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Ray Charles

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Ray Charles

Ray Charles was the stage name of Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004). He was a pioneering American pianist and soul musician who shaped the sound of rhythm and blues and brought a soulful sound to everything from country music to pop standards to a now-famous rendition of "America the Beautiful." Frank Sinatra called him "the only true genius in the business."[1]

Biography

Early years

Ray Charles Robinson was born in Albany, Georgia[2] to Bailey and Aretha Robinson. Bailey had two more families, leaving his mother to raise the family.

When Ray was five, his 4 year old brother, George, drowned in an outside washing tub. Not long after this event, Ray began to go blind. He was totally blind by the age of seven. According to Mr. Charles, the causes were undiagnosed. However there are sources which attribute Ray's blindness to glaucoma and stress due to his brother's death. He attended school at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine, Florida as a charity case, and he learned how to read braille there. He also learned how to write music and play various musical instruments. While he was there, his mother died. His father died two years later.

After he left school, Charles began working as a musician in Florida in several bands that played in various styles including jazz and country music. Charles moved to Seattle in 1948[3], at the age of seventeen. One of his first gigs was in a club called The Rocking Chair. He soon started recording, first for the label Swingtime Records, achieving his first hit songs with "Confession Blues" (1949) and "Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand" (1951) before signing with Ahmet Ertegun at Atlantic Records in 1952. When he entered show business, his name was shortened to Ray Charles to avoid confusion with boxer Sugar Ray Robinson.

Middle years

Charles scored his first Atlantic hit in 1953 with the release of the Ahmet Ertegun-composed "Mess Around." He had another hit with the version of "It Should Have Been Me."

Charles' career went into high gear with the gospel drive of "I Got a Woman" (1955). This was followed by "This Little Girl of Mine," "Drown in My Own Tears," "Hallelujah I Love Her So," and "Lonely Avenue." Many of his songs at that time were gospel songs converted with secular lyrics. He also recorded many blues ballads.

File:Raycharlesmodernsounds.jpeg
Charles' landmark album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

The essence of this phase of his career can be heard on his live album Ray Charles In Person, recorded before a mostly African American audience in Atlanta in 1956. This album also features the first public performance of "What'd I Say." It broke out as a hit in Atlanta from the tape, months before being recorded in the studio in a two-part version with better fidelity.

Shortly afterward, in an appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival he achieved mainstream success with "The Night Time (Is The Right Time)" which appeared on Ray Charles at Newport (1959) and his signature song, "What'd I Say".

Charles had already begun to go beyond the limits of the blues-gospel synthesis while still at Atlantic. He recorded with very large orchestras and with jazz artists like Milt Jackson and even made his first country music cover song with Hank Snow's "I'm Movin' On."

He then moved on to ABC Records, where he was given a greater amount of control over his music. Charles went on to broaden his approach, not on experimental side projects, but with pop music, resulting in such hits as "Unchain My Heart", "You Are My Sunshine", and the #1 hits on the Billboard pop charts, "Georgia On My Mind" and "Hit the Road Jack." In 1962, Charles surprised his new, broader audience with his landmark album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, which included the Don Gibson penned "I Can't Stop Loving You" and "You Don't Know Me".

In 1961, Charles cancelled a concert scheduled to take place in the Bell Auditorium in Augusta, Georgia to protest against segregated seating. He was not banned from the state of Georgia (as it was inaccurately claimed in the movie, Ray.)[4]

Later years

In 1965, Charles was arrested for possession of heroin, a drug to which he had been addicted for 17 years. It was his third arrest for the offense, but he avoided prison time after kicking the habit in a clinic in Los Angeles. He spent a year on parole in 1966.

After the 1960s, Charles' releases were hit-or-miss, with some big hits and critically acclaimed work, and some music that was dismissed as unoriginal and staid. He concentrated largely on live performances, although his version of "Georgia On My Mind," a Hoagy Carmichael song originally written for a girl named Georgia, was a hit and soon was proclaimed the state song of Georgia on April 24, 1979, with Charles performing it on the floor of the state legislature. This act was significant in that it symbolized to many the move away from segregation and racism. He also had success with his unique version of "America the Beautiful."

In the late 1980s, a number of events increased Charles' recognition among young audiences. He made a cameo appearance in the popular 1980 film The Blues Brothers. In 1985, "Night Time is the Right Time" was featured in the episode "Happy Anniversary" of The Cosby Show on NBC. The cast members used the song to perform a wildly popular lip-synch that helped the show secure its wide viewership. In 1986, he performed his rendition of "America the Beautiful" at WrestleMania 2. Charles' new connection with audiences helped secure a spokesmanship for Diet Pepsi. In a highly successful Pepsi Cola commercial of the early 1990s, Charles popularized the catchphrase "You Got the Right One, Baby!"

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.

Final performances

Cover of a posthumous release, Genius Loves Company

Gladys Knight performed Charles' "Georgia On My Mind" during the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.

In 2002 Charles headlined during the Cognac festival in southern France. At one point in the performance a young fan rose to his feet and began to sing an a cappella version of Charles' early song, Mess Around. Charles adored this show of respect and bravery and decided to show this fan his admiration by playing the song.

One of Charles' last public performances was in 2003 at a televised annual electronic media journalist banquet held in Washington, D.C. He performed "Georgia On My Mind" and "America the Beautiful." 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 died at age 73 on June 10, 2004 at 11:35 a.m. of "acute liver disease" (not liver cancer as was erroneously reported on certain websites[5]) at his home in Beverly Hills, California, surrounded by family and friends. He was interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.

His final album, Genius Loves Company, released two months after his death, consists of duets with various admirers and contemporaries: B.B. King, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, Gladys Knight, Michael McDonald, Natalie Cole, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Idina Menzel, and Johnny Mathis. The album won 8 Grammy Awards, including 5 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.B. King.

Out of all of the songs from his huge catalogue of recordings, Ray requested Harold Arlen's "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", a duet recorded with Johnny Mathis, be played at his memorial service.[6]

Ray Biographical Movie and legacy

Promotional poster for biopic, Ray, starring Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles

Charles was significantly involved in the biopic Ray, an October 2004 film which portrays his life and career between 1930 and 1966 and stars Jamie Foxx as Charles. 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... he can do it."

Charles was able to attend a showing of the completed film, but he died before it opened in theaters. The film's credits note that he is survived by 12 children, 21 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren. Many of today's artists continue to honor the legacy of Charles. The 2005 Grammy Awards were dedicated to him.

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".

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 Music Hall of Fame being recognized for being a musician born in the state [7]. Ray's version of "Georgia On My Mind" was made into the official state song for Georgia[8]. In 1981, he was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was one of the first inductees to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at its inaugural ceremony in 1986[9]. He received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986[10]. In 1991, he was inducted to the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, in 2004 he was inducted to the Jazz Hall of Fame, and also in 2004 was inducted to the National Black Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame[11].

Controversies and criticisms

Despite his support of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960s and his support for the American Civil Rights Movement, Charles courted controversy when he toured South Africa in 1981 despite an international boycott of the country because of its apartheid policy. He faced pickets in South Africa and in 15 North American cities he toured subsequently, including Albany, New York; Los Angeles; New York City; and Toronto. The United Nations agency supporting the boycott asked him to apologize and promise not to visit South Africa until the abolition of apartheid, to which he did not respond well. Despite having described himself as a "Hubert Humphrey Democrat," Charles accepted $100,000 to perform "America the Beautiful" at former U.S. President Ronald Reagan's second inaugural ball. In response to criticism, his manager Joe Adams commented: "For that kind of money he would have sung 'America the Beautiful' at a Ku Klux Klan (KKK) rally."

A notorious ladies' man, Charles was married twice and fathered twelve children by seven different women. He was married for the first time to Eileen Williams on July 31, 1951. 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. She was not one of his original Raelettes. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1977. In a 60 Minutes profile, he admitted to Ed Bradley that he "auditioned" his female back-up singers. The saying was, "To be a Raelette, you've got to let Ray."

From the time of his switch from straight rhythm and blues with a combo, Charles was often accused of selling out. He left behind his classic formulation of rhythm and blues to sing country music, pop songs, and soft-drink commercials. In the process, he went from a niche audience to worldwide fame.

Children (12)

  • Ray Charles Robinson Jr.
  • David Robinson,
  • Robert Robinson (all of Della Beatrice Robinson)
  • Charles Wayne Hendricks (son of the late Margie Hendricks - one of the Raelettes),
  • Reatha Butler
  • Alexandra Bertrand (daughter of Chantelle Bertrand)
  • Robyn Moffett
  • Evelyn Robinson (daughter of Louise Mitchell)
  • Raenee Robinson (daughter of Mae Mosely Lyles)
  • Sheila Robinson (daughter of Sandra Jean Betts),
  • Vincent Kotchounian (son of Arlette Kotchounian)
  • Ryan Corey Robinson den Bok (son of Mary Anne den Bok)

References

  1. ^ Alex Regnery (2006). "'Ray Charles' scheduled to 'Hit the Road,' come to Austin". The Daily Texan. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
  2. ^ Adam Bernstein (2006). "A Singular Blend of Styles". Washington Post. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
  3. ^ "Charles, Ray (1930-2004)". HistoryLink. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
  4. ^ "'Ray' appears to stretch truth with ban, protest scenes". The Associated Press. 2004. Retrieved 2006-08-24.
  5. ^ Ted Drozdowski (2004). "Ray Charles". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
  6. ^ "Many Pay Respects To Ray Charles". CBS News. 2004. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
  7. ^ "List of Inductees". Georgia Music Hall of Fame. 1979. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
  8. ^ "State Song". Georgia Secretary of State. 1979. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
  9. ^ "Inductees". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
  10. ^ "List of Kennedy Center Honorees". Kennedy Center. 1986. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
  11. ^ "Hall of Fame". National Black Sports & Entertainment. 2004. Retrieved 2006-11-25.


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