| "In music you just can't escape when something is beautiful," Ray Charles recently said.You have a good song, and it will still be beautiful, even when somebody with a bad voice sings it.And you can tell when something is good."That observation can apply to anything in Charles' extensive catalog.Charles has set the aesthetic standard for more than five decades, earning plaudits across the globe and setting standards that his legion of fans, in and out of the entertainment industry, aspire to.Ray Charles Robinson was born in Albany, Georgia on September 23, 1930 (he shares a birthday with another musical icon, John Coltrane).His ascent took off in 1955, when he released "I Got a Woman."Charles reworded the gospel tune "Jesus is all the World to Me" adding deep church inflections to the secular rhythms of the nightclubs, and the world was never the same.That song is widely credited as being the first true "soul" record."You can't run away from yourself," Charles once said."What you are inside is what you are inside.So I would get both sides of music.Charles an American cultural icon.Everyone remembers Charles singing "Georgia" "Born To Lose", "Hit the Road Jack, "I Can't Stop Loving You."Some of his biggest fans were the young music stars of today, who loved and admired his talent and independent spirit."In 1987, Charles established the Ray Charles Robinson Foundation for the hearing impaired.Foundation pays to have done.In May, 2002, he performed at the Coliseum in Rome, the first musical performance there in 2,000 years.These gifts were a modest example of the countless donations he's kept under wraps.He has also been inducted into numerous other music Halls of Fame, including those for Rock and Roll, Jazz and Rhythm and Blues, a testament to his enormous influence.Bush, Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice, were in attendance.Astonishingly, he has performed at the request of the past seven presidents.He has received eight honorary doctorates, the most recent in 2003 from Dillard University in New Orleans.Charles finalized "Genius Loves Company" a duets album in 2004, which has become the best selling album of his career."The duets project has been a tremendous experience," he said, at the conclusion of recording.In 2004, like so many previous years, Charles was consistently recognized for his career accomplishments.Charles was awarded the prestigious "President's Merit Award" from the Grammy(r) organization and was named a City of Los Angeles "Cultural Treasure" by LA Mayor James Hahn during "African American Heritage Month" in a ceremony that he attended.He also received the NAACP Image Awards' "Hall of Fame Award."Charles once told an interviewer from USA Today, "Music to me is just like breathing.And its also part of us.Ray Charles performing at the Grammy Awards rehearsal in 1990.For Ray Charles, the composer and conductor of the Ray Charles Singers, see Ray Charles (composer).June 10, 2004) known by his stage name Ray Charles, was a pioneering American pianist and musician who shaped the sound of rhythm and blues.Frank Sinatra called him "the only true genius in the business."Controversies and criticisms
1.Bailey had two more families, leaving Aretha to raise the family.When he was six, Charles began to go blind, becoming totally blind by the age of seven.Augustine School for the Deaf and the Blind in St.He also learned how to write music and play various musical instruments.Atlantic Records a year later.When he entered show business, his name was shortened to Ray Charles to avoid confusion with boxer Sugar Ray Robinson."Mess Around", both making the charts in 1953."This Little Girl of Mine", "Lonely Avenue", "Mary Ann", "Drown in My Own Tears" and "The Night Time (Is the Right Time)".During this time of transition, he recruited a young girl group from Philadelphia named the Cookies as his background singing group, recording with them in New York and changing their name to the Raelettes in the process.In 1959, Charles crossed over to top 40 radio with the release of his impromptu blues number, "What'd I Say", which was initially conceived while Charles was in concert.Charles would also record one of his finest albums, The Genius of Ray Charles, before leaving Atlantic for a more lucrative deal with ABC in 1959.Hit songs such as "Georgia On My Mind", "Hit the Road Jack" and "Unchain My Heart" helped him transition to pop success and his landmark 1962 album, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, helped to bring country into the mainstream.In 1964, Charles was arrested for possession of heroin, a drug to which he had been addicted for nearly 20 years.It was his third arrest for the offence, but he avoided prison time after kicking the habit in a clinic in Los Angeles.He spent a year on parole in 1966.In November 1977 Charles appeared as the host of NBC's Saturday Night Live.He made a cameo appearance in the popular 1980 film The Blues Brothers.In the late '80s and early '90s, Charles made appearances on The Super Dave Osbourne Show, where he performed and appeared in a few vignettes where he was somehow driving a car, often as Super Dave's chauffeur.At the height of his newfound fame in the early nineties, Charles did guest vocals for quite a few projects.He also appeared (with Chaka Khan) on long time friend Quincy Jones' hit "I'll Be Good To You" in 1990, from Jones' album Back on the Block.CBS tribute, The Muppet Celebrate Jim Henson.He gave a short speech about the deceased, stating that Henson "took a simple song and a piece of felt and turned it into a moment of great power".During the sixth season of Designing Women, Ray Charles vocally performed "Georgia On My Mind", rather than the song being rendered by other musicians without lyrics as in the previous five seasons.The Temptations also made a guest appearance as his companions.Charles recorded "There It Is" during and after filming with Steve Burns and Traci Paige Johnson.In 2002 Charles headlined during the Blues Passions Cognac festival in southern France.In June, 2003, Ray Charles presented one of his greatest admirers, Van Morrison, with his award upon being inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the two sang Morrison's song from the Moondance album, "Crazy Love".In 2003 Charles performed "Georgia On My Mind" and "America the Beautiful" at a televised annual electronic media journalist banquet held in Washington, D.Ray Charles' final public appearance came on April 30, 2004, at the dedication of his music studio as a historic landmark in the city of Los Angeles.He was interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.The album won eight Grammy Awards, including five for Ray Charles for Best Pop Vocal Album, Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Here We Go Again" with Norah Jones, and Best Gospel Performance for "Heaven Help Us All" with Gladys Knight; he also received nods for his duets with Elton John and B.The album included a version of Harold Arlen's "Over the Rainbow", sung as a duet by Charles and Johnny Mathis; that recording was later played at his memorial service.Ray Sings, Basie Swings consists of archived vocals of Ray Charles from a live 1973 performance added to Count Basie's music.Charles' vocals recorded from the concert mixing board were added to a new accompaniment by the Count Basie Orchestra (among others).Gregg Field, who had performed as a drummer with both Charles and Basie, produced this album.Controversies and criticisms
Despite his support of Martin Luther King, Jr.This marriage produced no children and ended in divorce in 1952.Three children are from his second marriage to Della Beatrice Howard Robinson whom he married on April 5, 1955.Would You Believe album)
David Robinson (son of Della Robinson)
Ray Charles Robinson, Jr.Della Robinson)
Reverend Robert Robinson (son of Della Robinson.Foxx won the 2005 Academy Award for Best Actor for the role.Before shooting could begin, however, director Taylor Hackford brought Foxx to meet Charles, who insisted that they sit down at two pianos and play together.For two hours, Charles challenged Foxx, who revealed the depth of his talent, and finally, Charles stood up, hugged Foxx, and gave his blessing, proclaiming, "He's the one...Charles was expected to attend a showing of the completed film, but he passed away before it opened in theaters.As noted in the film's final credits, Ray is based on true events, but includes some characters, names, locations, events which have been changed and others which have been "fictionalized for dramatization purposes."One example of the film's use of dramatic license are the scenes which refer to Charles as being banned from Georgia.Halls of Fame and other honors
Besides winning dozens of Grammy Awards in his career, Charles was also honored in many other ways.In 1979, he was one of the first honorees of the Georgia State Music Hall of Fame being recognized for being a musician born in the state.Ray's version of "Georgia On My Mind" was made into the official state song for Georgia.Roll Hall of Fame at its inaugural ceremony in 1986.He received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986.In 1987, he was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.In August 2005, the United States Congress honored Charles by renaming the former West Adams Station post office in Los Angeles the "Ray Charles Station".The Grammy Awards of 2005 were dedicated to Charles.On December 7, 2007, Ray Charles Plaza was opened in Albany, Georgia, with a revolving, lighted bronze sculpture of Charles seated at a piano.On December 26, 2007, Ray Charles was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.Ray Charles' scheduled to 'Hit the Road,' come to Austin", The Daily Texan, 2006.Rolling Stone Issue 946.Singular Blend of Styles", Washington Post, 2006."Many Pay Respects To Ray Charles", CBS News, 2004.Ray' appears to stretch truth with ban, protest scenes", The Associated Press, 1600."State Song", Georgia Secretary of State, 1979.The Immortals: The First Fifty.US Covers, Lyrics and...PLACE OF BIRTH
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Another of the many historic jazz magazine articles from Down Beat here on the site.Ray Charles died from acute liver disease Thursday June 10, 2004.The great Ray Charles was an explorer who returned time and again from expeditions across musical boundaries to give us, in his own unique way, melodious stories and charts of his adventures.Charles was born during the Great Depression in the Deep South and was raised on blues, country, gospel, jazz and big band music.Ray Charles Robinson was born Sept.His father, Bailey Robinson, was a mechanic and a handyman, and his mother, Aretha, stacked boards in a sawmill.His family moved to Greenville, Fla.Nothing below us except the ground.Although it was a poor existence, and his father was "hardly ever around", he described himself as a "happy kid".At just five years old Charles had to endure the trauma of witnessing the drowning death of his younger brother in his mother's large portable laundry tub.Soon after the death of his brother he gradually began to lose his sight and by 7 years of age Ray Charles was blind.Although it is presumed that untreated glaucoma was the cause, no official diagnosis was ever made.Ray had shown an interest in music since the age of 3, encouraged by a cafe owner who played the piano.Although he was heartbroken to be leaving home, it was at school where he received a formal musical education and learned to read, write and arrange music in Braille; score for big bands; and play piano, organ, sax, clarinet, and trumpet.But Ray Charles loved it all.In the South in 1945 the opportunities and outlook for any young black musician, just getting started and hoping for a career in music, would have been bleak.But Charles would not be denied and rather than give up, he made a significant geographical relocation to Seattle, Washington.It was in Seattle's red light district at just 16 were he met a young Quincy Jones only 14 himself.Ray Charles Robinson dropped his last name to avoid confusion with boxer Sugar Ray Robinson and patterned himself in his early career after Nat "King" Cole.With a recording contract in 1949 on the former Downbeat label, but at the time under the Swingtime banner, Charles and his trio (called the McSon Trio) moved to Los Angeles and cut numerous sides on which the influence of King Cole is clearly evident including the somewhat autobiographical All To Myself Alone and a medium tempo jiver called Let's Have A Ball.Charles got his first taste of commercial success in 1953, when he arranged and played piano on bluesman Guitar Slim's recording of The Things That I Used to Do, which sold more than a million copies.Ray Charles, it had this spiritual and churchy, this religious or gospel sound.It had this holiness and preachy tone to it.The real Ray Charles emerged in 1954 on a record called I Got A Woman.On this record Charles began singing with inner emotional intensity like never before by way of hoots, hollers and other genuinely enthusiastic voicings.He had finally put to use the advice his mother had given him years before to "just be yourself."Much the same as his early idol Nat King Cole achieved fame with his vocals, so Ray Charles finally broke through to white America.But in the years preceding 1959's smash What'd I Say, like Nat Cole, Ray Charles first cut some superb jazz sides.Many recordings done for Atlantic in the mid to late 1950s, some arranged by old friend Quincy Jones, are among his finest in the mainstream jazz idiom.The Ray, Hornful Soul, and Sweet Sixteen Bars.These recordings were all instrumentals and most featured reedman David Fathead Newman who became another lifelong friend.This time the vibraphonist was flanked by guitarist Kenny Burrell, bass man Percy Heath and drummer Arthur Taylor for the release Soul Brothers.Augustine and played a reed instrument, the alto saxophone.It is one of the only instances of Charles playing the instrument on record.The Raelets, Bennie Crawford, Marcus Belgrave and Lee Harper, smack dab in the middle of the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival in July of 1958.While this success would be enough to make some settle down into a particular style or genre and rest on their laurels; such was not the case for the ramblin' Ray Charles.What resulted was a million selling monster hit called What'd I Say, which ran more than six minutes in its LP form.Still Charles turned back to jazz and big band again for two sessions in May and June of 1959.These sessions were combined together for the release The Genius Of Ray Charles.This combination of talents provided Charles with a hip and swinging backdrop on a number of standards and cover tunes.On June 26th, 1959 Charles cut his first country cover when he recorded the song I'm Movin' On, originally done by Hank Snow.His first session with ABC in December of 1959 produced just three recordings but his next session in March of 1960 was a superb success.The Ray Charles version of the piece was declared the official song of the state of Georgia in 1979.Many artists who trod down the theme path did so with varying degrees of success, as was the case with Charles.But in December of 1960, little more than two weeks after Ruby had peaked on the chart, he was in the ABC Paramount studios again.What resulted was arguably his best jazz album ever.Jazz and yet again the public responded.The recording also won a Grammy in 1961 for the Best Rhythm and Blues Recording.It was not until 1962 that the song was released on an LP (ABC 415) called Ray Charles Greatest Hits.In doing so, he inspired other artists to reconsider their thoughts and assessments of country tunes.Charles said later that he knew it was risky business recording a country album.The album covered a broad spectrum of what the country music song book had to offer at the time including the Everly Brothers' Bye Bye, Love, Hank Williams Sr.After the phenomenal success of the first country album, another one was inevitable.Enter Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume 2 recorded in September of 1962.B, and a soul filled, slow reading of Take These Chains From My Heart.On July 10th and 13th of the following year the release Ingredients In A Recipe For Soul was recorded and Charles had another hit single on his hands with Busted.Country songwriter Harlan Howard wrote the song however it was not done in a style resembling country and western.Carter created a bluesy big band backdrop for Charles' soulful reading of the piece, as was the case with a number of scores for the LP.Pop chart and was voted best Rhythm And Blues Recording by the Grammy committee.Sixteen songs were recorded on the incredibly productive aforementioned July 13th session.However the song that makes the album worth owning is Charles' cover of an old Hank Williams tune.Charles sounds in high spirits on the whole album, with an excellent swinging big band behind him, but on Move It On Over the energy and mood both come together in a roaring climax.In the 1980s George Thoroughgood and the Destroyers rather dryly covered the song, scoring a hit on AOR stations.Even with all of its amplification, the Thoroughgood version didn't come close to the big bang of energy emitted on this swinging Ray Charles gem.During the 60s Charles became involved in films, appearing in the 1962's Swinging Along and recording soundtracks for several more.Percy Mayfield and singer Jimmy Scott).Atlantic engineer Tom Dowd.But his personal life was coming apart.Boston airport after customs officers found marijuana, heroin and a syringe in his overcoat.Charles, who had been arrested for drug possession earlier in Indianapolis and Philadelphia, was shaken and scared.Taking a year off from touring, he checked into a California sanitarium and kicked his junk habit.He later became reluctant to talk about the drug use, fearing it would taint how people thought of his work.His output during this period also included work with singers Randy Newman and Stevie Wonder.The following year, he returned to Atlantic with the underrated album True to Life.His second stint with the label lasted until 1980.His association with Columbia Records yielded hit duets with George Jones, Hank Williams Jr.Country album, 1984's Friendship, and single, the Willie Nelson duet Seven Spanish Angels.Charles' most recent album, prior to his passing, was 2002's Thanks For Bringing Love Around Again, on his own Crossover imprint.However, just prior to his death, he had completed work on an album for Concord Records of duets with such talents as Willie Nelson, Norah Jones, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt and James Taylor.The disc was released as scheduled on Aug.Among other film roles, he played a bus driver in the 1996 comedy, Spy Hard.Spy Hard bit wasn't far from the truth.Although many saw the commercial as selling out, it is said to have boosted his popularity among a younger audience.Charles' take on jazz is as follows; "I cannot understand how we as Americans, possessing such a rich heritage of music and the artists who play it, don't recognize all those talented people.It's a shame that so many of today's young people don't know the work of Art Tatum or Dizzy Gillespie or Charlie Parker or Clifford Brown, to name a few.When you talk about, say, classical music, you're talking about a form that came from Europe and European composers and musicians from an earlier time.But, we basically created jazz in this country; we own that form of music.And it's sad that we all don't have more extensive knowledge of that fact....I've been to Europe and talked to people who have records of mine that I forgot I ever made!And I find that incredible."On Thursday June 10th, 2004 the leader of a great expedition through the pages of American music history made his final journey.This time he crossed a boundary of a different sort, a boundary of which he cannot cross back over and bring us songs and tales of his adventure.Jazz biographies and photos are added regularly.PM Pacfic Time through the link on our Jazz Radio page.Ray Charles CDs is culled from the extensive library of this prolific musician.His recordings with several incarnations of the Oscar Peterson Trio are superb to fans of straight ahead mainstream jazz that swings.Gene Krupa and Stan Kenton during the Swing era.Benny Carter Biography
Benny Carter was one of the greatest arrangers and jazz musicians the genre has ever known.May wrote many Swing era classics for Glenn Miller and Charlie Barnet and later for Sinatra and Nat Cole.Count Basie Biography
Our biography of Count Basie
traces the career of "the kid from Red Bank" through Kansas City and into the later stages of his life as a bandleader.Ray Charles CDs is culled from the extensive library of this prolific musician.Also included are books, DVDs and apparel.April's jazz radio
playlists include artists, song and release titles, labels and dates.March jazz radio
playlists that include artists, song and release titles, and labels.Three weeks worth of swing radio
playlists including topical music of, and recordings done in, the month of November throughout jazz history.Jazz Joint in May of 2005.Includes recording months, years, titles and record labels.Ray Charles CDs is culled from the extensive library of this prolific musician.Also included are books, DVDs and apparel.She later released a number of fine swinging albums for Norman Granz on his Clef, Norgran and Verve record labels.Ray Charles Biography
Known as "The Genius" Ray Charles recorded a wide variety of music but got his start playing big band music and jazz.Louis Armstrong Biography
The trumpet solos and vocals of the great Satchmo are the most identifiable in jazz.This biography traces the career of Louis Armstrong from his days in New Orleans.In later years her huskier tone leaned more toward blues and gospel.Throughout her career she crossed over into many other genres of music.Ray Charles CDs is culled from the extensive library of this prolific musician.Kansas City during the Swing era.Photos are included with this bio.Benny Carter Biography
Benny Carter was one of the greatest arrangers and jazz musicians the genre has ever known.May wrote many Swing era classics for Glenn Miller and Charlie Barnet and later for Sinatra and Nat Cole.Count Basie Biography
This biography of Count Basie
traces the career of "the kid from Red Bank" through Kansas City and into the later stages of his life as a bandleader.Resources used for this Ray Charles biography include;CNN NewsMSNBC NewsReuters News ServiceFox NewsUSA TodayNPRwww.Encyclopedia Of JazzBrother Ray, Ray Charles and David Ritz, Dial Press, 1978.Ray Charles pioneered soul music,
which became enormously popular among both black and white audiences beginning in the late
'50s.In secularizing certain aspects of gospel music (chord changes, song structures,
call and response techniques, and vocal screams, wails, and moans) and adding blues based
lyrics, he virtually invented a new genre of music.Born in 1930, Ray Charles (nee Ray Charles Robinson) in Albany, Georgia grew up in
Greenville, Florida.At the age of seven, from 1937 to 1945 he attended the St.Augustine
School for the Deaf and Blind, where he learned piano, and later clarinet and
alto saxophone, compose for big bands, as well as learning to read and write music in
Braile.It was during
this time that he first began using Heroin.Cole stylization and began adapting gospel music techniques to blues
lyrics.Paramount Records in late 1959.Paramount brought him
increasing popularity with jazz fans, black and white.In 1962 Charles formed Ray Charles Enterprises, comprised of Tangerine Records,
Tangerine Music, and Racer Music Company, opening studios and offices in Los Angeles in
1963.During the 60s Charles became involved in films, appearing in the 1962 film Swinging
Along, and the 1966 British film Ballad in Blue, and recording the
soundtracks for The Cincinnati Kid (1965) and In the Heat of the Night
(1967).In 1977 he returned to Atlantic, moving to
Columbia in the '80s and Warner Brothers in the '90s.Beers to You, from the film Any
Which Way You Can.In the '90s Charles appeared in
commercials for Pepsi and was the subject of a PBS documentary.Ray Charles continues to work about eight months a year, touring with a large
orchestra.He lives in Los Angeles where he is involved with RPM International, a
corporation that includes Crossover Records, the music publishing companies Tangerine and
Racer Music, and RPM Studios, where he records.Charles was inducted into the Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame in 1982.Charles was also
inducted into the Rock and Roll's Hall of Fame in its inaugural year 1986.Not the Ray Charles you're looking for?Date of Death:
10 June 2004, Beverly Hills, California, USA.Mini Biography:
A tragic fate may have given this visionary a heightened sensitivity, perception...Trivia:
His best known hit in America was his 1962 pop hit "I Can't Stop Loving...Awards:
Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.What Kind of Man Are You?Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis (Australia) (USA: DVD title) ...Osamu Tezuka no Metoroporisu (Japan: complete title) ...USA: poster title) Love Potion No.National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (UK: complete title) (USA: complete title) ...Beware of a Holy Whore (USA) Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?Tales of Mystery and Imagination (UK) ...Tre passi nel delirio (Italy) ...The Hanukkah Story (1998) TV episode ....Nup (1998) TV episode ....Work (1998) TV episode ....Fair Weather Fran (1997) TV episode ....SammyRay Charles Live in Belgrade (1997) (TV) ....Arthur TibbitsThe Blues Brothers (1980) ....Department:1990s1970s1960s1950sThe Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1991) (TV) (music arranger) Warner Bros.Celebration of Tradition, June 2, 1990 (1990) (TV) (additional composer: score) Funny Lady (1975) (chorus supervisor) Kiss Me Kate (1968) (TV) (choral director) (music arranger: choral) Ballad in Blue (1964) (musical director) ...Jack and the Beanstalk (1956) TV episode (vocal music arranger) Composer:1980s1960sThe Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years (1986) (TV) (music and score) Ballad in Blue (1964) ...Ray Charles: The Genius of Soul (1991) TV episode ....HimselfRay Charles Celebrates Gospel Christmas with the Voices of Jubilation (2003) (V) ....CMT 100 Greatest Songs of Country Music Concert (2003) (TV) ....Friends: Live and Kickin' (2003) (TV) ....HimselfTV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV (2003) (TV) ....Travis Tritt (2002) TV episode ....Episode dated 12 May 2002 (2002) TV episode ....HimselfThe Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (2001) (TV) ....HimselfBilly Joel: The Essential Video Collection (2001) (V) ....Popular Song: Soundtrack of the Century (USA: rerun title) ...Atlantic Crossing (2001) TV episode ....The Road to Rock 'n' Roll (2001) TV episode ....PerformerABC 2000: The Millennium (1999) (TV) Goodwill Games Opening Celebration (1998) (TV) ....HimselfBilly Joel: Greatest Hits Volume III (1997) (V) ....HimselfThe History of Rock 'N' Roll, Vol.The Sounds of Soul The History of Rock 'N' Roll, Vol.Rock 'n' Roll Explodes Love Affair (1994) ....HimselfEbony's 15th Annual Black Achievement Awards (1994) (TV) ....HimselfRay Charles: 50 Years in Music (1991) (TV) ....HimselfCarnegie Hall at 100: A Place of Dreams (1991) (V) ....HimselfThe Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson (1990) (TV) ....HimselfSesame Street: 20 and Still Counting (1989) (TV) ....HimselfThe Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1987) (TV) ....Trip to the Moon (1987) TV episode ....The Disney Sunday Movie (USA: new title) ...The Wonderful World of Disney (USA: new title) ...HimselfWrestlemania 2 (1986) (V) ....HimselfWe Are the World (1985) (TV) ....We Are the World: The Video Event (International: English title: video title) A Celebration of Life: A Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.HimselfSalute to Lady Liberty (1984) (TV) ....Episode dated 23 January 1982 (1982) TV episode ....HimselfCelebration (1981) (TV) ....Ray Charles (1978) (TV) ....HimselfNBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney (1978) (TV) ....HimselfThe Second Barry Manilow Special (1978) (TV) ....Himself50 Years of Country Music (1978) (TV) ....SNL (USA: informal title) ...SNL 25 (USA: alternative title) ...Saturday Night (USA: second season title) ...Ray Charles (1977) TV episode ....Episode dated 2 September 1977 (1977) TV episode ....Episode dated 16 January 1971 (1971) TV episode ....Episode dated 24 April 1968 (1968) TV episode ....SingerIt's What's Happening, Baby!HimselfSwingin' Along (1961) ....Do you have respect for Ray Charles Robinson?They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update.Internet Movie Database Inc.Celebrates a Gospel Christmas with the Voices of Jubilation!Charles displayed his genius by combining elements of gospel and blues into a fervid, exuberant style that would come to be known as soul music.While recording for Atlantic Records during the Fifties, the innovative singer, pianist and bandleader broke down the barriers between sacred and secular music.At age six, he contracted glaucoma, which eventually left him blind.Augustine School for the Deaf and the Blind.Charles responded with a string of recordings in which he truly found his voice.He has remained active as a performer and recording artist through to the present day, still pursuing that uncategorizable blend of idioms that is best described with a single word: soul.And just what is soul, according to Ray Charles?TIMELINE
September 23, 1930: Ray Charles Robinson is born in Albany, Georgia.Downbeat (later Swingtime) label.September 8, 1952: Ray Charles does his first session for Atlantic, cutting four songs.Ray Charles and his female backup singers, the Raeletts, is recorded in New York City.It tops the album chart for three and a half months and inspires a second volume later the same year.Solo Vocal Performance, Male.December 1, 1971: A 25th Anniversary in Show Business Salute to Ray Charles, a cooperative venture between Atlantic and ABC comprising material from both labels, is released.June 20, 1980: The film The Blues Brothers, which features Ray Charles in the role of a streetwise storeowner, opens across America.January 23, 1986: Ray Charles is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the first induction dinner, held in New York City.Quincy Jones is his presenter.March 2, 1988: Ray Charles receives a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 30th annual Grammy Awards.June 2, 1993: A Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded to Ray Charles by the Songwriters Hall of Fame, with Billy Joel as his presenter.The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. |
![Ray Charles : Ray [Original Soundtrack]](/covers/10/10417/alb_129120_th.jpg "Ray Charles : Ray [Original Soundtrack]")
