 |
| Who was Ray Charles? Singer? A piano and saxophone player? Legend. His skills spanned the gulf of virtually every musical style from classical to blues, jazz, boogie-woogie, and even hillbilly. His music was heard by billions and he was the father of modern soul. Born in Albany, Georgia on September 23rd, 1930, which was ironically enough, the same year that Hoagie Carmichael penned the tune most associated with Ray Charles, "Georgia on My Mind.� Ray Charles Robinson's early years were not exactly the easiest. Born in abject poverty, he would start to lose his sight by age five, becoming completely blind by age seven. To many, this would mean a life of dependance. However, he was fortunate enough to have a mother, Aretha Robinson, who pushed him toward greater independence. Despite their poverty, she still enrolled him in the St. Augustine School for the Deaf and Blind in 1936. It was there that Charles learned to read music and was introduced to the likes of Chopin and Beethoven. It was also there that he found his true passion, jazz. After his mother's death in 1945, the fifteen-year-old Ray Charles decided to find his own way in the world. His early career began in Jacksonville and Orlando, Florida. Word soon spread of this blind piano player, saxophonist and arranger with a versatility nobody had ever seen before. In 1948, he moved to Seattle, Washington, dropped the "Robinson" from his name to avoid being confused with then well-known boxer Sugar Ray Robinson. He recorded his first song and started wearing the trademark sunglasses we all now associate with him. The 1950's wasn't the easiest time for a black performer to gain mainstream acceptance. Very few black musicians were embraced by the segregationalist mainstream culture. So Ray Charles' first national hit was not on the mainstream charts, rather on the "Black Charts" with "Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand.� In 1950, Charles moved to L.A., eventually to become his permanent residence and the home of his own recording studio which would be declared a national landmark in April 2004. It was then that he began seriously touring and cutting records with his own band. In 1954, Charles hit the mainstream with his first hit from Atlantic records "I Got a Woman.� This tune, a fusion of gospel, blues, jazz and boogie-woogie, soon to be called soul was hardly embraced by all. Many protested his style as sacrilegious. Charles insisted he was only doing "what came from his soul,� hence Soul music was born. In 1955, Charles added female backup singers to his group, further carving the style of music he created. The harmony of the feminine with the rough masculine voice he'd developed was appealing to many. So the "Raelettes" would become a permanent part of his act. Over the next few years, Ray Charles would record the songs he was most associated with. Three number one pop hits would follow, "Georgia on My Mind,� "Hit the Road Jack" and "I Can't Stop Loving You,� the last of which would surprisingly be included on a country and western album, only proving Ray Charles' universal appeal. Of course, Ray Charles' life was not without problems. After his second marriage to Della Howard gave him three children, two paternity suits revealed that Charles had several other children out of wedlock. Then, in 1964, Charles was arrested for heroin possession, later admitting that he'd been addicted to heroin since the late 1940's. However, in true Ray Charles tradition, he kicked the habit and spent the rest of his life clean. Ray Charles' career held on strong until the very end. A resurgence in the 1980's came from his appearance in the film "The Blues Brothers" and again in the 90's with those famous Diet Pepsi commercials. In 1979, Ray Charles was the first performer inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. In 1982 he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. In 1986, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1993, Ray Charles received the highest honor when he was awarded the National Medal of the Arts. From poverty to fame, Ray Charles will always be remembered as the father of Soul. The words he once sung with such passion will always linger on in our hearts. "A song of you Comes as sweet and clear As moonlight through the pines Other arms reach out to me Other eyes smile tenderly Still in peaceful dreams I see The road leads back to you" Just this old sweet song keeps Ray Charles on our minds. |
 |
|
 |
|