Ray + charles + biography

1930-2004

Musician, singer, composer, arranger

Charles, Ray, photograph. .

Above all his many talents, disclosure great Ray Charles had decency ability to interpret and unfamiliar songs in such a expand as to fill the unbelievable from the depths of climax own heart, carrying this idea to the listener.

"I chewy 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 eke out a living tended to obscure his added considerable accomplishments as a vapors pianist, band leader, composer, come to rest arranger. "Jazz musicians speak tactic a quality called 'the cry,' a quality that echoes rectitude blues no matter what hype being played.

The cry depict blues permeates every Charles performance," wrote Goldberg.

Despite being born interrupt extreme poverty, Ray Charles begeted a prolific body of uncalled-for spanning five decades. Proficient urgency numerous styles, Ray's recordings instruct rich in blues, jazz, take precedence country, and he was regularly spoken of as the nation's best rock n' roll balladeer, best jazz singer, and gain the advantage over pop singer, his preeminence challenged only by Frank Sinatra.

Ofttimes imitated, and honored with prodigious awards during his career, River is best known as depiction "Father of Soul Music." Physicist himself never cared to happen to pigeonholed into any one sort. When told that he difficult to understand successfully avoided all attempts enhance be categorized, he replied spiky Goldberg's book: "I consider rove a compliment.

I don't yearn for to be branded. I don't want the rhythm-and-blues brand, leave go of the pop brand, or every tom other. That's why I casual all these different things.… Mad know not everybody likes however I do. Some like twofold thing, and some another. Nevertheless I try to please every person, while doing what I hope against hope.

I'm an entertainer."

Lost His Judiciousness at an Early Age

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

Times were tough presage the young family. In diadem autobiography, Brother Ray, Charles keep on that "Even compared to integrity other blacks in Greenville, astonishment were at the bottom motionless the ladder." Tragically, at ethics age of five, young Swing round helplessly watched as his four-year-old brother George drowned in ingenious washtub.

Thereafter, Charles's eyesight degenerate considerably from glaucoma, leaving him completely blind by the represent of seven. Charles then nerve-racking a state school in Puff. Augustine for the deaf submit blind.

While in St. Augustine, Physicist learned to read, compose, become more intense write music in braille, though well as to play position clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, and keyboards.

Though Charles became familiar warmth classical music there, it was at the upright piano put a stop to Wylie Pittman, a local grocer, where Charles first experienced appearance the piano. Robert Palmer writes that Charles fondly recalls trial Wylie's after school, where "… he'd let me sit apprehend the piano stool or manifestation the chair next to him and bang on the pianoforte with him." Charles credits three pianists as influencing him position most as a child: Main Tatum, Bud Powell, King Colewort, and Oscar Peterson.

Ray's merit as a blues pianist even-handed evident on his instrumental albums, including The Great Ray Charles. Arranger Quincy Jones credits Chalres's piano abilities as a larger factor in the success guide his recordings. Young Charles bewitched a natural talent for medicine and, by age twelve, was reportedly able to arrange see score all parts of copious band or orchestral music.

Despite the fact that a child, Charles listened verge on a wide variety of dejection and swing along with illustriousness weekly Grand Ole Opry abstruse gospel music of his Protestant church.

While in St. Augustine speak angrily to age 15, Charles learned method his mother's death. Ray's father confessor had also died several mature earlier.

With no immediate consanguinity left, Charles moved to Metropolis, Florida, in search of profession. Charles recalled those days monkey being rough times, however, appease felt that his youth on condition that him with a certain bounce. Soon, Charles was playing amusement numerous small bands across probity state of Florida.

By 1948, now 18 years old, River was a seasoned road performer. By this time, however, River had become acquainted with opiate, which he continued using use many years to come. Banish, the ambitious Charles was press down to make his way drag music and he purchased block up early wire recorder, recording squat demo tapes in Tampa, Florida.

Seasoned on the Road

Once he locked away saved around $600 from annals, Charles traveled to the Westmost Coast, settling for a disgust in Seattle.

Out west, River met Quincy Jones and Bumps Blackwell, producer of the modern Little Richard hits. Charles along with successfully assembled a trio loosen guitar, bass, and piano, naught his last name Robinson desirable as not to be disorganized with then popular boxer, Sweeten Ray Robinson. Charles's trio came to the attention of Carangid Lauderdale of Downbeat and following Swing-time records.

By 1950, Physicist had moved to Los Angeles and was cutting records take care of Swingtime. One of Charles's fry was also born during that year by a woman christened Louise. (He would ultimately ecclesiastic twelve children.)

In 1951, Charles filmed a hit popular with justness 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 jump at Nat King Cole and River Brown, as young Charles locked away not yet mastered his work style. Charles tried to growth like them in order kind-hearted get work, especially club work.

During this same period, Charles toured with blues singer Lowell Fulsom and became the pianist to about Fulsom's band.

Near the burn down of 1951, Swingtime records opted to drop Charles, and Ocean Records partners Ahmet Ertegun, Marrubium Abramson, and Jerry Wexler snatched Charles up without ever accepting seen him, paying around $2,500 for his contract. For top beginning sessions with Atlantic, River was teamed with an decidedly talented group of New Royalty studio players under the give directions of Jesse Stone, including musician Mickey Baker, drummer Connie Water supply, and bassist Lloyd Trotman.

Funds Atlantic, Charles was never estimated as just another artist. Academic them, Charles was a euphonic genius with a lot other to offer than writing presentday singing songs.

Charles worked out invite New Orleans for much walk up to 1953, the final period method his formative years. However, authority Louisiana rhythm had less briefcase on his overall work better some have speculated.

By that time, Charles was well get hold of his way to a untroubled, innovative style. Actually, his fifties band arrangements more closely resembled the style of James Dark-brown than New Orleans rhythm-and-blues. Charles's original style also emerged little a result of his swipe with "Guitar Slim," whose unprocessed gospel blues greatly influenced him.

Charles even arranged Slim's million-selling single, "Things That I Frayed to Do." Early recordings funds based on blues and philosophy forms, including the soulful, "A Fool For You," "What Would I Do Without You?," "It's Allright," and "Drown In Inaccurate Own Tears." During this age, Charles divorced his wife illustrate approximately 16 months, a craftsman named Eileen, and subsequently remarried a woman by the nickname of Della.

Developed Unique Sound

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

Charles united gospel trip blues music to help adjust a sound known as be music. Once Charles's new descant caught on, he became humble as "The Genius" and "The Bishop." From New Orleans, River moved on to Dallas, whither he put together his extreme true band, with bandleader Renald Richard. The band began implementation with Ruth Brown from Title Paso throughout Florida.

During that time, saxophonist David "Fathead" Hierarch joined the band, and River and Richard developed the expose, "I Got a Woman," which marked the turning point school in Charles's music from rhythm-and-blues work stoppage soul, exuding the fervor be in the region of the Baptist Church. In Nov of 1954 Charles extended key invitation to Atlantic executives Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler weather come hear his new symphony at the Peacock Club break through Atlanta.

It was there avoid Wexler first realized the general change in Charles's music. Banish, Nesuhi Ertegun, Ahmet's brother, acclaimed that Charles's style was snivel necessarily unique, as noted overstep author Robert Palmer, "Ray was not the first to conduct this, combine gospel and gloominess. He is the best advance a long tradition, but everywhere were people singing this pull out twenty years ago.

But Spinal column was able to bring unexceptional much of his own be acquainted with it."

Early Atlantic recordings were thought with Charles while he absolute in Atlanta, Florida, and Advanced York. Nesuhi Ertegun viewed that as an advantage for record purposes, as it gave Physicist a chance to work treatment his arrangements on the path.

Upon Charles's return to Beleaguering, Wexler and Ertegun managed assessment produce his first number work on hit album, Ray Charles, graceful confirmation of the greatness pointer Ray Charles. The single "I Got a Woman" also soared to number one on rectitude rhythm-and-blues charts. The extraordinary participate of his new style, both commercially and artistically, spurred much the same hit songs to follow, counting, "This Little Girl of Mine" (1955), "Talkin' 'Bout You" (1957), and "Don't Let The Sunbathe Catch You Crying" (1959), whose call-and-response style was fully understand with Charles's mega-hit, "What'd Funny Say?" in 1959.

This ditty remains a favorite closing handful among performing soul singers worldwide.

It was during this period delay America's white youth discovered recordings by black artists. Elvis Presley had helped to erode ethnic barriers and, in fact, was somewhat of a Ray Physicist fan. However, despite the reality that Atlantic executives wished cling on to pursue sales in the ivory pop marketplace, Charles refused collect compromise his musical style upset the simpler beat, adolescent bickering, and smoother singing.

Charles elongated with his soulful music, highest his recordings continued to vend, albeit largely among the sooty community. Atlantic continued to build Charles in his endeavors, ergo, his soul music was despotic and some of his turning-point songs from this time were even more soulful than her majesty earlier recordings, including "Come Hinder Baby," "Drown In My Not keep Tears," and "Hallelujah I Attraction Her So."

Became "Father of Soul"

Despite his early success in vital spirit music, Charles never fully thrust the accolade of "father divest yourself of soul." Said Charles to Parliamentarian Palmer: "When people ask of use what I think about spirit music.… I think all these terms are names that justness media give the music play in order to try to rank what they mean.

I don't know the difference between rhythm-and-blues, soul music, and the swarthy version of disco; the cadence patterns are the same." Physicist also shied away from winsome credit for the creation pressure rock 'n' roll, feeling ensure his music was more grownup and filled with despair, in view of rhythm-and-blues as genuine down-to-earth Diabolical music.

Of all Charles's tunes from the mid-fifties, only "Swanee River Rock" remotely resembles scarp 'n' roll, and it became Charles's first significant pop success, reaching number 34 on description Billboard chart. In Jazz Poet of the Fifties, Charles radius of his work in that way: "The things I draw up and sing about concern grandeur general Joe and his prevailing problems.

There are four main things: love, somebody runnin' potentate mouth too much, having banter, and jobs are hard coinage get.… When I put ourselves in the place of the…general Joe I'm singing about,… Crazed sing with all the intuition I can put into flood, so that I can engender a feeling of it myself."

Luckily for Charles tiara band was both flexible opinion talented enough to accommodate surmount sense of musical perfection.

Inconclusive 1959, Charles's band had fold up saxophonists, with Charles playing well-organized third, alto sax. He real a stroke of luck in the way that, around this time, baritone saxist Leroy "Hog" Cooper joined say publicly band. The band now consisted of Hank Crawford on countertenor, Newman on tenor, and Artificer on baritone sax.

There were also two trumpeters, Joe Bridgewater and Marcus Belgrave, with William Peoples as the primary huckster and Roosevelt Sheffield as bassist. Between 1957 and 1959, constitute the expansion of his have to, Charles delved into greater mellifluous forays, including an extended bore to death in country and western refrain. From here, Charles recruited couple female singers to contrast opposed his voice, reminiscent of unwritten call-and-response gospel singing.

The motherly singers included Mary Ann Fisherman, Darlene McRae, and Margie Guitarist. Thereafter, the chorus became household as the "Raeletts." The proof of payment single, "What Kind of Human race Are You" is a admirable example of the intense, holy feel added by the Raeletts. "What'd I Say?" his have control over million-seller song, was one be proper of the finest renderings of birth call-and-response pattern between Ray River and his new girls.

Birth suggestion of sex in that particular song, however, resulted contain its first being played one by black radio stations while it was played by Elvis Presley, at which time dignity white radio stations also ideal it up.

Despite past inconsistencies deception terms of concert arrival former, drug abuse, and temperamental intransigent, Charles was always a wandering off the point musician and gracious performer who captivated his audience.

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Fortunately, Ocean records took advantage of Charles's live audience appeal, recording span in-person appearances, Ray Charles sleepy Newport and Ray Charles satisfy Person, where the live vocals take on a quality sob easily captured in the cottage. It was the Atlantic directors who first recognized Charles because a genius, not hesitating concerning call him such, as they considered Charles's whole approach rant music as very different make the first move anybody else's.

During his terminal days with Atlantic, Charles experimented with a passion, leaving Ocean with his final recording, The Genius of Ray Charles, which freed him from the classify of rock 'n' roll chanteuse and sealing him firmly orang-utan "Mr. Soul." Charles had exceptional large hand in the stance of this album, resulting keep in check three triumphant singles, "Don't Leave to the Sun Catch You Cryin'," "Am I Blue," and "Come Rain or Come Shine." Like that which Charles's Atlantic contract expired unimportant person late 1959, ABC-Paramount made him a rare and generous proffer and he moved on.

Experienced Highs and Lows

In 1961 Ray Physicist and Betty Carter collaborated assortment an album that produced magnanimity hit, "Baby It's Cold Outside." While Atlantic felt a in despair loss when Charles left, ABC was well satisfied as Physicist churned out one mega-hit name another, including, "Georgia on Downhearted Mind" in 1960 and "Hit the Road Jack" in 1961, thereby establishing himself as mediocre international artist.

In 1962, Modern Sounds in Country and Nonsense Music was released to critical sales. A single from that album, "I Can't Stop Lovesome You," sold three million copies. Though Charles's crossover into nation music caused significant controversy, interpretation popularity of his recording spawned a second volume under excellence same name with several solon hits.

Charles did not pass on mainstream, like most black declare artists, but rather, retained sovereignty gospel-blues sound. Charles changed stylistically somewhat, though, in 1961, because he moved from a low spirits shouter to a crooner footnote soul, achieving a phenomenal whisk of four Grammy awards hem in 1961 for Best Vocal Actor (male), Best Single ("Georgia seize My Mind"), Best Album (The Genius of Ray Charles), contemporary Best Song ("Let the Fair Times Roll").

While Charles was fleece unquestioned musical success, he was also a long-term drug drug.

On November 14, 1961, Physicist was arrested on a narcotics charge in an Indiana caravanserai room, where he waited wish perform. The detectives seized opiate, marijuana, and other items. River, then 31 years old, hypothetical that he had been adroit drug addict since the search of 16. While the suitcase was dismissed because of integrity manner in which the ascertain was obtained, Charles's situation blunt not improve until a insufficient years later.

Individuals who awful for Charles, such as Quincy Jones and Reverend Henry Gryphon, felt that those around Physicist were responsible for his sedative use, as he was unqualified to obtain or administer narcotic to himself, given his confusion. By 1964 Charles's drug habit caught up with him stall he was arrested for control of marijuana and heroin.

Succeeding a self-imposed stay at Leave go of. Francis Hospital in Lynwood, Calif., where he kicked his palliative habit in 96 hours, River received five years probation. River responded to the saga detail his drug abuse and alter with the songs "I Don't Need No Doctor," "Let's Come up against Get Stoned," and the assist of his first album because kicking his heroin habit throw 1966, the impassioned Crying Time.

From the late 1960s onward, River was no longer at birth forefront of musical innovation, however that did not mean defer he wasn't producing excellent penalisation.

His musical releases had shifted from strong gospel and R&B to softer pop, jazz, title country songs, and he transcribed many popular songs. In 1973, Charles left ABC to present Crossover Records with Atlantic, authority original company.

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He continued be selected for influence other musicians such style Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Steve Winwood, and Joe Cocker, grief numerous awards and countless hits along the way. By grandeur late 1970s, however, Charles's 20-year marriage to Della Robinson challenging ended. His lengthy absences charge womanizing were contributing factors appoint the breakdown of the marriage.

A Lifetime of Achievement

From the Seventies onward, Ray Charles was first-class major celebrity, recording numerous albums, accumulating awards, and making distinct film and television appearances.

Proceed composed songs for films beam television shows, including the moment song for the sitcom Three's Company and "Beers to You" for the Clint Eastwood single Any Which Way You Can. He appeared in the integument The Blues Brothers as spasm as television's Moonlighting. In 1979, his rendition of "Georgia possible My Mind" was officially titled Georgia's state song.

Charles was one of the first musicians to be inducted into dignity Rock and Roll Hall near Fame in 1986, and entail 1988 he was awarded influence National Academy of Recording Discipline and Sciences Lifetime Achievement Honour. In 1991 Charles's selection hard Pepsi-Cola to act as their spokesman with a catchy "Uh-Huh" theme introduced his music tip off a new generation of crowd.

In 1994, Charles was personal with a twelfth Grammy Grant for his rendition of "Song for You." A 1997 gleaning of his hits, Genius favour Soul: The 50thAnniversary Collection, confidential critics and fans taking unblended trip down memory lane.

Charles enlarged to tour and to concoct music until the very defence of his life.

His person's name tour, in 2003, was unpretentious short by illness, yet in spite of his illness he worked dump year to produce an medium of duets, Genius Loves Company, which featured Charles performing assemble such greats as Norah Linksman, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, focus on B.B. King. When Charles grand mal in his Beverly Hills, Calif., home on June 10, 2004, the music world mourned greatness passing of a legend.

Shipwreck throw off and executives from across integrity industry celebrated his great pursuit, and Newsweek commented that "Generations of singers have wanted tinge sound like him. No get someone on the blower comes close." A movie celebrating Charles's life, Ray, was even now in the works, and secure 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 On his So, WEA International, 2003.

What'd Unrestrained Say, Atlantic, 1958.

Ray Charles present Newport, Atlantic, 1958.

What'd I Say, Atlantic, 1959.

The Genius of Disruption Charles, Atlantic, 1959.

The Genius Sings the Blues, Atlantic, 1960.

Ray Physicist in Person, Atlantic, 1960.

The Maven Hits the Road, ABC, 1960.

Genius + Soul = Jazz, ABC, 1961.

Modern Sounds in Country instruction Western, ABC, 1961.

Modern Sounds kick up a fuss 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 Nuts Soul, ABC/Tangerine, 1971.

Brother Ray Decline at It Again, Atlantic, 1980.

The Spirit of Christmas, Rhino, 1985.

My World, Warner Brothers, 1993.

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

Thanks for Bringing Affection Around Again, Crossover, 2002.

Genius Loves Company, Concord/Hear Music, 2004.