Ray Charles

For other people named Ray Charles, see Ray Charles (disambiguation).

Ray Charles
Charles in 1969
Born
Ray Charles Robinson[a]

(1930-09-23)September 23, 1930
Albany, Georgia, U.S.
DiedJune 10, 2004(2004-06-10) (aged 73)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Resting placeInglewood Park Cemetery
Occupations
  • Singer
  • musician
  • songwriter
  • composer
Years active1947–2004
Spouses
  • Eileen Williams
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1951; div. 1952)​
  • Della Beatrice Howard
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1955; div. 1977)​
Children12
Musical career
OriginGreenville, Florida, U.S.
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
DiscographyRay Charles discography
Labels
Formerly of
Websiteraycharles.com
Signature

Ray Charles Robinson[a] (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential musicians in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Genius". Among friends and fellow musicians, he preferred being called "Brother Ray".[2][3] Charles was blinded during childhood, possibly due to glaucoma.[4]

Charles pioneered the soul music genre during the 1950s by combining elements of blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel into his music during his time with Atlantic Records.[4][5][6] He contributed to the integration of country music, rhythm and blues, and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, notably with his two Modern Sounds albums.[7][8] While he was with ABC, Charles became one of the first black musicians to be granted artistic control by a mainstream record company.[5]

Charles' 1960 hit "Georgia on My Mind" was the first of his 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 to top the Billboard 200.[10] Charles had multiple singles reach the Top 40 on various Billboard charts: 44 on the US R&B singles chart, 11 on the Hot 100 singles chart, and two on the Hot Country singles charts.[11]

Charles cited Nat King Cole as a primary influence, but his music was also influenced by Louis Jordan and Charles Brown.[12] He had a lifelong friendship and occasional partnership with Quincy Jones. Frank Sinatra called Ray Charles "the only true genius in show business", although Charles downplayed this notion.[13] Billy Joel said, "This may sound like sacrilege, but I think Ray Charles was more important than Elvis Presley."[14]

For his musical contributions, Charles received the Kennedy Center Honors, the National Medal of Arts, and the Polar Music Prize. He was one of the inaugural inductees at the Rock and Roll 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 the Grammy Hall of Fame.[10] Rolling Stone ranked Charles No. 10 on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time",[2] and No. 2 on their list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time".[15] In 2022, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, as well as the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.[16]

  1. ^ Eagle, Bob L.; LeBlanc, Eric S. (May 2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. ABC-Clio. p. 361. ISBN 978-0-313-34424-4. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Morrison, Van. "100 Greatest Artists of All Time. No. 10: Ray Charles". Rolling Stone. No. 946. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference NPR death was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Unterberger, Richie. "Ray Charles". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Hoye, Jacob, ed. (2003). 100 Greatest Albums. Simon and Schuster. p. 210. ISBN 978-0-7434-4876-5. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  6. ^ "Show 15: The Soul Reformation". digital.library.unt.edu. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  7. ^ Palmer, Robert (February 9, 1978). "Soul Survivor Ray Charles". Rolling Stone. No. 258. pp. 10–14. Archived from the original on March 1, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
  8. ^ Tyrangiel, Josh (November 13, 2006). "Review: Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music". Time. Archived from the original on February 18, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
  9. ^ Whatley, Paul (November 14, 2024). "Ray Charles: "Georgia On My Mind"". COMO News and Radio. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c "Ray Charles". Recording Academy Grammy Awards. November 23, 2020. Archived from the original on May 22, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  11. ^ "Ray Charles Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  12. ^ Charles, Ray; Ritz, David (1992). Brother Ray. New York: Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-80482-4.
  13. ^ Bronson, Fred (1997). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (4th ed.). New York: Watson-Guptill. p. 98. ISBN 0-8230-7641-5.
  14. ^ "A Tribute to Ray Charles". Rolling Stone, nos. 952–953, July 8–22, 2004.
  15. ^ Joel, Billy. "100 Greatest Singers of All Time. No. 2: Ray Charles". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
  16. ^ Nazareno, Mia (December 17, 2021). "Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy, Jr. & More to Be Inducted at 2022 Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2021.


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