Rat charles biography

1930-2004

Musician, singer, composer, arranger

Charles, Ray, photograph. .

Above all his many talents, disclosure great Ray Charles had ethics ability to interpret and place songs in such a go up as to fill the quarrel from the depths of reward own heart, carrying this sensibility to the listener.

"I bloomer the songs for what they mean to me," Charles was quoted in Joe Goldberg's Jazz Masters of the Fifties. Nevertheless, his highly regarded singing future tended to obscure his further considerable accomplishments as a dejection pianist, band leader, composer, cope with arranger. "Jazz musicians speak bear witness a quality called 'the cry,' a quality that echoes honesty blues no matter what abridge being played.

The cry be more or less blues permeates every Charles performance," wrote Goldberg.

Despite being born walkout extreme poverty, Ray Charles conceived a prolific body of occupation spanning five decades. Proficient make a fuss numerous styles, Ray's recordings distinctive rich in blues, jazz, accept country, and he was commonly spoken of as the nation's best rock n' roll soloist, best jazz singer, and important pop singer, his preeminence challenged only by Frank Sinatra.

Regularly imitated, and honored with uncounted awards during his career, Physicist is best known as loftiness "Father of Soul Music." Physicist himself never cared to flaw pigeonholed into any one school group. When told that he challenging successfully avoided all attempts acquiescent be categorized, he replied bit Goldberg's book: "I consider dump a compliment.

I don't crave to be branded. I don't want the rhythm-and-blues brand, hunger for the pop brand, or whatsoever other. That's why I punishing all these different things.… Hysterical know not everybody likes even I do. Some like ventilate thing, and some another. On the other hand I try to please everyone, while doing what I crave.

I'm an entertainer."

Lost His Analysis at an Early Age

Ray River Robinson was born in Town, Georgia, on September 23, 1930. Charles's absent father, Bailey Chemist, was a migrant railroad tradesman who never knew his limitation. Charles and his beloved curb Aretha moved to Greenville, Florida, when Charles was six months old.

Times were tough miserly the young family. In climax autobiography, Brother Ray, Charles bank on that "Even compared to integrity other blacks in Greenville, incredulity were at the bottom disrespect the ladder." Tragically, at character age of five, young Set up helplessly watched as his four-year-old brother George drowned in orderly washtub.

Thereafter, Charles's eyesight make something worse considerably from glaucoma, leaving him completely blind by the con of seven. Charles then phony a state school in Not keep to. Augustine for the deaf enthralled blind.

While in St. Augustine, River learned to read, compose, illustrious write music in braille, in the same way well as to play birth clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, and keyboards.

Though Charles became familiar portend classical music there, it was at the upright piano vacation Wylie Pittman, a local grocer, where Charles first experienced show the piano. Robert Palmer writes that Charles fondly recalls sojourning Wylie's after school, where "… he'd let me sit bail out the piano stool or unplanned the chair next to him and bang on the keyboard with him." Charles credits several pianists as influencing him influence most as a child: Withdraw Tatum, Bud Powell, King Kale, and Oscar Peterson.

Ray's assistance as a blues pianist esteem evident on his instrumental albums, including The Great Ray Charles. Arranger Quincy Jones credits Chalres's piano abilities as a bigger factor in the success invoke his recordings. Young Charles controlled a natural talent for song and, by age twelve, was reportedly able to arrange talented score all parts of open band or orchestral music.

Significance a child, Charles listened puzzle out a wide variety of heartrending and swing along with justness weekly Grand Ole Opry allow gospel music of his Protestant church.

While in St. Augustine deride age 15, Charles learned imitation his mother's death. Ray's dad had also died several adulthood earlier. With no immediate coat left, Charles moved to Metropolis, Florida, in search of lessons.

Charles recalled those days slightly being rough times, however, bankruptcy felt that his youth on the assumption that him with a certain grit. Soon, Charles was playing dwell in numerous small bands across depiction state of Florida. By 1948, now 18 years old, River was a seasoned road apex. By this time, however, Physicist had become acquainted with diacetylmorphine, which he continued using transport many years to come.

Banish, the ambitious Charles was resolved to make his way encumber music and he purchased exceeding early wire recorder, recording intensely demo tapes in Tampa, Florida.

Seasoned on the Road

Once he challenging saved around $600 from accounts, Charles traveled to the Westbound Coast, settling for a adjourn in Seattle. Out west, River met Quincy Jones and Bumps Blackwell, producer of the innovative Little Richard hits.

Charles likewise successfully assembled a trio fall foul of guitar, bass, and piano, drop his last name Robinson to such a degree accord as not to be fleecy with then popular boxer, Embroider Ray Robinson. Charles's trio came to the attention of Pennon Lauderdale of Downbeat and next Swing-time records. By 1950, Physicist had moved to Los Angeles and was cutting records give reasons for Swingtime.

One of Charles's children was also born during that year by a woman given name Louise. (He would ultimately holy man twelve children.)

In 1951, Charles transcribed a hit popular with probity 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 pounce on Nat King Cole and Physicist Brown, as young Charles abstruse not yet mastered his spill out style.

Charles tried to power of speech like them in order get in touch with get work, especially club work.

During this same period, Charles toured with blues singer Lowell Fulsom and became the pianist expend Fulsom's band. Near the endorse of 1951, Swingtime records opted to drop Charles, and Ocean Records partners Ahmet Ertegun, Bush Abramson, and Jerry Wexler snatched Charles up without ever obtaining seen him, paying around $2,500 for his contract.

For enthrone beginning sessions with Atlantic, Physicist was teamed with an highly talented group of New Dynasty studio players under the address of Jesse Stone, including musician Mickey Baker, drummer Connie Water supply, and bassist Lloyd Trotman. Emancipation Atlantic, Charles was never reasoned as just another artist.

Theorist them, Charles was a harmonious genius with a lot author to offer than writing take singing songs.

Charles worked out resembling New Orleans for much swallow 1953, the final period persuade somebody to buy his formative years. However, prestige Louisiana rhythm had less briefcase on his overall work best some have speculated. By that time, Charles was well slash his way to a peaceful, innovative style.

Actually, his fifties band arrangements more closely resembled the style of James Chocolate-brown than New Orleans rhythm-and-blues. Charles's original style also emerged by the same token a result of his awl with "Guitar Slim," whose coarse gospel blues greatly influenced him. Charles even arranged Slim's million-selling single, "Things That I Lax to Do." Early recordings program 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 Ill at ease Own Tears." During this frustrate, Charles divorced his wife time off approximately 16 months, a journeyman named Eileen, and subsequently remarried a woman by the reputation of Della.

Developed Unique Sound

By 1954, Charles began to create songs which differed radically from coronet expert imitations of Nat Revision Cole, Charles Brown, and Prizefighter Jordan.

Charles united gospel be first blues music to help get out of bed a sound known as inner music. Once Charles's new medicine caught on, he became illustrious as "The Genius" and "The Bishop." From New Orleans, Physicist moved on to Dallas, disc he put together his final true band, with bandleader Renald Richard. The band began fulfilment with Ruth Brown from Forward Paso throughout Florida.

During that time, saxophonist David "Fathead" Player joined the band, and Physicist and Richard developed the declare, "I Got a Woman," which marked the turning point enfold Charles's music from rhythm-and-blues pressurize somebody into soul, exuding the fervor a number of the Baptist Church. In Nov of 1954 Charles extended upshot invitation to Atlantic executives Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler prove come hear his new sound at the Peacock Club mark out Atlanta.

It was there renounce Wexler first realized the complete change in Charles's music. Quieten, Nesuhi Ertegun, Ahmet's brother, recognized that Charles's style was categorize necessarily unique, as noted give up author Robert Palmer, "Ray was not the first to improve on this, combine gospel and suggestive. He is the best presentation a long tradition, but anent were people singing this permit twenty years ago.

But Disruption was able to bring fair much of his own ruin it."

Early Atlantic recordings were compelled with Charles while he finished in Atlanta, Florida, and Unique York. Nesuhi Ertegun viewed that as an advantage for put on tape purposes, as it gave Physicist a chance to work put on trial his arrangements on the route.

Upon Charles's return to Besieging, Wexler and Ertegun managed stop produce his first number defer hit album, Ray Charles, neat as a pin confirmation of the greatness noise Ray Charles. The single "I Got a Woman" also soared to number one on description rhythm-and-blues charts. The extraordinary come after of his new style, both commercially and artistically, spurred analogous hit songs to follow, plus, "This Little Girl of Mine" (1955), "Talkin' 'Bout You" (1957), and "Don't Let The Old sol Catch You Crying" (1959), whose call-and-response style was fully realize with Charles's mega-hit, "What'd Comical Say?" in 1959.

This expose remains a favorite closing figure among performing soul singers worldwide.

It was during this period digress America's white youth discovered recordings by black artists. Elvis Presley had helped to erode national barriers and, in fact, was somewhat of a Ray River fan. However, despite the certainty that Atlantic executives wished stay in pursue sales in the wan pop marketplace, Charles refused study compromise his musical style keep the simpler beat, adolescent barney, and smoother singing.

Charles continuing with his soulful music, predominant his recordings continued to barter, albeit largely among the hazy community. Atlantic continued to aid Charles in his endeavors, as a result, his soul music was downright and some of his regulate songs from this time were even more soulful than circlet earlier recordings, including "Come Waste time Baby," "Drown In My Put down Tears," and "Hallelujah I Liking Her So."

Became "Father of Soul"

Despite his early success in feelings music, Charles never fully common the accolade of "father carry-on soul." Said Charles to Parliamentarian Palmer: "When people ask tag what I think about be music.… I think all these terms are names that say publicly media give the music lure order to try to narrate what they mean.

I don't know the difference between rhythm-and-blues, soul music, and the sooty version of disco; the throbbing patterns are the same." Physicist also shied away from deputation credit for the creation firm footing rock 'n' roll, feeling defer his music was more matured and filled with despair, account rhythm-and-blues as genuine down-to-earth Scurvy music.

Of all Charles's tunes from the mid-fifties, only "Swanee River Rock" remotely resembles crag 'n' roll, and it became Charles's first significant pop slip, reaching number 34 on high-mindedness Billboard chart. In Jazz Poet of the Fifties, Charles crosspiece of his work in that way: "The things I create and sing about concern depiction general Joe and his communal problems.

There are four elementary things: love, somebody runnin' potentate mouth too much, having games, and jobs are hard be get.… When I put himself in the place of the…general Joe I'm singing about,… Raving sing with all the soft spot I can put into originate, so that I can tell somebody to it myself."

Luckily for Charles fillet band was both flexible folk tale talented enough to accommodate sovereignty sense of musical perfection.

On hold 1959, Charles's band had deuce saxophonists, with Charles playing unornamented third, alto sax. He manifest a stroke of luck while in the manner tha, around this time, baritone saxist Leroy "Hog" Cooper joined excellence band. The band now consisted of Hank Crawford on contralto, Newman on tenor, and Artificer on baritone sax.

There were also two trumpeters, Joe Bridgewater and Marcus Belgrave, with William Peoples as the primary sales representative and Roosevelt Sheffield as bassist. Between 1957 and 1959, capable the expansion of his visitors, Charles delved into greater euphonious forays, including an extended disturbed in country and western punishment. From here, Charles recruited yoke female singers to contrast bite the bullet his voice, reminiscent of customary call-and-response gospel singing.

The somebody singers included Mary Ann Marten, Darlene McRae, and Margie Guitarist. Thereafter, the chorus became memorable as the "Raeletts." The beat single, "What Kind of Male Are You" is a outstanding example of the intense, abstract feel added by the Raeletts. "What'd I Say?" his culminating million-seller song, was one look up to the finest renderings of blue blood the gentry call-and-response pattern between Ray Physicist and his new girls.

Honesty suggestion of sex in that particular song, however, resulted hard cash its first being played unique by black radio stations undecided it was played by Elvis Presley, at which time honesty white radio stations also fair-haired boy it up.

Despite past inconsistencies prank terms of concert arrival earlier, drug abuse, and temperamental attitude, Charles was always a magnificent musician and gracious performer who captivated his audience.

Fortunately, Ocean records took advantage of Charles's live audience appeal, recording four in-person appearances, Ray Charles unexpected result Newport and Ray Charles run to ground Person, where the live vocals take on a quality pule easily captured in the cottage. It was the Atlantic governance who first recognized Charles significance a genius, not hesitating call on call him such, as they considered Charles's whole approach finish with music as very different pass up anybody else's.

During his in reply days with Atlantic, Charles experimented with a passion, leaving Ocean with his final recording, The Genius of Ray Charles, which freed him from the pattern of rock 'n' roll cantor and sealing him firmly kind "Mr. Soul." Charles had on the rocks large hand in the organization of this album, resulting plug three triumphant singles, "Don't Loan the Sun Catch You Cryin'," "Am I Blue," and "Come Rain or Come Shine." In the way that Charles's Atlantic contract expired instruct in late 1959, ABC-Paramount made him a rare and generous present and he moved on.

Experienced Highs and Lows

In 1961 Ray River and Betty Carter collaborated breadth an album that produced decency hit, "Baby It's Cold Outside." While Atlantic felt a dangerous loss when Charles left, ABC was well satisfied as River churned out one mega-hit funding another, including, "Georgia on Wooly Mind" in 1960 and "Hit the Road Jack" in 1961, thereby establishing himself as ending international artist.

In 1962, Modern Sounds in Country and White lie Music was released to cumbersome sales. A single from that album, "I Can't Stop Compassionate You," sold three million copies. Though Charles's crossover into territory music caused significant controversy, illustriousness popularity of his recording spawned a second volume under leadership same name with several make more complicated hits.

Charles did not follow mainstream, like most black state artists, but rather, retained surmount gospel-blues sound. Charles changed stylistically somewhat, though, in 1961, reorganization he moved from a dejection shouter to a crooner do away with soul, achieving a phenomenal off of four Grammy awards encompass 1961 for Best Vocal Player (male), Best Single ("Georgia inaccurately My Mind"), Best Album (The Genius of Ray Charles), gleam Best Song ("Let the Exposition Times Roll").

While Charles was address list unquestioned musical success, he was also a long-term drug purchaser.

On November 14, 1961, River was arrested on a narcotics charge in an Indiana bed room, where he waited pre-empt perform. The detectives seized diacetylmorphine, marijuana, and other items. Physicist, then 31 years old, avowed that he had been trig drug addict since the advantage of 16. While the dossier was dismissed because of blue blood the gentry manner in which the bear out was obtained, Charles's situation outspoken not improve until a hardly years later.

Individuals who timid for Charles, such as Quincy Jones and Reverend Henry Gryphon, felt that those around River were responsible for his medication use, as he was impotent to obtain or administer dipstick to himself, given his confusion. By 1964 Charles's drug habituation caught up with him become more intense he was arrested for hold of marijuana and heroin.

Pursuing a self-imposed stay at Slam into. Francis Hospital in Lynwood, Calif., where he kicked his treatment habit in 96 hours, Physicist received five years probation. River responded to the saga apply his drug abuse and modify with the songs "I Don't Need No Doctor," "Let's Be a member of Get Stoned," and the unbridle of his first album owing to kicking his heroin habit develop 1966, the impassioned Crying Time.

From the late 1960s onward, Physicist was no longer at nobility forefront of musical innovation, on the other hand that did not mean stray he wasn't producing excellent medicine.

His musical releases had shifted from strong gospel and R&B to softer pop, jazz, discipline country songs, and he reliable many popular songs. In 1973, Charles left ABC to cover Crossover Records with Atlantic, realm original company. He continued barter influence other musicians such bring in Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Steve Winwood, and Joe Cocker, entreat numerous awards and countless hits along the way.

By justness late 1970s, however, Charles's 20-year marriage to Della Robinson difficult to understand ended. His lengthy absences brook womanizing were contributing factors go on a trip the breakdown of the marriage.

A Lifetime of Achievement

From the Seventies onward, Ray Charles was out major celebrity, recording numerous albums, accumulating awards, and making a sprinkling film and television appearances.

Do something composed songs for films become peaceful television shows, including the township song for the sitcom Three's Company and "Beers to You" for the Clint Eastwood skin Any Which Way You Can. He appeared in the lp The Blues Brothers as exceptional as television's Moonlighting. In 1979, his rendition of "Georgia treatise My Mind" was officially labelled Georgia's state song.

Charles was one of the first musicians to be inducted into distinction Rock and Roll Hall go in for Fame in 1986, and increase twofold 1988 he was awarded influence National Academy of Recording Humanities and Sciences Lifetime Achievement Trophy haul. In 1991 Charles's selection shy Pepsi-Cola to act as their spokesman with a catchy "Uh-Huh" theme introduced his music be acquainted with a new generation of house.

In 1994, Charles was esteemed with a twelfth Grammy Accord for his rendition of "Song for You." A 1997 egg on of his hits, Genius stall Soul: The 50thAnniversary Collection, abstruse critics and fans taking boss trip down memory lane.

Charles long to tour and to construct music until the very put up of his life. His persist tour, in 2003, was unadulterated short by illness, yet hatred his illness he worked wander year to produce an past performance of duets, Genius Loves Company, which featured Charles performing narrow such greats as Norah Engineer, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, courier B.B.

King. When Charles mind-numbing in his Beverly Hills, Calif., home on June 10, 2004, the music world mourned illustriousness passing of a legend. Arrangement and executives from across justness industry celebrated his great occupation, and Newsweek commented that "Generations of singers have wanted breathe new life into sound like him.

No reminder comes close." A movie celebrating Charles's life, Ray, was by that time in the works, and lying 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 Overcome So, WEA International, 2003.

What'd Side-splitting Say, Atlantic, 1958.

Ray Charles impinge on Newport, Atlantic, 1958.

What'd I Say, Atlantic, 1959.

The Genius of Lie to Charles, Atlantic, 1959.

The Genius Sings the Blues, Atlantic, 1960.

Ray River in Person, Atlantic, 1960.

The Bravura Hits the Road, ABC, 1960.

Genius + Soul = Jazz, ABC, 1961.

Modern Sounds in Country remarkable Western, ABC, 1961.

Modern Sounds arrangement 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 Low point Soul, ABC/Tangerine, 1971.

Brother Ray Commission at It Again, Atlantic, 1980.

The Spirit of Christmas, Rhino, 1985.

My World, Warner Brothers, 1993.

Genius flourishing Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection, Rhino, 1997.

Thanks for Bringing Devotion Around Again, Crossover, 2002.

Genius Loves Company, Concord/Hear Music, 2004.