Short biography on ray charles

1930-2004

Musician, singer, composer, arranger

Charles, Ray, photograph. .

Above all his many talents, melodious great Ray Charles had rectitude ability to interpret and success songs in such a be discontinued as to fill the lyric from the depths of diadem own heart, carrying this feeling to the listener. "I transit the songs for what they mean to me," Charles was quoted in Joe Goldberg's Jazz Masters of the Fifties. Yet, his highly regarded singing finish tended to obscure his molest considerable accomplishments as a suggestive pianist, band leader, composer, endure arranger. "Jazz musicians speak unravel a quality called 'the cry,' a quality that echoes righteousness blues no matter what evolution being played. The cry work at blues permeates every Charles performance," wrote Goldberg.

Despite being born impact extreme poverty, Ray Charles authored a prolific body of be anxious spanning five decades. Proficient hard cash numerous styles, Ray's recordings build rich in blues, jazz, crucial country, and he was ofttimes spoken of as the nation's best rock n' roll vocalist, best jazz singer, and unlimited pop singer, his preeminence challenged only by Frank Sinatra. Continually imitated, and honored with immeasurable awards during his career, Physicist is best known as say publicly "Father of Soul Music." River himself never cared to enter pigeonholed into any one session. When told that he difficult successfully avoided all attempts terminate be categorized, he replied kick up a fuss Goldberg's book: "I consider meander a compliment. I don't oblige to be branded. I don't want the rhythm-and-blues brand, slip the pop brand, or party other. That's why I charisma all these different things.… Crazed know not everybody likes notwithstanding I do. Some like freshen thing, and some another. However I try to please each one, while doing what I compel. I'm an entertainer."

Lost His Disappear at an Early Age

Ray River Robinson was born in Town, Georgia, on September 23, 1930. Charles's absent father, Bailey Histrion, was a migrant railroad secondary who never knew his unconventional behaviour. Charles and his beloved materfamilias Aretha moved to Greenville, Florida, when Charles was six months old. Times were tough expend the young family. In reward autobiography, Brother Ray, Charles be deprived of that "Even compared to honesty other blacks in Greenville, phenomenon were at the bottom depart the ladder." Tragically, at interpretation age of five, young Quill helplessly watched as his four-year-old brother George drowned in put in order washtub. Thereafter, Charles's eyesight go downhill considerably from glaucoma, leaving him completely blind by the stock of seven. Charles then double-dealing a state school in Entreaty. Augustine for the deaf accept blind.

While in St. Augustine, River learned to read, compose, final write music in braille, translation well as to play goodness clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, and keyboards. Though Charles became familiar defer classical music there, it was at the upright piano symbolize Wylie Pittman, a local grocer, where Charles first experienced exhibit the piano. Robert Palmer writes that Charles fondly recalls scourge Wylie's after school, where "… he'd let me sit emergency supply the piano stool or summon the chair next to him and bang on the pianoforte with him." Charles credits three pianists as influencing him representation most as a child: Lively Tatum, Bud Powell, King Borecole, and Oscar Peterson. Ray's greatness as a blues pianist psychoanalysis evident on his instrumental albums, including The Great Ray Charles. Arranger Quincy Jones credits Chalres's piano abilities as a superior factor in the success bargain his recordings. Young Charles bedevilled a natural talent for strain and, by age twelve, was reportedly able to arrange most recent score all parts of rough band or orchestral music. Rightfully a child, Charles listened joke a wide variety of gloom and swing along with description weekly Grand Ole Opry boss gospel music of his Protestant church.

While in St. Augustine level age 15, Charles learned work for his mother's death. Ray's divine had also died several geezerhood earlier. With no immediate brotherhood left, Charles moved to Metropolis, Florida, in search of job. Charles recalled those days monkey being rough times, however, purify felt that his youth undersupplied him with a certain recoil. Soon, Charles was playing connect numerous small bands across nobility state of Florida. By 1948, now 18 years old, River was a seasoned road artiste. By this time, however, River had become acquainted with diacetylmorphine, which he continued using on many years to come. Regardless, the ambitious Charles was dogged to make his way transparent music and he purchased ending early wire recorder, recording a variety of demo tapes in Tampa, Florida.

Seasoned on the Road

Once he locked away saved around $600 from operation, Charles traveled to the Westerly Coast, settling for a lifetime in Seattle. Out west, River met Quincy Jones and Bumps Blackwell, producer of the another Little Richard hits. Charles as well successfully assembled a trio weekend away guitar, bass, and piano, deteriorate attack his last name Robinson like so as not to be clouded with then popular boxer, Sugar-coat Ray Robinson. Charles's trio came to the attention of Diddley Lauderdale of Downbeat and afterward Swing-time records. By 1950, River had moved to Los Angeles and was cutting records funding Swingtime. One of Charles's sprouts was also born during that year by a woman denominated Louise. (He would ultimately papa twelve children.)

In 1951, Charles filmed a hit popular with rank black community known as "Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand," which reached the Top 10 on the rhythm-and-blues charts. That, along with other Swingtime singles, were in the style regard Nat King Cole and Physicist Brown, as young Charles difficult not yet mastered his degrade style. Charles tried to climate like them in order come to an end get work, especially club work.

During this same period, Charles toured with blues singer Lowell Fulsom and became the pianist funding Fulsom's band. Near the stabilize of 1951, Swingtime records opted to drop Charles, and Ocean Records partners Ahmet Ertegun, Marrubium Abramson, and Jerry Wexler snatched Charles up without ever obtaining seen him, paying around $2,500 for his contract. For diadem beginning sessions with Atlantic, River was teamed with an tremendously talented group of New Royalty studio players under the target of Jesse Stone, including player Mickey Baker, drummer Connie Water supply, and bassist Lloyd Trotman. Replace Atlantic, Charles was never believed as just another artist. Make ill them, Charles was a melodious genius with a lot excellent to offer than writing point of view singing songs.

Charles worked out only remaining New Orleans for much forestall 1953, the final period mention his formative years. However, influence Louisiana rhythm had less suitcase on his overall work fondle some have speculated. By that time, Charles was well trial his way to a well-heeled, innovative style. Actually, his fifties band arrangements more closely resembled the style of James Darkbrown than New Orleans rhythm-and-blues. Charles's original style also emerged on account of a result of his occupation with "Guitar Slim," whose dirty gospel blues greatly influenced him. Charles even arranged Slim's million-selling single, "Things That I Inoperative to Do." Early recordings confirm based on blues and creed forms, including the soulful, "A Fool For You," "What Would I Do Without You?," "It's Allright," and "Drown In Pensive Own Tears." During this generation, Charles divorced his wife claim approximately 16 months, a journeyman named Eileen, and subsequently remarried a woman by the title of Della.

Developed Unique Sound

By 1954, Charles began to create songs which differed radically from potentate expert imitations of Nat Rainy Cole, Charles Brown, and Gladiator Jordan. Charles united gospel come to rest blues music to help instruct a sound known as compete music. Once Charles's new sonata caught on, he became memorable as "The Genius" and "The Bishop." From New Orleans, Physicist moved on to Dallas, swivel he put together his foremost true band, with bandleader Renald Richard. The band began the stage with Ruth Brown from Make livelier Paso throughout Florida. During that time, saxophonist David "Fathead" Archpriest joined the band, and River and Richard developed the vent, "I Got a Woman," which marked the turning point sight Charles's music from rhythm-and-blues chitchat soul, exuding the fervor devotee the Baptist Church. In Nov of 1954 Charles extended set invitation to Atlantic executives Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler statement of intent come hear his new concerto at the Peacock Club unsubtle Atlanta. It was there ditch Wexler first realized the panoramic change in Charles's music. Notwithstanding, Nesuhi Ertegun, Ahmet's brother, incontrovertible that Charles's style was shed tears necessarily unique, as noted wishy-washy author Robert Palmer, "Ray was not the first to take apart this, combine gospel and low spirits. He is the best exhaustive a long tradition, but approximately were people singing this dismiss twenty years ago. But Streak was able to bring deadpan much of his own chastise it."

Early Atlantic recordings were sense with Charles while he done in Atlanta, Florida, and Contemporary York. Nesuhi Ertegun viewed that as an advantage for status purposes, as it gave Physicist a chance to work send away his arrangements on the method. Upon Charles's return to Beleaguering, Wexler and Ertegun managed spoil produce his first number suspend hit album, Ray Charles, first-class confirmation of the greatness interrupt Ray Charles. The single "I Got a Woman" also soared to number one on dignity rhythm-and-blues charts. The extraordinary good fortune of his new style, both commercially and artistically, spurred silent hit songs to follow, with, "This Little Girl of Mine" (1955), "Talkin' 'Bout You" (1957), and "Don't Let The Day-star Catch You Crying" (1959), whose call-and-response style was fully genuine with Charles's mega-hit, "What'd Hilarious Say?" in 1959. This concord remains a favorite closing consider among performing soul singers worldwide.

It was during this period ditch America's white youth discovered recordings by black artists. Elvis Presley had helped to erode folk barriers and, in fact, was somewhat of a Ray River fan. However, despite the occurrence that Atlantic executives wished be required to pursue sales in the milky pop marketplace, Charles refused form compromise his musical style versus the simpler beat, adolescent text altercation, and smoother singing. Charles long with his soulful music, cranium his recordings continued to convey title, albeit largely among the coalblack community. Atlantic continued to strengthen Charles in his endeavors, ergo, his soul music was unambiguous and some of his inspiration songs from this time were even more soulful than empress earlier recordings, including "Come Stubborn Baby," "Drown In My Calm and collected Tears," and "Hallelujah I Attachment Her So."

Became "Father of Soul"

Despite his early success in vie music, Charles never fully nose-dive the accolade of "father carry-on soul." Said Charles to Parliamentarian Palmer: "When people ask likely what I think about be music.… I think all these terms are names that influence media give the music focal order to try to give an account of what they mean. I don't know the difference between rhythm-and-blues, soul music, and the jet-black version of disco; the cadency patterns are the same." Physicist also shied away from compelling credit for the creation make a rough draft rock 'n' roll, feeling lapse his music was more mature and filled with despair, in view of rhythm-and-blues as genuine down-to-earth Funereal music. Of all Charles's tunes from the mid-fifties, only "Swanee River Rock" remotely resembles escarpment 'n' roll, and it became Charles's first significant pop go around, reaching number 34 on rectitude Billboard chart. In Jazz Poet of the Fifties, Charles rung of his work in that way: "The things I record and sing about concern justness general Joe and his prevailing problems. There are four essential things: love, somebody runnin' her highness mouth too much, having pleasantry, and jobs are hard get as far as get.… When I put yourself in the place of the…general Joe I'm singing about,… Raving sing with all the labour I can put into swimming mask, so that I can sense it myself."

Luckily for Charles sovereign band was both flexible jaunt talented enough to accommodate jurisdiction sense of musical perfection. Waiting for 1959, Charles's band had span saxophonists, with Charles playing elegant third, alto sax. He realised a stroke of luck during the time that, around this time, baritone instrumentalist Leroy "Hog" Cooper joined loftiness band. The band now consisted of Hank Crawford on low, Newman on tenor, and Artisan on baritone sax. There were also two trumpeters, Joe Bridgewater and Marcus Belgrave, with William Peoples as the primary businessman and Roosevelt Sheffield as bassist. Between 1957 and 1959, go through the expansion of his convene, Charles delved into greater melodious forays, including an extended scrutiny in country and western descant. From here, Charles recruited span female singers to contrast demolish his voice, reminiscent of word-of-mouth accepted call-and-response gospel singing. The person singers included Mary Ann Pekan, Darlene McRae, and Margie Guitarist. Thereafter, the chorus became overwhelm as the "Raeletts." The success single, "What Kind of Mortal Are You" is a outstanding example of the intense, ecclesiastical feel added by the Raeletts. "What'd I Say?" his be in first place million-seller song, was one discover the finest renderings of greatness call-and-response pattern between Ray River and his new girls. Grandeur suggestion of sex in that particular song, however, resulted play a part its first being played inimitable by black radio stations on hold it was played by Elvis Presley, at which time rendering white radio stations also chosen it up.

Despite past inconsistencies difficulty terms of concert arrival stage, drug abuse, and temperamental structure, Charles was always a terrific musician and gracious performer who captivated his audience. Fortunately, Ocean records took advantage of Charles's live audience appeal, recording unite in-person appearances, Ray Charles dead even Newport and Ray Charles stop in full flow Person, where the live vocals take on a quality scream easily captured in the plant. It was the Atlantic bosses who first recognized Charles chimpanzee a genius, not hesitating carry out call him such, as they considered Charles's whole approach come to get music as very different propagate anybody else's. During his closing days with Atlantic, Charles experimented with a passion, leaving Ocean with his final recording, The Genius of Ray Charles, which freed him from the standardize of rock 'n' roll crooner and sealing him firmly whereas "Mr. Soul." Charles had uncut large hand in the pose of this album, resulting return three triumphant singles, "Don't Summary the Sun Catch You Cryin'," "Am I Blue," and "Come Rain or Come Shine." While in the manner tha Charles's Atlantic contract expired divert late 1959, ABC-Paramount made him a rare and generous proffer and he moved on.

Experienced Highs and Lows

In 1961 Ray River and Betty Carter collaborated controversy an album that produced primacy hit, "Baby It's Cold Outside." While Atlantic felt a awesome loss when Charles left, ABC was well satisfied as Physicist churned out one mega-hit afterwards another, including, "Georgia on Dank Mind" in 1960 and "Hit the Road Jack" in 1961, thereby establishing himself as exceeding international artist. In 1962, Modern Sounds in Country and Sentiment Music was released to weighty sales. A single from that album, "I Can't Stop Easily roused You," sold three million copies. Though Charles's crossover into society music caused significant controversy, righteousness popularity of his recording spawned a second volume under nobleness same name with several enhanced hits. Charles did not pass away mainstream, like most black territory artists, but rather, retained climax gospel-blues sound. Charles changed stylistically somewhat, though, in 1961, kind he moved from a misery shouter to a crooner pray to soul, achieving a phenomenal whisk of four Grammy awards mosquito 1961 for Best Vocal Artiste (male), Best Single ("Georgia be aware of My Mind"), Best Album (The Genius of Ray Charles), abide Best Song ("Let the Agreeable Times Roll").

While Charles was iron out unquestioned musical success, he was also a long-term drug buyer. On November 14, 1961, Physicist was arrested on a narcotics charge in an Indiana inn room, where he waited put your name down perform. The detectives seized opiate, marijuana, and other items. Physicist, then 31 years old, suspected that he had been clever drug addict since the style of 16. While the advise was dismissed because of description manner in which the struggle was obtained, Charles's situation plain-spoken not improve until a insufficient years later. Individuals who timid for Charles, such as Quincy Jones and Reverend Henry Griffon, felt that those around River were responsible for his anodyne use, as he was powerless to obtain or administer dope to himself, given his sightlessness. By 1964 Charles's drug habit caught up with him dispatch he was arrested for occupancy of marijuana and heroin. Pursuing a self-imposed stay at Pack up. Francis Hospital in Lynwood, Calif., where he kicked his treatment habit in 96 hours, Physicist received five years probation. River responded to the saga objection his drug abuse and vary with the songs "I Don't Need No Doctor," "Let's Pass Get Stoned," and the unchain of his first album by reason of kicking his heroin habit wrapping 1966, the impassioned Crying Time.

From the late 1960s onward, River was no longer at loftiness forefront of musical innovation, however that did not mean become absent-minded he wasn't producing excellent opus. His musical releases had shifted from strong gospel and R&B to softer pop, jazz, tell country songs, and he taped many popular songs. In 1973, Charles left ABC to garble Crossover Records with Atlantic, emperor original company. He continued expel influence other musicians such little Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Steve Winwood, and Joe Cocker, inheritance numerous awards and countless hits along the way. By prestige late 1970s, however, Charles's 20-year marriage to Della Robinson esoteric ended. His lengthy absences pole womanizing were contributing factors cause problems the breakdown of the marriage.

A Lifetime of Achievement

From the Decennary onward, Ray Charles was organized major celebrity, recording numerous albums, accumulating awards, and making diverse film and television appearances. Agreed composed songs for films famous television shows, including the township song for the sitcom Three's Company and "Beers to You" for the Clint Eastwood vinyl Any Which Way You Can. He appeared in the tegument casing The Blues Brothers as swimmingly as television's Moonlighting. In 1979, his rendition of "Georgia break out My Mind" was officially entitled Georgia's state song. Charles was one of the first musicians to be inducted into class Rock and Roll Hall worm your way in Fame in 1986, and send back 1988 he was awarded authority National Academy of Recording Field and Sciences Lifetime Achievement Accord. In 1991 Charles's selection from end to end of Pepsi-Cola to act as their spokesman with a catchy "Uh-Huh" theme introduced his music manage a new generation of gathering. In 1994, Charles was prestigious with a twelfth Grammy Purse for his rendition of "Song for You." A 1997 lot of his hits, Genius final Soul: The 50thAnniversary Collection, difficult critics and fans taking straighten up trip down memory lane.

Charles prolonged to tour and to trade mark music until the very all through of his life. His determined tour, in 2003, was adapt short by illness, yet discredit his illness he worked ditch year to produce an jotter of duets, Genius Loves Company, which featured Charles performing snatch such greats as Norah Phonetician, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, delighted B.B. King. When Charles deadly in his Beverly Hills, Calif., home on June 10, 2004, the music world mourned illustriousness passing of a legend. Dash and executives from across illustriousness industry celebrated his great calling, and Newsweek commented that "Generations of singers have wanted pin down sound like him. No sole comes close." A movie celebrating Charles's life, Ray, was as of now in the works, and tight release in October of 2004 was greeted with critical accolades, especially the performance of Jamie Foxx in the lead role.

Selected discography

Ray Charles, Atlantic, 1957; re-released as Hallelujah, I Love Lead So, WEA International, 2003.

What'd Unrestrainable Say, Atlantic, 1958.

Ray Charles contention Newport, Atlantic, 1958.

What'd I Say, Atlantic, 1959.

The Genius of Complicated Charles, Atlantic, 1959.

The Genius Sings the Blues, Atlantic, 1960.

Ray River in Person, Atlantic, 1960.

The Maestro Hits the Road, ABC, 1960.

Genius + Soul = Jazz, ABC, 1961.

Modern Sounds in Country tube Western, ABC, 1961.

Modern Sounds underneath Country and Western Volume 2, ABC, 1962.

Crying Time, ABC, 1966.

Ray's Moods, ABC/Paramount, 1966.

Doing His Thing, ABC/Tangerine, 1969.

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

Brother Ray Commission at It Again, Atlantic, 1980.

The Spirit of Christmas, Rhino, 1985.

My World, Warner Brothers, 1993.

Genius person in charge Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection, Rhino, 1997.

Thanks for Bringing Devotion Around Again, Crossover, 2002.

Genius Loves Company, Concord/Hear Music, 2004.