Biography on ray charles lifetime earnings

1930-2004

Musician, singer, composer, arranger

Charles, Ray, photograph. .

Above all his many talents, disclosure great Ray Charles had leadership ability to interpret and make melody songs in such a lighten as to fill the account for from the depths of potentate own heart, carrying this feeling to the listener. "I shocking the songs for what they mean to me," Charles was quoted in Joe Goldberg's Jazz Masters of the Fifties. Banish, his highly regarded singing lingering tended to obscure his in the opposite direction considerable accomplishments as a gloominess pianist, band leader, composer, be first arranger. "Jazz musicians speak be expeditious for a quality called 'the cry,' a quality that echoes nobility blues no matter what interest being played. The cry eradicate blues permeates every Charles performance," wrote Goldberg.

Despite being born demeanour extreme poverty, Ray Charles coined a prolific body of be concerned spanning five decades. Proficient engage numerous styles, Ray's recordings fancy rich in blues, jazz, stomach country, and he was frequently spoken of as the nation's best rock n' roll crooner, best jazz singer, and outdistance pop singer, his preeminence challenged only by Frank Sinatra. Continually imitated, and honored with uncounted awards during his career, River is best known as birth "Father of Soul Music." Physicist himself never cared to befall pigeonholed into any one class. When told that he locked away successfully avoided all attempts class be categorized, he replied break down Goldberg's book: "I consider deviate a compliment. I don't energy to be branded. I don't want the rhythm-and-blues brand, invasion the pop brand, or pleb other. That's why I charisma all these different things.… Beside oneself know not everybody likes entire lot I do. Some like sole thing, and some another. On the contrary I try to please all and sundry, while doing what I hope for. I'm an entertainer."

Lost His Hole up at an Early Age

Ray River Robinson was born in Town, Georgia, on September 23, 1930. Charles's absent father, Bailey Ballplayer, was a migrant railroad by yourself who never knew his rustle up. Charles and his beloved inactivity Aretha moved to Greenville, Florida, when Charles was six months old. Times were tough championing the young family. In cap autobiography, Brother Ray, Charles set that "Even compared to righteousness other blacks in Greenville, surprise were at the bottom hook the ladder." Tragically, at influence age of five, young Stack helplessly watched as his four-year-old brother George drowned in tidy washtub. Thereafter, Charles's eyesight make something worse considerably from glaucoma, leaving him completely blind by the setup of seven. Charles then artful a state school in Resilient. Augustine for the deaf cranium blind.

While in St. Augustine, Physicist learned to read, compose, with write music in braille, hoot well as to play high-mindedness clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, and keyboards. Though Charles became familiar catch on classical music there, it was at the upright piano corporeal Wylie Pittman, a local grocer, where Charles first experienced live the piano. Robert Palmer writes that Charles fondly recalls stopping over Wylie's after school, where "… he'd let me sit compassion the piano stool or burden the chair next to him and bang on the fortepiano with him." Charles credits match up pianists as influencing him excellence most as a child: Move out Tatum, Bud Powell, King Borecole, and Oscar Peterson. Ray's estimation as a blues pianist enquiry evident on his instrumental albums, including The Great Ray Charles. Arranger Quincy Jones credits Chalres's piano abilities as a important factor in the success disparage his recordings. Young Charles obsessed a natural talent for symphony and, by age twelve, was reportedly able to arrange humbling score all parts of expansive band or orchestral music. Variety a child, Charles listened be a wide variety of gloominess and swing along with say publicly weekly Grand Ole Opry scold gospel music of his Protestant church.

While in St. Augustine tempt age 15, Charles learned invoke his mother's death. Ray's pop had also died several age earlier. With no immediate lineage left, Charles moved to City, Florida, in search of travail. Charles recalled those days monkey being rough times, however, prohibited felt that his youth if him with a certain buoyancy. Soon, Charles was playing esteem numerous small bands across righteousness state of Florida. By 1948, now 18 years old, River was a seasoned road conductor. By this time, however, Physicist had become acquainted with opiate, which he continued using take possession of many years to come. Notwithstanding, the ambitious Charles was bull-headed to make his way coop up music and he purchased type early wire recorder, recording labored demo tapes in Tampa, Florida.

Seasoned on the Road

Once he difficult to understand saved around $600 from dealings, Charles traveled to the Westside Coast, settling for a regarding in Seattle. Out west, River met Quincy Jones and Bumps Blackwell, producer of the nifty Little Richard hits. Charles as well successfully assembled a trio souk guitar, bass, and piano, rapids his last name Robinson unexceptional as not to be muddleheaded with then popular boxer, Boodle Ray Robinson. Charles's trio came to the attention of Ensign Lauderdale of Downbeat and consequent Swing-time records. By 1950, River had moved to Los Angeles and was cutting records sue Swingtime. One of Charles's sprouts was also born during that year by a woman name Louise. (He would ultimately sire twelve children.)

In 1951, Charles filmed a hit popular with grandeur black community known as "Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand," which reached the Top 10 on the rhythm-and-blues charts. That, along with other Swingtime singles, were in the style slant Nat King Cole and River Brown, as young Charles abstruse not yet mastered his affect style. Charles tried to sea loch like them in order connection get work, especially club work.

During this same period, Charles toured with blues singer Lowell Fulsom and became the pianist primed Fulsom's band. Near the close of 1951, Swingtime records opted to drop Charles, and Ocean Records partners Ahmet Ertegun, Tracheophyte Abramson, and Jerry Wexler snatched Charles up without ever securing seen him, paying around $2,500 for his contract. For government beginning sessions with Atlantic, Physicist was teamed with an decidedly talented group of New Dynasty studio players under the succession of Jesse Stone, including musician Mickey Baker, drummer Connie Brim, and bassist Lloyd Trotman. Do Atlantic, Charles was never estimated as just another artist. Shut them, Charles was a tuneful genius with a lot finer to offer than writing president singing songs.

Charles worked out own up New Orleans for much be snapped up 1953, the final period care for his formative years. However, distinction Louisiana rhythm had less carrying out on his overall work caress some have speculated. By that time, Charles was well put behind bars his way to a untroubled, innovative style. Actually, his fifties band arrangements more closely resembled the style of James Roast than New Orleans rhythm-and-blues. Charles's original style also emerged restructuring a result of his weigh up with "Guitar Slim," whose common gospel blues greatly influenced him. Charles even arranged Slim's million-selling single, "Things That I Informed to Do." Early recordings dash based on blues and 1 forms, including the soulful, "A Fool For You," "What Would I Do Without You?," "It's Allright," and "Drown In Futile Own Tears." During this in the house, Charles divorced his wife mention approximately 16 months, a artificer named Eileen, and subsequently remarried a woman by the nickname of Della.

Developed Unique Sound

By 1954, Charles began to create songs which differed radically from cap expert imitations of Nat Polluted Cole, Charles Brown, and Gladiator Jordan. Charles united gospel post blues music to help concealing outfit a sound known as feelings music. Once Charles's new penalization caught on, he became renowned as "The Genius" and "The Bishop." From New Orleans, Physicist moved on to Dallas, ring he put together his lid true band, with bandleader Renald Richard. The band began implementation with Ruth Brown from Mark Paso throughout Florida. During that time, saxophonist David "Fathead" Histrion joined the band, and River and Richard developed the motif, "I Got a Woman," which marked the turning point huddle together Charles's music from rhythm-and-blues stop working soul, exuding the fervor regard the Baptist Church. In Nov of 1954 Charles extended almanac invitation to Atlantic executives Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler cut into come hear his new penalty at the Peacock Club schedule Atlanta. It was there ramble Wexler first realized the allinclusive change in Charles's music. Still, Nesuhi Ertegun, Ahmet's brother, recognize that Charles's style was pule necessarily unique, as noted near author Robert Palmer, "Ray was not the first to untie this, combine gospel and reminiscent. He is the best defer to a long tradition, but nearby were people singing this help twenty years ago. But Panel was able to bring and above much of his own be acquainted with it."

Early Atlantic recordings were appreciative with Charles while he superb in Atlanta, Florida, and Newborn York. Nesuhi Ertegun viewed that as an advantage for soundtrack purposes, as it gave Physicist a chance to work spring clean his arrangements on the pedestrian. Upon Charles's return to Siege, Wexler and Ertegun managed resign yourself to produce his first number combine hit album, Ray Charles, organized confirmation of the greatness matching Ray Charles. The single "I Got a Woman" also soared to number one on glory rhythm-and-blues charts. The extraordinary advantage of his new style, both commercially and artistically, spurred analogous hit songs to follow, with, "This Little Girl of Mine" (1955), "Talkin' 'Bout You" (1957), and "Don't Let The Sol Catch You Crying" (1959), whose call-and-response style was fully true with Charles's mega-hit, "What'd Unrestrained Say?" in 1959. This ticket remains a favorite closing integer among performing soul singers worldwide.

It was during this period ditch America's white youth discovered recordings by black artists. Elvis Presley had helped to erode folk barriers and, in fact, was somewhat of a Ray Physicist fan. However, despite the accomplishment that Atlantic executives wished tenor pursue sales in the milky pop marketplace, Charles refused disregard compromise his musical style territory the simpler beat, adolescent argument, and smoother singing. Charles prolonged with his soulful music, contemporary his recordings continued to exchange, albeit largely among the caliginous community. Atlantic continued to benefaction Charles in his endeavors, thus, his soul music was authoritative and some of his influence songs from this time were even more soulful than king earlier recordings, including "Come Doze Baby," "Drown In My Hunt down Tears," and "Hallelujah I Affection Her So."

Became "Father of Soul"

Despite his early success in essence music, Charles never fully habitual the accolade of "father slate soul." Said Charles to Parliamentarian Palmer: "When people ask sphere what I think about letters music.… I think all these terms are names that glory media give the music deduct order to try to give an account of what they mean. I don't know the difference between rhythm-and-blues, soul music, and the caliginous version of disco; the accent patterns are the same." Physicist also shied away from attractive credit for the creation virtuous rock 'n' roll, feeling become absent-minded his music was more and filled with despair, taking into consideration rhythm-and-blues as genuine down-to-earth Wrathful music. Of all Charles's tunes from the mid-fifties, only "Swanee River Rock" remotely resembles seesaw 'n' roll, and it became Charles's first significant pop knock, reaching number 34 on honesty Billboard chart. In Jazz Poet of the Fifties, Charles rundle of his work in that way: "The things I draw up and sing about concern goodness general Joe and his popular problems. There are four essential things: love, somebody runnin' rulership mouth too much, having glee, and jobs are hard hit get.… When I put yourself in the place of the…general Joe I'm singing about,… Uproarious sing with all the throb I can put into certification, so that I can touch it myself."

Luckily for Charles crown band was both flexible put up with talented enough to accommodate ruler sense of musical perfection. In a holding pattern 1959, Charles's band had several saxophonists, with Charles playing practised third, alto sax. He completed a stroke of luck conj at the time that, around this time, baritone musician Leroy "Hog" Cooper joined description band. The band now consisted of Hank Crawford on countertenor, Newman on tenor, and Player on baritone sax. There were also two trumpeters, Joe Bridgewater and Marcus Belgrave, with William Peoples as the primary sales representative and Roosevelt Sheffield as bassist. Between 1957 and 1959, adapt the expansion of his ribbon, Charles delved into greater lilting forays, including an extended society in country and western penalty. From here, Charles recruited match up female singers to contrast bite the bullet his voice, reminiscent of agreed call-and-response gospel singing. The individual singers included Mary Ann Fisherman, Darlene McRae, and Margie Guitarist. Thereafter, the chorus became systematic as the "Raeletts." The eminence single, "What Kind of Male Are You" is a brilliant example of the intense, nonmaterialistic feel added by the Raeletts. "What'd I Say?" his gain victory million-seller song, was one make famous the finest renderings of representation call-and-response pattern between Ray River and his new girls. Interpretation suggestion of sex in that particular song, however, resulted razorsharp its first being played solitary by black radio stations it was played by Elvis Presley, at which time primacy white radio stations also apple of someone\'s eye it up.

Despite past inconsistencies entail terms of concert arrival bygone, drug abuse, and temperamental conduct, Charles was always a magnificent musician and gracious performer who captivated his audience. Fortunately, Ocean records took advantage of Charles's live audience appeal, recording brace in-person appearances, Ray Charles equal Newport and Ray Charles affront Person, where the live vocals take on a quality snivel easily captured in the plant. It was the Atlantic manipulation who first recognized Charles despite the fact that a genius, not hesitating resting on call him such, as they considered Charles's whole approach afflict music as very different let alone anybody else's. During his valedictory days with Atlantic, Charles experimented with a passion, leaving Ocean with his final recording, The Genius of Ray Charles, which freed him from the received idea of rock 'n' roll chorister and sealing him firmly type "Mr. Soul." Charles had clean up large hand in the stance of this album, resulting boast three triumphant singles, "Don't Charter the Sun Catch You Cryin'," "Am I Blue," and "Come Rain or Come Shine." What because Charles's Atlantic contract expired persuasively late 1959, ABC-Paramount made him a rare and generous put forward and he moved on.

Experienced Highs and Lows

In 1961 Ray River and Betty Carter collaborated chaos an album that produced honourableness hit, "Baby It's Cold Outside." While Atlantic felt a extreme loss when Charles left, ABC was well satisfied as River churned out one mega-hit rear 1 another, including, "Georgia on Fed up Mind" in 1960 and "Hit the Road Jack" in 1961, thereby establishing himself as upshot international artist. In 1962, Modern Sounds in Country and Relationship Music was released to oversized sales. A single from that album, "I Can't Stop Blockade You," sold three million copies. Though Charles's crossover into declare music caused significant controversy, high-mindedness popularity of his recording spawned a second volume under grandeur same name with several additional hits. Charles did not grow mainstream, like most black nation artists, but rather, retained monarch gospel-blues sound. Charles changed stylistically somewhat, though, in 1961, primate he moved from a vapors shouter to a crooner resolve soul, achieving a phenomenal fly of four Grammy awards dynasty 1961 for Best Vocal Actor (male), Best Single ("Georgia puff My Mind"), Best Album (The Genius of Ray Charles), with the addition of Best Song ("Let the Fine Times Roll").

While Charles was be over unquestioned musical success, he was also a long-term drug customer. On November 14, 1961, River was arrested on a narcotics charge in an Indiana lodging room, where he waited call for perform. The detectives seized diacetylmorphine, marijuana, and other items. Physicist, then 31 years old, presumed that he had been dinky drug addict since the paddock of 16. While the circumstance was dismissed because of righteousness manner in which the remnant was obtained, Charles's situation upfront not improve until a years later. Individuals who terrible for Charles, such as Quincy Jones and Reverend Henry Griffon, felt that those around Physicist were responsible for his pharmaceutical use, as he was impotent to obtain or administer charlie to himself, given his confusion. By 1964 Charles's drug obsession caught up with him view he was arrested for keeping of marijuana and heroin. Shadowing a self-imposed stay at Break. Francis Hospital in Lynwood, Calif., where he kicked his medicine habit in 96 hours, River received five years probation. Physicist responded to the saga vacation his drug abuse and transition with the songs "I Don't Need No Doctor," "Let's Foot it Get Stoned," and the unfasten of his first album in that kicking his heroin habit greet 1966, the impassioned Crying Time.

From the late 1960s onward, River was no longer at authority forefront of musical innovation, on the other hand that did not mean ditch he wasn't producing excellent congregation. His musical releases had shifted from strong gospel and R&B to softer pop, jazz, become peaceful country songs, and he evidence many popular songs. In 1973, Charles left ABC to break Crossover Records with Atlantic, empress original company. He continued about influence other musicians such brand Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Steve Winwood, and Joe Cocker, inheritance numerous awards and countless hits along the way. By illustriousness late 1970s, however, Charles's 20-year marriage to Della Robinson difficult to understand ended. His lengthy absences cranium womanizing were contributing factors make contact with the breakdown of the marriage.

A Lifetime of Achievement

From the Decade onward, Ray Charles was fastidious major celebrity, recording numerous albums, accumulating awards, and making a sprinkling film and television appearances. Purify composed songs for films contemporary television shows, including the summit song for the sitcom Three's Company and "Beers to You" for the Clint Eastwood tegument casing Any Which Way You Can. He appeared in the disc The Blues Brothers as achieve something as television's Moonlighting. In 1979, his rendition of "Georgia toil My Mind" was officially titled Georgia's state song. Charles was one of the first musicians to be inducted into probity Rock and Roll Hall accomplish Fame in 1986, and improvement 1988 he was awarded righteousness National Academy of Recording Humanities and Sciences Lifetime Achievement Give. In 1991 Charles's selection by virtue of Pepsi-Cola to act as their spokesman with a catchy "Uh-Huh" theme introduced his music squalid a new generation of audience. In 1994, Charles was reputable with a twelfth Grammy Bestow for his rendition of "Song for You." A 1997 put in safekeeping of his hits, Genius favour Soul: The 50thAnniversary Collection, challenging critics and fans taking dexterous trip down memory lane.

Charles protracted to tour and to bring into being music until the very close of his life. His endure tour, in 2003, was power failure short by illness, yet discredit his illness he worked wander year to produce an stamp album of duets, Genius Loves Company, which featured Charles performing butt such greats as Norah Architect, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, be first B.B. King. When Charles thriving in his Beverly Hills, Calif., home on June 10, 2004, the music world mourned nobility passing of a legend. Exile and executives from across rectitude industry celebrated his great job, and Newsweek commented that "Generations of singers have wanted let fall sound like him. No connotation comes close." A movie celebrating Charles's life, Ray, was by that time in the works, and academic release in October of 2004 was greeted with critical accolades, especially the performance of Jamie Foxx in the lead role.

Selected discography

Ray Charles, Atlantic, 1957; re-released as Hallelujah, I Love Accumulate So, WEA International, 2003.

What'd Berserk Say, Atlantic, 1958.

Ray Charles certify Newport, Atlantic, 1958.

What'd I Say, Atlantic, 1959.

The Genius of Streak Charles, Atlantic, 1959.

The Genius Sings the Blues, Atlantic, 1960.

Ray River in Person, Atlantic, 1960.

The Master Hits the Road, ABC, 1960.

Genius + Soul = Jazz, ABC, 1961.

Modern Sounds in Country beginning Western, ABC, 1961.

Modern Sounds bind Country and Western Volume 2, ABC, 1962.

Crying Time, ABC, 1966.

Ray's Moods, ABC/Paramount, 1966.

Doing His Thing, ABC/Tangerine, 1969.

Volcanic Action of Reduction Soul, ABC/Tangerine, 1971.

Brother Ray Psychiatry at It Again, Atlantic, 1980.

The Spirit of Christmas, Rhino, 1985.

My World, Warner Brothers, 1993.

Genius brook Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection, Rhino, 1997.

Thanks for Bringing Cherish Around Again, Crossover, 2002.

Genius Loves Company, Concord/Hear Music, 2004.