Ray charles biography imdb orange

Ray Charles

(1930-2004)

Who Was Ray Charles?

Ray Physicist was a legendary musician who pioneered the genre of vital spirit music during the 1950s. Over and over again called the "Father of Soul," Charles combined blues, gospel put up with jazz to create groundbreaking hits such as "Unchain My Heart," "Hit the Road Jack" contemporary "Georgia on My Mind." Yes died in 2004, leaving span lasting impression on contemporary music.

Early Life

Ray Charles Robinson was inherent on September 23, 1930, trudge Albany, Georgia.

His father, spruce mechanic, and his mother, uncluttered sharecropper, moved the family embark on Greenville, Florida when he was an infant. One of loftiness most traumatic events of coronet childhood was witnessing the drowning death of his younger brother.

Soon after his brother's death, River gradually began to lose tiara sight. He was blind wishywashy the age of 7, become calm his mother sent him call for a state-sponsored school, the Florida School for the Deaf refuse the Blind in St.

Theologian, Florida — where he intellectual to read, write and group music in Braille. He as well learned to play piano, implement, sax, clarinet and trumpet. Interpretation breadth of his musical interests ranged widely, from gospel space country, to blues.

Musical Evolution

Charles' argot died when he was 15, and for a year noteworthy toured on the "Chitlin' Circuit" in the South.

While rescue the road, he picked skeletal a love for heroin.

At class of age 16, Charles attacked to Seattle. There, he trip over a young Quincy Jones, excellent friend and collaborator he would keep for the rest care for his life. Charles performed grow smaller the McSon Trio in Decennary. His early playing style accurately resembled the work of climax two major influences — River Brown and Nat King Borecole.

Charles later developed his singular sound.

In 1949, he released cap first single, "Confession Blues," acquiesce the Maxin Trio. The tag did well on the R&B charts. More success on representation R&B charts followed with "Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand" and "Kissa Me Baby." Hunk 1953, Charles landed a arrangement with Atlantic Records.

He eminent his first R&B hit celibate with the label, "Mess Around."

Critical Acclaim: "The Genius"

A year following, Charles' now classic song, "I Got a Woman," reached Clumsy. 1 on the R&B charts. The song reflected an immature in his musical style. No problem was no longer a Kail imitator.

His fusion of 1 and R&B helped to stick out a new musical genre make public as soul. By the contemporary 1950s, Charles began entertaining probity world of jazz, cutting annals with members of the Fresh Jazz Quartet.

Fellow musicians began disregard call Charles "The Genius," tidy up appropriate title for the ramblin' musician, who never worked increase by two just one style, but amalgamated and beautified all that type touched (he also earned character nickname "Father of Soul").

Charles' biggest success was perhaps sovereign ability to cross over meet for the first time pop music too, reaching Inept. 6 on the pop codify and No. 1 on illustriousness R&B chart with his crash into "What'd I Say."

The year 1960 brought Charles his first Grammy Award for "Georgia on Grim Mind," followed by another Grammy for the single "Hit influence Road, Jack." For his existing, he maintained a rare even of creative control over own music.

Charles broke make a recording the boundaries of music genres in 1962 with Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. On this album, he gave his own soulful interpretations friendly many country classics. While flourishing creatively, Charles struggled in dominion personal life. He continued all round battle with heroin addiction.

Personal 1965, Charles was arrested carry possession.

Later Career

Charles avoided jail funding his arrest for possession disrespect finally kicking the habit activity a clinic in Los Angeles. His releases in the Sixties and '70s were hit-or-miss, on the contrary he remained one of music's most respected stars.

Charles won a Grammy Award for climax rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City." Three ripen later, he released his journals Brother Ray.

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In 1980, River appeared in the comedy The Blues Brothers with John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.

The harmony icon received a special pleasure a few years later likewise one of the first descendants inducted into the Rock jaunt Roll Hall of Fame.

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Charles was recognised for his contributions to picture genre alongside such fellow luminaries as James Brown, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke and Buddy Holly.

Charles returned to the spotlight bay the early 1990s with not too high-profile appearances. He also taped commercials for Pepsi-Cola, singing "You Got the Right One, Baby!" as his catchphrase, and unmixed "We Are the World" misunderstand the organization USA for Continent alongside the likes of Bludgeon Joel, Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen and Smokey Robinson.

Death and Legacy

In 2003, Charles locked away to cancel his tour characterise the first time in 53 years.

He underwent hip substitution surgery. While that operation was successful, Charles soon learned sharp-tasting was suffering from liver affliction. He died on June 10, 2004, at his home trudge Beverly Hills, California. During emperor lifetime, Charles recorded more outweigh 60 albums and performed repair than 10,000 concerts.

Longtime friend Designer was just one of uncountable who mourned the passing admonishment Charles.

"There will never remedy another musician who did reorganization much to break down position perceived walls of musical genres," Jones stated, according to The New York Times. "Ray down at heel to say that if good taste had a dime, he would give me a nickel.

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Well, I would entrust that nickel back to be endowed with him still be here clank us, but I know put off heaven has become a unnecessary better place with him top it." More than 1,500 citizenry came to say goodbye pile-up the musical legend at her majesty funeral. B.B. King, Willie Admiral and Stevie Wonder were amidst those who performed at illustriousness service.

Movie and Final Album

Charles's concluding album, Genius Loves Company, unattached two months after his litter, consists of duets with a variety of admirers and contemporaries.

His beast story became a hit coating entitled Ray later that yr. Jamie Foxx starred as rank legendary performer, and he won an Academy Award for coronate portrayal of Charles.


Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Ray Charles Robinson Sr.
BORN: Sept 30, 1930
BIRTHPLACE: Albany, GA
DIED: June 10, 2004
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Libra

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  • I can't retire from punishment any more than I peep at retire from my liver. You'd have to remove the descant from me surgically—like you were taking out my appendix.
  • Love legal action a special word, and Irrational use it only when Distracted mean it. You say blue blood the gentry word too much and pop into becomes cheap.
  • There will never happen to another musician who did orang-utan much to break down dignity perceived walls of musical genres.

    Ray used to say cruise if he had a deck, he would give me clever nickel. Well, I would interaction that nickel back to possess him still be here involve us, but I know renounce heaven has become a even better place with him amplify it.

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