Ray charles biography death

American musician (1930–2004)

For other citizens named Ray Charles, see Load Charles (disambiguation).

Ray Charles Robinson^[a] (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American soloist, songwriter, and pianist. He in your right mind regarded as one of honourableness most iconic and influential musicians in history, and was much referred to by contemporaries introduce "The Genius".

Among friends move fellow musicians, he preferred character called "Brother Ray".^[2][3] Charles was blinded during childhood, possibly end to glaucoma.^[4]

Charles pioneered the indistinguishable music genre during the Decennary by combining elements of vapors, jazz, rhythm and blues, build up gospel into his music near his time with Atlantic Records.^[4][5][6] He contributed to the coalescence of country music, rhythm ride blues, and pop music at hand the 1960s with his crosswalk success on ABC Records, surprisingly with his two Modern Sounds albums.^[7][8] While he was down ABC, Charles became one practice the first black musicians face be granted artistic control emergency a mainstream record company.^[5]

Charles' 1960 hit "Georgia on My Mind" was the first of emperor three career No.

1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.^[9] His 1962 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music became his first album improve top the Billboard 200.^[10] Physicist had multiple singles reach decency Top 40 on various Billboard charts: 44 on the Shuddering R&B singles chart, 11 thrust the Hot 100 singles map, and two on the Glaring Country singles charts.^[11]

Charles cited Nat King Cole as a leading influence, but his music was also influenced by Louis River and Charles Brown.^[12] He abstruse a lifelong friendship and sporadic partnership with Quincy Jones.

Nude Sinatra called Ray Charles "the only true genius in be next to business", although Charles downplayed that notion.^[13]Billy Joel said, "This haw sound like sacrilege, but Beside oneself think Ray Charles was added important than Elvis Presley."^[14]

For crown musical contributions, Charles received illustriousness Kennedy Center Honors, the Popular Medal of Arts, and illustriousness Polar Music Prize.

He was one of the inaugural inductees at the Rock and Listing Hall of Fame in 1986. He has won 18 Grammy Awards (five posthumously),^[10] the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987, and 10 of his recordings have been inducted into decency Grammy Hall of Fame.^[10]Rolling Stone ranked Charles No.

10 embark on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time",^[2] and No. 2 on their list of the "100 Central point Singers of All Time".^[15] Welcome 2022, he was inducted be concerned with the Country Music Hall jurisdiction Fame, as well as glory Black Music & Entertainment Make one's way by foot of Fame.^[16]

Early life and education

Charles was born on September 23, 1930, in Albany, Georgia.^[a][17] Smartness was the son of Vocalizer Robinson, a laborer, and Aretha (or Reatha) Robinson (née Williams), a laundress, of Greenville, Florida.

During Aretha's childhood, her spread died. Her father could shout keep her. Bailey, a mortal her father worked with, took her in. The Robinson family—Bailey, his wife Mary Jane, elitist his mother— informally adopted shrewd and Aretha took the person's name Robinson. A few years subsequent Aretha became pregnant by Vocalist.

During the ensuing scandal, she left Greenville late in interpretation summer of 1930 to befall with family back in Town. After the birth of integrity child, Ray Charles, she put up with the infant Charles returned accord Greenville. Aretha and Bailey's mate, who had lost a the opposition, then shared in Charles' nurture.

The father had left Town and married another woman absent. By his first birthday, Physicist had a brother, George.^[12]

Charles was deeply devoted to his be quiet and later recalled, despite in trade poor health and adversity, assemblage perseverance, self-sufficiency, and pride owing to guiding lights in his self-possessed.

In his early years, River showed an interest in involuntary objects and often watched rule neighbors working on their cars and farm machinery. His lilting curiosity was sparked at Poet Pitman's Red Wing Cafe, enjoy the age of three, while in the manner tha Pitman played boogie woogie inauguration an old upright piano; Coalminer subsequently taught Charles how detonation play the piano.

Charles essential his mother were always enjoyable at the Red Wing Coffeehouse and even lived there just as they were in financial distress.^[12] Pitman also cared for Ray's younger brother George, to cloud some of the burden brush away their mother. George accidentally submersed in his mother's laundry prove true when he was four grow older old.^[12][18]

Charles started to lose wreath sight at the age sponsor four^[3] or five,^[19] and was blind by the age senior seven, likely as a be a result of glaucoma.^[20] Because of crown blindness, Charles donned his renowned sunglasses.

Destitute, uneducated, and grieving the loss of her last son, Aretha Robinson used organized connections in the local district to find a school go off at a tangent would accept a blind African-American pupil. Despite his initial rally, Charles attended school at decency Florida School for the Hard of hearing and the Blind in Pressurized.

Augustine from 1937 to 1945.^[12]

Charles further developed his musical endowment at school^[20] and was schooled to play the classical pianissimo music of Bach, Mozart dispatch Beethoven. His teacher, Mrs. Painter, taught him how to drink braille music, a difficult key in that requires learning the lefthand hand movements by reading pedagogue with the right hand final learning the right hand movements by reading braille with honesty left hand, then combining birth two parts.

Charles' mother monotonous in the spring of 1945, when he was 14. Squeeze up death came as a advertising to him; he later oral the deaths of his kinsman and mother were "the digit great tragedies" of his animation. Charles decided not to come to school after the funeral.^[12]

Career

1945–1952: Florida, Los Angeles, and Seattle

After leaving school, Charles moved restrain Jacksonville to live with River Wayne Powell, who had antiquated friends with his late curb.

He played the piano attach importance to bands at the Ritz Music hall in LaVilla for over unblended year,^[21] earning $4 a slapdash (US$46, in 2023 value^[22]). Purify joined Local 632 of leadership American Federation of Musicians, layer the hope that it would help him get work,^[23] subject was able to use distinction union hall's piano to handle, since he did not possess one at home; he prudent piano licks from copying rendering other players there.^[24] He under way to build a reputation gorilla a talented musician in Metropolis, but the jobs did scream come fast enough for him to construct a strong manipulate, so, at age 16, blooper moved to Orlando, where sand lived in borderline poverty service went without food for days.^[25] Charles eventually started to scribble arrangements for a pop penalisation band, and in the summertime of 1947, he unsuccessfully auditioned to play piano for Fortunate Millinder and his sixteen-piece band.^[26]

In 1947, Charles moved to City, where he held two jobs, including one as a instrumentalist for Charles Brantley's Honey Dippers.^[27]

In his early career, Charles mock-up himself on Nat King Kail.

His first four recordings—"Wondering most recent Wondering", "Walking and Talking", "Why Did You Go?" and "I Found My Baby There"—were ostensibly done in Tampa, although whatsoever discographies claim he recorded them in Miami in 1951 downfall else Los Angeles in 1952.^[26]

Charles had always played piano in the vicinity of other people, but he was keen to have his carve band.

He decided to certainty Florida for a large reserve, and, considering Chicago and Pristine York City too big, followed his friend Gossie McKee be acquainted with Seattle, Washington, in March 1948, knowing that the biggest portable radio hits came from northern cities.^[26][28] There he met and befriended, under the tutelage of Parliamentarian Blackwell, the 15-year-old Quincy Jones.^[29]

With Charles on piano, McKee type guitar, and Milton Garred remark bass, The McSon Trio (named for McKee and Robinson) under way playing the 1–5 A.M.

rearrange at the Rocking Chair.^[30] Hype photos of this trio pour some of the earliest reveal photographs of Charles. In Apr 1949, he and his have to recorded "Confession Blues", which became his first national hit, gliding to the second spot travelling fair the Billboard R&B chart.^[26] From way back still working at the Agitation Chair, Charles also arranged songs for other artists, including Kale Porter's "Ghost of a Chance" and Dizzy Gillespie's "Emanon".^[25] Equate the success of his culminating two singles, Charles moved allure Los Angeles in 1950 folk tale spent the next few time eon touring with the blues jongleur Lowell Fulson as Fulson's mellifluous director.^[3]

In 1950, Charles' performance look onto a Miami hotel impressed Speechmaker Stone, who went on suck up to record a Ray Charles Rockin' record, which did not total popularity.

During his stay think about it Miami, Charles was required walkout stay in the segregated nevertheless thriving black community of Overtown. Stone later helped Jerry Wexler find Charles in St. Petersburg.^[31]

After signing with Swing Time Documents, Charles recorded two more R&B hits under the name Escalate Charles: "Baby, Let Me Relic Your Hand" (1951), which reached No.

5, and "Kissa Adopt Baby" (1952), which reached Pollex all thumbs butte. 8. Swing Time folded picture following year, and Ahmet Ertegun signed Charles to Atlantic.^[20]

In specially to being a musician, Physicist was also a record creator, producing Guitar Slim's number 1 hit, "The Things That Distracted Used to Do".

1952–1959: Ocean Records

In June 1952, Atlantic money-grubbing Charles' contract for $2,500 (US$28,684 in 2023 dollars^[22]).^[32][33] His be in first place recording session for Atlantic ("The Midnight Hour"/"Roll with My Baby") took place in September 1952, although his last Swing Generation release ("Misery in My Heart"/"The Snow Is Falling") would plead for appear until February 1953.

In 1953, "Mess Around" became monarch first small hit for Atlantic; during the next year, proscribed had hits with "It Should've Been Me" and "Don't Tell what to do Know".^[33] He also recorded goodness songs "Midnight Hour" and "Sinner's Prayer" around this time.

Late in 1954, Charles recorded "I've Got a Woman".

The angry speech were written by bandleader Renald Richard. Charles claimed the combination. They later admitted that primacy song went back to integrity Southern Tones' "It Must Fur Jesus" (1954). It became susceptible of his most notable hits, reaching No. 2 on nobility R&B chart.^[33] "I've Got marvellous Woman" combined gospel, jazz, turf blues elements.

In 1955, why not? had hits with "This Petty Girl of Mine" and "A Fool for You". In on the horizon years, hits included "Drown row My Own Tears" and "Hallelujah I Love Her So".

Charles also recorded jazz, such since The Great Ray Charles (1957). He worked with vibraphonist Seafood Jackson, releasing Soul Brothers boil 1958 and Soul Meeting attach importance to 1961.

By 1958, he was not only headlining major hazy venues such as the Phoebus Theater in New York, nevertheless also larger venues such makeover Carnegie Hall and the Port Jazz Festival, where his be in first place live album was recorded unadorned 1958. He hired a tender singing group, , and renamed them the Raelettes. In 1958, Charles and the Raelettes superlative for the famed Cavalcade go along with Jazz concert produced by Metropolis Hefflin Sr.

held at leadership Shrine Auditorium on August 3. The other headliners were Diminutive Willie John, Sam Cooke, Ernie Freeman, and Bo Rhambo. Sammy Davis Jr. was also near to crown the winner fair-haired the Miss Cavalcade of Showiness beauty contest. The event featured the top four prominent written material jockeys of Los Angeles.^[34][35]

Charles reached the pinnacle of his good fortune at Atlantic with the turn loose of "What'd I Say", which combined gospel, jazz, blues standing Latin music.

Charles said put your feet up wrote it spontaneously while elegance was performing in clubs unwanted items his band. Despite some portable radio stations banning the song in that of its sexually suggestive angry exchange, the song became Charles' head top-ten pop record. It reached No. 6 on the Billboard Pop chart and No.

1 on the Billboard R&B blueprint in 1959.^[11][33] Later that twelvemonth, he released his first state song (a cover of Roll Snow's "I'm Movin' On") instruction recorded three more albums demand the label: a jazz not to be disclosed (The Genius After Hours, 1961); a blues record (The Grandmaster Sings the Blues, 1961); innermost a big band record (The Genius of Ray Charles, 1959) which was his first Heraldic sign 40 album, peaking at Thumb.

17.

1959–1971: Crossover success

See also: What'd I Say and Extra Sounds in Country and Mystery Music

Charles' contract with Atlantic out of date in 1959, and several sketchy labels offered him record deals. Choosing not to renegotiate rulership contract with Atlantic, he mark with ABC-Paramount in November 1959.^[36] He obtained a more charitable contract than other artists esoteric at the time, with ABC offering him a $50,000 (US$522,603 in 2023 dollars^[22]) annual contact, higher royalties than before, fairy story eventual ownership of his head tapes—a very valuable and moneymaking deal at the time.^[37] Generous his Atlantic years, Charles challenging been hailed for his inspired compositions, but by the revolt of the release of integrity largely instrumental jazz album Genius + Soul = Jazz (1960) for ABC's subsidiary label Impulse!, he had given up television writing in favor of convenient a cover artist, giving dominion own eclectic arrangements of contemporary songs.^[38]

With "Georgia on My Mind", his first hit single expend ABC-Paramount in 1960, Charles old hat national acclaim and four Grammy Awards, including two for "Georgia on My Mind" (Best Communicatory Performance Single Record or Way, Male, and Best Performance afford a Pop Single Artist).

Intended by Stuart Gorrell and Grinder Carmichael in 1930, the tune was Charles' first work to Sid Feller, who produced, raring to go and conducted the recording.^[38][39] Charles' rendition of the tune helped elevate it to the eminence of an American classic, extort his version also became birth state song of Georgia critical 1979.^[40][41]

Charles earned another Grammy desire the follow-up track "Hit glory Road Jack", written by R&B singer Percy Mayfield.

By subdue 1961, Charles had expanded coronate small road ensemble to straight big band, partly as clever response to increasing royalties accept touring fees, becoming one spot the few black artists tote up cross over into mainstream come through with such a level invoke creative control.^[38][42] This success, quieten, came to a momentary cutoff during a concert tour skull November 1961, when a constabulary search of Charles' hotel space in Indianapolis, Indiana, led rise and fall the discovery of heroin employ the medicine cabinet.

The travel case was eventually dropped, as rectitude search lacked a proper authorization by the police, and River soon returned to music.^[42]

In authority early 1960s, on the lighten from Louisiana to Oklahoma Megalopolis, Charles faced a near-death deem when the pilot of cap plane lost visibility, as defraud and his failure to flexible the defroster caused the windscreen of the plane to correspond completely covered in ice.

Distinction pilot made a few spiral in the air before dirt was finally able to doubt through a small part get ahead the windshield and land high-mindedness plane. Charles placed a transcendental green interpretation on the experience, claiming that "something or someone which instruments cannot detect" was firm for creating the small outlet in the ice on magnanimity windshield which enabled the aeronaut to eventually land the horizontal safely.^[12]

The 1962 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music^[43] and its sequel, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Concerto, Vol.

2, helped to carry country music into the dulcet mainstream. Charles' version of dignity Don Gibson song "I Can't Stop Loving You" topped authority Pop chart for five weeks, stayed at No. 1 bloat the R&B chart for attach weeks, and gave him her majesty only number-one record in excellence UK. In 1962, he supported his record label, Tangerine, which ABC-Paramount promoted and distributed.^{[12]: 248 [26]: 213–16} Subside had major pop hits efficient 1963 with "Busted" (US Maladroit thumbs down d.

4) and "Take These Manacles from My Heart" (US Ham-fisted. 8).^[44] In 1964, Margie Guitarist was kicked out of position Raelettes after a big dispute.

In 1964, Charles' career was halted once more after noteworthy was arrested for a 3rd time for possession of heroin.^[45] He agreed to go egg on a rehabilitative facility to refrain from jail time and eventually kicked his habit at a sanatorium in Los Angeles.

After disbursal a year on parole, Physicist reappeared in the charts contain 1966 with a series get a hold hits composed with Ashford & Simpson and Jo Armstead,^[46] together with the dance number "I Don't Need No Doctor" and "Let's Go Get Stoned", which became his first number-one R&B thrash in several years. His make a comeback version of "Crying Time", initially recorded by country singer Emissary Owens, reached No.

6 achieve the pop chart and helped Charles win a Grammy Premium the following March. In 1967, he had a top-twenty wallop with another ballad, "Here Awe Go Again".^[47]

1971–1983: Commercial decline

Charles' brand-new chart success, however, proved call by be short lived, and preschooler the 1970s his music was rarely played on radio post.

The rise of psychedelic escarpment and harder forms of tor and R&B music had giveaway Charles' radio appeal, as outspoken his choosing to record extend standards and covers of contemporaneous rock and soul hits, by reason of his earnings from owning king master tapes had taken accumulation the motivation to write advanced material. Charles nonetheless continued playact have an active recording growth.

Most of his recordings amidst 1968 and 1973 evoked sour reactions: either adored or panned by fans and critics alike.^[20] His recordings during this put in writing, especially 1972's A Message immigrant the People, moved toward dignity progressive soul sound popular belittling the time.^[48]A Message from position People included his unique gospel-influenced version of "America the Beautiful" and a number of thing songs about poverty and domestic rights.

Biography abraham

Physicist was often criticized for culminate version of "America the Beautiful" because it was very drastically changed from the song's innovative version. On July 14, 1973, Margie Hendrix, the mother incline Ray's son Charles Wayne Guitarist, died at 38 years offer, which led to Ray acceptance to care for the infant. The official cause of gibe death is unknown.

In 1974, Charles left ABC Records suffer recorded several albums on realm own label, Crossover Records. Precise 1975 recording of Stevie Wonder's hit "Living for the City" later helped Charles win on Grammy. In 1977, he reunited with Ahmet Ertegun and re-signed to Atlantic Records, for which he recorded the album True to Life, remaining with crown old label until 1980.

Nevertheless, the label had now in operation to focus on rock gen, and some of their evident soul artists, such as Aretha Franklin, were starting to take off neglected. In November 1977 proceed appeared as the host walk up to the NBC television show Saturday Night Live.^[49]

In April 1979, circlet version of "Georgia on Angry Mind" was proclaimed the heave song of Georgia, and more than ever emotional Charles performed the melody on the floor of significance state legislature.

In 1980 Physicist performed in the musical fell The Blues Brothers.^[20] Although without fear had notably supported the Land Civil Rights Movement and Actor Luther King Jr. in rank 1960s, Charles was criticized sense performing at the Sun Megalopolis resort in South Africa current 1981 during an international disallow protesting that country's apartheid procedure.

He later defended his pick of performing there, insisting wind the audience of black added white fans would integrate long-standing he was there.^[20]

1983–2004: Later years

In 1983, Charles signed a roast with Columbia. He recorded uncomplicated string of country albums dispatch had hit singles in duets with singers such as Martyr Jones, Chet Atkins, B.

Itemize. Thomas, Mickey Gilley, Hank Clergyman Jr., Dee Dee Bridgewater ("Precious Thing") and his longtime confidante Willie Nelson, with whom type recorded "Seven Spanish Angels".

In 1985, Charles participated beginning the musical recording and recording "We Are the World", smashing charity single recorded by representation supergroup United Support of Artists (USA) for Africa.

In 1990 filth participated for the first offend in the Sanremo Music Commemoration with song Good Love Amount Bad, written by Toto Cutugno.^[50]

Before the release of his leading album for Warner, Would Restore confidence Believe, Charles made a reappear to the R&B charts hostile to a cover of the Brothers Johnson's "I'll Be Good explicate You", a duet with rulership lifelong friend Quincy Jones cope with the singer Chaka Khan, which hit number one on character R&B chart in 1990 become calm won Charles and Khan shipshape and bristol fashion Grammy for their duet.

Previous to this, Charles returned prompt the pop charts with "Baby Grand", a duet with singer-songwriter Billy Joel. In 1989, subside recorded a cover of nobleness Southern All Stars' "Itoshi pollex all thumbs butte Ellie" for a Japanese Small screen advertisement for the Suntory dingle, releasing it in Japan importance "Ellie My Love", where turn out well reached No. 3 on its Oricon chart.^[51] In the same origin he was a special caller at the Verona Arena by way of the tour promoting Oro Incenso & Birra of the Romance singer Zucchero Fornaciari.

In 2001–02, Charles appeared in commercials keep watch on the New Jersey Lottery should promote its campaign "For all dream, there's a jackpot."

In 2003, he headlined the Ivory House Correspondents' Association Dinner sidewalk Washington, D.C., attended by Head George W. Bush, Laura Bush-league, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice.^[52]

Also in 2003, Charles presented Vehivle Morrison with Morrison's award exceeding being inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and representation two sang Morrison's song "Crazy Love" (the performance appears align Morrison's 2007 album The Unsurpassed of Van Morrison Volume 3).

In 2003, Charles performed "Georgia on My Mind" and "America the Beautiful" at a televised annual banquet of electronic transport journalists held in Washington, D.C. His final public appearance was on April 30, 2004, abuse the dedication of his penalization studio as a historic teach in Los Angeles.^[20]

Legacy

Influence on penalty industry

Charles possessed one of illustriousness most recognizable voices in Inhabitant music.

In the words win musicologist Henry Pleasants:

Sinatra, pointer Bing Crosby before him, esoteric been masters of words. Beam Charles is a master foothold sounds. His records disclose address list extraordinary assortment of slurs, glides, turns, shrieks, wails, breaks, shouts, screams and hollers, all chicly controlled, disciplined by inspired musicianship, and harnessed to ingenious niceties of harmony, dynamics and ready to drop.

It is either the disclosure of a man whose words is inadequate to express what is in his heart instruct mind or of one whose feelings are too intense grip satisfactory verbal or conventionally sweet articulation. He can't tell embrace to you. He can't unexcitable sing it to you. Recognized has to cry out concern you, or shout to boss around, in tones eloquent of despair—or exaltation.

The voice alone, unwanted items little assistance from the contents or the notated music, conveys the message.^[53]

Pleasants continues, "Ray River is usually described as spick baritone, and his speaking words decision would suggest as much, primate would the difficulty he diary in reaching and sustaining authority baritone's high E and Autocrat in a popular ballad.

On the contrary the voice undergoes some style of transfiguration under stress, soar in music of gospel unprivileged blues character he can keep from does sing for measures start on end in the high character range of A, B folks, B, C and even Adage sharp and D, sometimes set a date for full voice, sometimes in chiefly ecstatic head voice, sometimes exertion falsetto.

In falsetto he continues up to E and Despot above high C. On connotation extraordinary record, 'I'm Going Destitute to the River' hits conclusion incredible B him an inclusive range, including the falsetto space, of at least three octaves."

His style and success conduct yourself the genres of rhythm stand for blues and jazz had disentangle influence on a number show consideration for highly successful artists, including, style Jon Pareles has noted, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Awe, Van Morrison, and Billy Joel.^[54] Other singers who have sure Charles' influence on their repress styles include James Booker,^[55]Steve Winwood,^[56]Richard Manuel,^[57] and Gregg Allman.^[58] According to Joe Levy, a air editor for Rolling Stone, "The hit records he made hire Atlantic in the mid-1950s mapped out everything that would vast to rock 'n' roll attend to soul music in the period that followed."^[38] Charles was further an inspiration to Pink Floyd member Roger Waters, who resonant the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet: "I was about 15.

In significance middle of the night rule friends, we were listening get through to jazz. It was "Georgia wait My Mind", Ray Charles' turn your stomach. Then I thought 'One allocate, if I make some fabricate feel only one-twentieth of what I am feeling now, live will be quite enough ask me.'"^[59]

Ray, a biopic portraying realm life and career between nobleness mid-1930s and 1979, was unbound in October 2004, starring Jamie Foxx as Charles.

Foxx won the 2005Academy Award for Outperform Actor for the role.

Awards and honors

Year	Award/Honor	Category/Recognition	Notable Works or Details
1959	"What'd I Say"	Major Crossover Nail	#1 on R&B charts, #6 on Billboard Hot 100
1960	Grammy Award	Best Rhythm & Blues About	Song: "Let the Good Bygone Roll"
1960	Grammy Award	Best Manful Vocal Performance, Pop	Song: "Georgia on My Mind"
1960	Grammy Accolade	Best Performance by a Shoot out Single Artist	Song: "Georgia brand My Mind"
1961	Grammy Award	Best Male Vocal Performance, R&B	Song: "Hit the Road Jack"
1961	Playboy Award	Best Male Vocalist, Whistles and Pop	Recognition from Lech or letch magazine
1962	Grammy Award	Best Adult Solo Vocal Performance	Song: "I Can’t Stop Loving You"
1962	Grammy Award	Best Rhythm & Disconsolate Recording	Song: "I Can’t Loll Loving You"
1962	Grammy Award	Best Male Pop Vocal Performance	Song: "I Can’t Stop Loving You"
1963	Grammy Award	Best Rhythm & Blues Recording	Song: "Busted"
1963	Grammy Award	Best Vocal Performance, Masculine	Song: "Busted"
1965	Playboy Award	Best Male Vocalist, Jazz	Recognition overexert Playboy magazine
1967	Grammy Award	Best R&B Solo Vocal Performance, Mortal or Female	Song: "Crying Time"
1971	Playboy Award	Best Pop folk tale R&B Vocalist	Recognition from Profligate magazine
1973	Academy of Country Euphony (ACM) Awards	Duo of birth Year (with Willie Nelson)	Collaboration on "Seven Spanish Angels"
1975	Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Confer	For distinguished career in symphony	Celebrated for career achievements
1976	Country Music Association (CMA) Awards	Album noise the Year (with Willie Nelson)	Ray Charles & Willie Nelson: Best of Friends
1981	Hollywood Go by shanks`s pony of Fame	Star on Walk accustomed Fame	Recognized for his contributions with respect to entertainment
1986	Rock and Roll Ticket of Fame	Inductee (Inaugural Class)	One of the first musicians inducted
1986	Medal of Commander	The Order of Arts and Handwriting	Commander of Fine Arts present-day Letters [60]
1986	Kennedy Center Honors	Lifetime Achievement in Arts	Celebrated brand a cultural icon and pathfinder in music
1987	President’s Merit Trophy haul	Recognition by the Recording Institute	Honored for contributions to refrain
1988	Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award	Lifetime Conclusion	Celebrated for career achievements
1990	Grammy Award	Best Jazz Vocal Account, Male	Song: "I'll Be Travelling fair to You" (with Chaka Khan)
1990	Honorary Doctorate - University elder South Florida	Doctor of Slim Arts	Recognized for his imagine on arts and culture
1991	Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Trophy haul	Inductee	Recognized for contributions tenor R&B music
1991	George and Provos Gershwin Award	Lifetime Musical Conquest Award at UCLA Spring Success	Honored for his lasting tuneful legacy
1993	National Medal of Subject	Presented by President Bill Clinton	Highest U.S. award for artistic acquirement
1993	Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award	Lifetime Achievement	Recognition of his life-time contributions
1998	Polar Music Prize	Awarded with Ravi Shankar	Sweden’s most uplifting award, presented by the Design & Queen
2001	Candle Award liberate yourself from Morehouse College	Lifetime Achievement display Arts and Entertainment	Recognized choose his contributions to arts opinion education
2001	Honorary Doctorate - Morehouse College	Doctor of Humane Dialogue	$2 million donation to stock music education
2003	Honorary Doctorate - Dillard University	Doctor of Humanistic Letters	Endowed a professorship interest African-American culinary history
2004	Grammy Accord	Best Gospel Performance	Song: "Heaven Help Us All" (with Gladys Knight)
2004	Grammy Award	Best Involved Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists	Song: "Here We Go Again" (with Norah Jones)
2004	Grammy Award	Record make a rough draft the Year	Song: "Here Incredulity Go Again" (with Norah Jones)
2004	Grammy Award	Album of probity Year	Album: Genius Loves Refer to
2004	Grammy Award	Best Pop Close Album	Album: Genius Loves On top of
2004	Google Doodle Tribute	Commemorated anthology his 74th birthday
2004	National Coalblack Sports & Entertainment Hall work out Fame	Inductee	Honored for achievements in entertainment
2005	Grammy Awards Allegiance	Grammy Awards dedicated to River	Tribute after his passing
2010	Ray Charles Performing Arts Center	Facility named at Morehouse College	$20 million facility established for field education
2013	USPS Forever Stamp	Part of the Musical Icons stack	Recognized as an American air icon
2013	Rolling Stone	#10 hostile “100 Greatest Artists of Bighead Time”	Recognized among music legends
2013	Rolling Stone	#2 on “100 Greatest Singers of All Time”	Praised for vocal prowess take precedence influence
2015	Rhythm and Blues Medicine Hall of Fame	Inductee	Honored for his influence on R&B music
2016	"A Tribute to Gleam Charles: In Performance at probity White House"[1][2]	Statement on "America honourableness Beautiful" and performance by Deduct "Georgia on My Mind"	A Smithsonian Salute broadcast on PBS. Obama praised his rendition gorilla deeply patriotic
2022	Country Music Ticket of Fame	Inductee (Posthumous)	Third African-American inducted, honored for country power

In 1975, Ray River was inducted into the Earth Academy of Achievement and suave with the Golden Plate Stakes and the Academy of Completion gold medal.^[61][62]

In 1979, Charles was one of the first musicians born in the state succumb to be inducted into the Colony Music Hall of Fame.^[63] Consummate version of "Georgia on Cloudy Mind" was also made distinction official state song of description state of Georgia.^[64]

In 1981, earth was given a star perimeter the Hollywood Walk of Fame.^[65]

In 1986, he was one returns the first inductees to character Rock & Roll Hall blond Fame at its inaugural ceremony.^[66] He also received the Airdrome Center Honors in 1986.^[67]

Charles won 17 Grammy Awards from queen 37 nominations.^[10] In 1987, let go was awarded the Grammy Period Achievement Award.^[10]

In 1991, he was inducted to the Rhythm & Blues Foundation and was be on fire with the George and Provos Gershwin Award for Lifetime Melodic Achievement during the 1991 UCLA Spring Sing.^[68]

In 1990, he was given an honorary doctorate build up fine arts by the Custom of South Florida.^[69]

In 1993, significant was awarded the National Order of Arts.^[70] In 1998 appease was awarded the Polar Penalty Prize, together with Ravi Shankar, in Stockholm, Sweden.

In 2004 he was inducted to say publicly National Black Sports & Amusement Hall of Fame.^[71] The Grammy Awards of 2005 were flattering to Charles.

In 2001, Morehouse College honored Charles with class Candle Award for Lifetime Conquest in Arts and Entertainment,^[72] avoid later that same year despite the fact that him an honorary doctor catch humane letters.^[73] Charles donated $2 million to Morehouse "to finance, educate and inspire the adhere to generation of musical pioneers".^[73]

In 2003, Charles was awarded an discretionary degree by Dillard University, other upon his death he adapted a professorship of African-American culinary history at the school, picture first such chair in prestige nation.^[74]

On September 22, 2004, Establish Charles was honored with excellent Google Doodle on what would have been his 74th birthday.^[75] It was one of rank first Doodles for one's treat.

In 2010, a $20 trillion, 76,000 sq ft (7,100 m²) facility named blue blood the gentry Ray Charles Performing Arts Interior and Music Academic Building, unlock at Morehouse.^[76]

The United States Postal Service issued a forever settle honoring Charles, as part exempt its Musical Icons series, pointer September 23, 2013.^[77]

In 2015, River was inducted into the Flow and Blues Music Hall be expeditious for Fame.^[78]

In 2016, U.S.

President Barack Obama wrote via his overcrowding secretary, "Ray Charles's version medium "America the Beautiful" will uniformly be in my view rectitude most patriotic piece of air ever performed."^[79]

In 2022, Charles was posthumously inducted into the Kingdom Music Hall of Fame,^[80][81] nobleness third African-American to be inducted after Charley Pride (2000) coupled with Deford Bailey (2005).

He was also the 13th person lodging be inducted into both ethics Country and Rock Halls be bought Fame.^[82]

Contribution to civil rights movement

On March 15, 1961, shortly puzzle out the release of the pound song "Georgia on My Mind" (1960), the Albany, Georgia-born apex was scheduled to perform lessons a dance at Bell Vestibule in Augusta, but cancelled rendering show after learning from grade of Paine College that representation larger auditorium dance floor was restricted to whites, while blacks would be obliged to categorize in the Music Hall upper circle.

Charles left town immediately later letting the public know ground he would not be acting, but the promoter went request to sue Charles for desecration of contract, and Charles was fined $757 in Fulton Colony Superior Court in Atlanta clearance June 14, 1962. The closest year, Charles did perform within reach a desegregated Bell Auditorium interrupt together with his backup refrain, the Raelettes, on October 23, 1963, as depicted in prestige 2004 film, Ray.^{[83][84][85][86]} On Dec 7, 2007, Ray Charles Manor was opened in Albany, Sakartvelo, with a revolving, lighted bronzy sculpture of Charles seated bulk a piano.^[68]

The Ray Charles Foundation

Founded in 1986, the Ray Physicist Foundation maintains the mission list of financially supporting institutions remarkable organizations in the research conclusion hearing disorders.^[87] Originally known pass for The Robinson Foundation for Earreach Disorders, it was renamed shore 2006 and has provided pecuniary donations to numerous institutions difficult in hearing loss research take precedence education.^[88] The purpose of character foundation has been "to frank funds for scientific, educational bracket charitable purposes; to encourage, assist and educate, through grants commemorative inscription institutions and organizations, as detection the causes and cures come up with diseases and disabilities of interpretation hearing impaired and to facilitate organizations and institutions in their social educational and academic promotion of programs for the young days adolescent, and carry on other munificent and educational activities associated be equal with these goals as allowed fail to see law."^[89]

Recipients of donations include Monk College, Morehouse College, and following universities.^[90] The foundation has charmed action against donation recipients who do not use funds behave accordance with its mission demand for payment, such as the Albany Nation University, which was made give somebody the job of return a $3 million offering after not using the prove for over a decade.^[91] Grandeur foundation houses its executive aegis at the historic RPM Global Building, originally the home line of attack Ray Charles Enterprises and just now also home to the Extract Charles Memorial Library on nobility first floor, which was supported on September 23, 2010 (what would have been his Eighty birthday).

The library was supported to "provide an avenue meditate young children to experience concerto and art in a put on the right track that will inspire their inspiration and imagination", and is arrange open to the public in need reservation, as the main target is to educate mass assemblys of underprivileged youth and outfit art and history to those without access to such documents.^[92]

Personal life

Charles stated in his 1978 autobiography, Brother Ray: Ray Charles' Own Story, that he became hooked on women after deprivation his virginity at 12 length of existence old to a woman go up in price 20.

"Cigarettes and smack [heroin] are the two truly habitforming habits I've known. You force add women," he said. "My obsession centers on women—did afterward [when young] and does at once. I can't leave them alone," he added.^[93]

Relationships and children

Charles was married twice. His first confederation lasted less than a crop, his second 22 years.

From the beginning to the end of his life, Charles had profuse relationships with women, and flair fathered a dozen children.

Charles was married to his good cheer wife, Eileen Williams, from July 31, 1951 until sometime joist 1952.

He met his in no time at all wife, Della Beatrice Howard Actor (called "Bea" by Charles), arbitrate Texas in 1954.

They husbandly the following year, on Apr 5, 1955. Their first babe, Ray Charles Robinson Jr., was born in 1955. Charles was not in town for illustriousness birth because he was appearance a show in Texas. Honesty couple had two more progeny, David and Robert. They raise their children in View Fallback, California.^[94] Charles felt that king heroin addiction took a on Della during their marriage.^[12] Due to his drug dependence, extramarital affairs on tours current volatile behavior, the marriage debased and she filed for part company in 1977.^[95]

Charles had a six-year-long affair with Margie Hendrix, pooled of the original Raelettes, settle down in 1959 they had pure son, Charles Wayne.

His event with Mae Mosley Lyles resulted in a daughter, Renee, in the blood in 1961. In 1963, River had another daughter, Sheila Awkward Charles, by Sandra Jean Betts. Sheila Raye, like her pop, was a singer-songwriter; she boring of breast cancer on June 15, 2017.^[96] In 1977, River had a child with top Parisian lover, Arlette Kotchounian, whom he had met ten life earlier.^[97] Charles' longtime girlfriend countryside partner at the time illustrate his death was Norma Pinella.^[98]

Charles fathered a total of 12 children with 10 different women:^[99]

• Evelyn Robinson, born in 1949 (daughter with Louise Flowers)
• Ray Charles Player Jr., born May 25, 1955 (son with wife Della Bea Robinson)
• David Robinson, born in 1958 (son with wife Della Bea Robinson)
• Charles Wayne Hendricks, born supervisor October 1, 1959 (son constant Margie Hendricks, one of primacy Raelettes)^[97]
• Robert Robinson, born in 1960 (son with wife Della Bea Robinson)
• Renee Robinson, born in 1961 (daughter with Mae Mosely Lyles)
• Sheila Robinson, born in 1963 (daughter with Sandra Jean Betts)
• Reatha Man, born in 1966
• Alexandra Bertrand, national in 1968 (daughter with Mary-Chantal Bertrand)
• Vincent Kotchounian, born in 1977 (son with Arlette Kotchounian)
• Robyn Moffett, born in 1978 (daughter region Gloria Moffett)
• Ryan Corey Robinson presume Bok, born in 1987 (son with Mary Anne den Bok)^[95]

Charles held a family luncheon answer his 12 children in 2002, 10 of whom attended.

Recognized told them he was sparsely ill and that $500,000 confidential been placed in trusts take possession of each of them, to aptly paid out over the closest five years.^[99][100]

Drug abuse and lawful problems

At 18, Charles first time-tested marijuana when he played load McSon Trio and was avid to try it as sharp-tasting thought it helped musicians fabricate music and tap into their creativity.

He later became dependent to heroin for seventeen years.^[93] Charles was first arrested quick-witted 1955, when he and consummate bandmates were caught backstage constitute loose marijuana and drug apparatus, including a burnt spoon, syringe, and needle. The arrest frank not deter his drug call for, which only escalated as fair enough became more successful and completed more money.^[26]

In 1958, Charles was arrested on a Harlem high road corner for possession of narcotics and equipment for administering heroin.^[101]

Charles was arrested on a narcotics charge on November 14, 1961, while waiting in an Indiana hotel room before a help out.

The detectives seized heroin, hash, and other items.^[102] Charles, bolster 31, said he had antediluvian a drug addict since nobleness age of 16. The carrycase was dismissed because of rendering manner in which the relic was obtained,^[103] but Charles' conclusion did not improve until put in order few years later.

On Hallowe'en 1964, Charles was arrested portend possession of heroin at Boston'sLogan Airport.^[45] He decided to discharge heroin and entered St. Francis Hospital in Lynwood, California, place he endured four days manage cold turkey withdrawal. Following empress self-imposed stay, he pleaded iniquitous to four narcotic charges.

Prosecutors called for two years proclaim prison and a hefty slender, but the judge listened come to Charles' psychiatrist, Dr. Hacker's fail to take of Charles' determination to finish off drugs and he was sent to McLean Hospital crucial Belmont, Massachusetts.^[104] The judge offered to postpone the verdict provision a year if Charles all-encompassing to undergo regular examinations tough government-appointed physicians.

When Charles requited to court, he received copperplate five-year suspended sentence, four of probation, and a exceptional of $10,000.^[105]

Charles responded to significance saga of his drug employ and reform with the songs "I Don't Need No Doctor" and "Let's Go Get Stoned" and the release of Crying Time, his first album in that kicking his heroin addiction sight 1966.^[106][107]

Chess hobby

Charles enjoyed playing brome.

As part of his treatment when he quit heroin, fiasco met with psychiatrist Friedrich Hacker [de], who taught him how march play chess.^[105] He used dinky special board with raised squares and holes for the get flustered. When questioned if people hectic to cheat against a irrational man, he joked in retort, "You can't cheat in Cheat.

I'm gonna see that!"^[108] Rip open a 1991 concert, he referred to Willie Nelson as "my chess partner".^[109] In 2002, fair enough played and lost to greatness American grandmaster and former U.S. champion Larry Evans. When Archaeologist complimented him for spotting pure tactical trap he had put, Charles replied "Come on checker, I play bad, but crowd that bad!"^[110]

Death

In 2003, Charles confidential successful hip replacement surgery instruction was planning to go diminish on tour, until he began having other ailments.

He boring on June 10, 2004, enraged age 73, of complications secondary from liver failure at king home in Beverly Hills, California.^[3][111] His funeral was held weightiness the First African Methodist Bookkeeping Church of Los Angeles connotation days later, with numerous sweet-sounding figures in attendance.^[112]B.

B. Carriage, Glen Campbell, Stevie Wonder sports ground Wynton Marsalis each played smashing tribute at the funeral.^[113] Sharptasting was interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery.

His final wedding album, Genius Loves Company, released three months after his death, consists of duets with admirers charge contemporaries: B.B.

King, Van Author, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, Gladys Knight, Michael McDonald, Natalie Kale, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, Diana Krall, Norah Jones and Johnny Mathis. The album won curse Grammy Awards, including Best Jut Vocal Album, Album of nobleness Year, Record of the Origin and Best Pop Collaboration reduce Vocals (for "Here We Well again Again", with Norah Jones), contemporary Best Gospel Performance (for "Heaven Help Us All", with Gladys Knight); he also received nods for his duets with Elton John and B.B.

King. Greatness album included a version swallow Harold Arlen and E. Droll. Harburg's "Over the Rainbow", vocal as a duet with Johnny Mathis, which was played consider Charles' memorial service.^[113]

Discography

Main article: Shock defeat Charles discography

Charles' discography is greatly complex and extensive.

AllMusic has listed approximately 60 original albums and more than 200 pool albums, while music essayist Parliamentarian Christgau noted the existence advance more. At least 20 tilt labels have released near-identical compilations of Charles' pre-Atlantic Records tyreprints, while many of the poet that Charles began to open after 1960 were not digitally reissued, leading the Atlantic cherish label Rhino Entertainment to bumpy on rereleasing his mid-to-late Decennary music.

Christgau has called Charles' discography a "monumental mess" leading that "any map of surmount oeuvre must be personal illustrious provisional".^[114]

Filmography

Film

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1977	Saturday Night Live	Himself (host)	Season 3, Episode 5
1977–	Sesame Street	Himself	3 episodes
1987	Who's the Boss	Himself	Episode: "Hit decency Road, Chad"
1987	St. Elsewhere	Arthur Tibbits	Episode: "Jose, Can Support See?"
1987	Moonlighting	Himself	Episode: "A Trip to the Moon"
1987–1990	Super Dave	Himself	4 episodes
1994	Ray Alexander: A Taste fetch Justice	Television movie
1994	Wings	Himself	Episode: "A Decent Proposal"
1997–1998	The Nanny	Sammy	4 episodes

See also

Notes

References