Ray + charles + biography
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The Story of Ray Charles
As a talented singer, songwriter and composer, Ray Charles captivated the eyes and ears of people around the world. Dubbed the “Father of Soul”, he brought soul music into the mainstream by using a unique blend of R&B, gospel and blues in hits such as “Georgia on My Mind” and “Hit the Road Jack”. In honor of what would have been his 84th birthday, we’re taking a look back at Ray Charles’ story, and how it’s impacted us here at Industries for the Blind – Milwaukee.
Ray Charles Robinson was born September 23, 1930 in Albany, Georgia. His mother Aretha was a sharecropper, and his father Bailey worked as a railroad repair man and handyman. At an early age, his vision began to deteriorate, and by age seven, Ray was completely blind. The cause of his blindness was believed to be glaucoma.
Shortly after losing his vision in 1937, Ray Charles was sent to St. Augustine, Florida to attend a special school for the deaf and visually impaired. At that time, the school – which was founded by a deaf man – was called The Institute for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb. The organization’s name has since been changed to the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind; it is now the largest school for the blind and deaf in the United States. Although the original name is no long
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Ray Charles
(1930-2004)
Who Was Ray Charles?
Ray Charles was a legendary musician who pioneered the genre of soul music during the 1950s. Often called the "Father of Soul," Charles combined blues, gospel and jazz to create groundbreaking hits such as "Unchain My Heart," "Hit the Road Jack" and "Georgia on My Mind." He died in 2004, leaving a lasting impression on contemporary music.
Early Life
Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23, 1930, in Albany, Georgia. His father, a mechanic, and his mother, a sharecropper, moved the family to Greenville, Florida when he was an infant. One of the most traumatic events of his childhood was witnessing the drowning death of his younger brother.
Soon after his brother's death, Charles gradually began to lose his sight. He was blind by the age of 7, and his mother sent him to a state-sponsored school, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine, Florida — where he learned to read, write and arrange music in Braille. He also learned to play piano, organ, sax, clarinet and trumpet. The breadth of his musical interests ranged widely, from gospel to country, to blues.
Musical Evolution
Charles' mother died when he was 15, and for a year he toured on the "Chitlin' C
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Ray Charles
Ray Charles | |
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Ray Charles surprise victory his take concert | |
| Birth name | Ray Charles Robinson |
| Born | (1930-09-23)September 23, 1930 Albany, Georgia, Pooled States |
| Origin | Greenville, Florida, United States |
| Died | June 10, 2004(2004-06-10) (aged 73) Beverly Hills, California, Merged States |
| Genres | R&B, print, blues, wind, gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songster, musician |
| Instruments | Singing, softly, alto saxophone |
| Years active | 1947–2004 |
| Labels | Atlantic, ABC, Warner Bros. Records |
| Website | www.raycharles.com |
Ray Charles (born Ray Charles Robinson) (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an Americanmusician.
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