Della Robinson)

• Reverend Robert Robinson (son of Della Robinson. The only child allowed to attend his funeral)

• Reatha Butler

• Alexandria Bertrand (daughter of Chantelle Bertrand)

• Robyn Moffett

• Ryan Corey Robinson den Bok (son of Mary Anne den Bok)