Ray Charles – “A Man Of Vision!”
November 18, 2008 by admin
Filed under Featured Artists
Ray Charles was an America singer and pianist and was highly acclaimed in the field of music of soul, pop or R&B music. He was born on 23rd September 1930 and died on 10th June 2004 and is truly loved by his fans. Hew was called as “The only true genius in the business” by Frank Sinatra and was ranked as No 10 by Rolling Stone Magazine on the 100 Greatest Artist of All Time in 2004.
He was a talented person and has worked as a Singer, songwriter, musician, arranger and bandleader in his field. He played the Piano, Keyboards and alto saxophone. He worked with Atlantic, ABC and Warner Bros. under their label and was a popular pop star.
He was born in Albany, Georgia and moved to Greenville, Florida with his parents at the time he was an infant. He became blind when he was seven and attended the St. Augustine School for the Deaf and the Blind in Florida. There he learned to play various musical instruments.
Charles started working as a musician in many bands even before he left school. He started wearing sunglasses at this period. Charles signed with Swingtime Records in 1947 and gave the first hit “Confession Blues” in 1949. The song rocked the R&B charts and hit No 2. He gave another hit recording “Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand” which was also recorded with Swingtime Records in 1951. This song rocked the R&B charts at No 5.
Later Charles signed with Atlantic and recorded his first hit single which was “It Should Have Been Me” followed by “Mess Around”. Both the singles rocked the charts in 1953. His next single “I Got A Woman” brought him National Fame.
This song topped the R&B Billboard Singles chart in 1955. After this hit Charles gave numerous hit R&B toppers which include “This Little Girl of Mine”, “Mary Ann”, “Lonely Avenue”, “The Night Time (Is the Right Time)” and “Drown in My Own Tears” which were recorded in Atlantic. It was in this period that he hired a girl group to sing for his band and rocked the R&B music world.
Charles gave the No1 hit on R&B charts “What’d I Say” in 1959. In 1962 he gave hit songs such as “Hit the Road Jack” which climbed US No1, “Georgia On My Mind” which climbed US No1 and “Unchain My Heart” which climbed US No9. He gave another hit “Busted” in 1963 and “Take These Chains From My Heart” which climber US No4 and US No8.
After 1968, Charles went in for heroin and was arrested for possession of drugs. He was taking drugs for 20 years now. He escaped jail and spent a year on parole in 1966. He gave “Crying Time” which was another hit single.
Charles also made a Cameo appearance in the film “The Blues Brothers” in 1980. Charles made several appearances on shows and in 2000 came on the “Blue’s Clues as a guest. His final appearance was on April 30 2004 in Los Angeles.
He appeared in several which include “Swingin Alone” in 1961, “Ballad in Blue” in 1964, “The Big T.N.T. Show” in 1966, “The Blues Brothers” in 1980, “Limit Up” in 1989, “Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones” in 1990, “The Nanny”, “Love Affair” in 1994, “Spy Hard” in 1996 and “Adv. Super Dave” in 2000.
His contributions to the music industry are immense and the talented pop start has won millions of fans who will always remember him.
TJ Grooves
Rare Soul Grooves & Soul Music TV
Ray Charles’ first number one hit in 1955. Yep, just five years before the immortal “Georgia on my Mind.” I love to swing to this song.
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.
I think the power and emotion audible in his voice says it all.
R.I.P. Ray
Imagine a guy who starts out with such a tough life going on to become this incredible world renowned musician. When he died Ray left each of his 12 children a million dollars. If that isn’t success I don’t know what is.
Yes but it isn’t only about the money! Ray Charles was a gentle musical soul who charmed those around him and when he died he had so many friends in the music biz. Unchain our hearts Ray!
Ray Charles Robinson was the heart and soul of American rhythm and blues. How can anyone forget that he added a new soul to pop and country music? You can undoubtedly call his song “America the Beautiful”, a classic American anthem. It is really one of my all time favorites.
Man he was a perfect genius and an all rounder as they say. In simple terms, Robinson was multi-talented. He was a singer, composer, music arranger and even led his band. Even blindness could not overshadow his talents and music. No one will be able to take his place and this genius deserves to be remembered always.
Ray Charles Robinson was The United States of America’s national musician.
With his songs, this man of true vision can show you the way. The song “Take These Chains From My Heart” not only has great meaning in it, but is very melodious. However, it is very unfortunate that he messed up his life with drugs and heroin.
I don’t know about his millions of fans but, yes he was a big talent. You can find such talents once in a few decades. There can’t be any replacement for this man. That is true. He has made America proud with his R&B hits that scaled the music charts.
Performed at Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985 and also at Bill Clinton’s first inauguration in 1993.
He inspired many blind musicians to pursue careers such as Ronnie Milsap and Terri Gibbs.
Had twelve children: 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 (daughter of Gloria 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), and Ryan Corey Robinson den Bok (son of Mary Anne den Bok).
Was the first artist to combine both R&B and Gospel together.
One of the first singers to own his own master recordings.
At the time of his death, a feature film originally titled “Unchain My Heart, the Ray Charles Story” (renamed for release as Ray), starring Jamie Foxx, was being completed.
About himself “I never considered myself part of rock ‘n’ roll. My stuff was more adult. It was more difficult for teenagers to relate to; my stuff was filled with more despair than anything you’d associate with rock ‘n’ roll. Since I couldn’t see people dancing, I didn’t write jitterbugs or twists. I wrote rhythms that moved me. My style required pure heart singing”.
Jamie Foxx was absolutely mesmerising as Ray Charles in the film that came out shortly after Charles’ death, and which he collaborated on, even though it was a warts and all depiction - including his addiction to heroin. Since Jamie Foxx is a credible pianist and singer casting him was easy, but the way he captured the man behind the legend was fascinating. Apparently when they met he jammed with Ray on the piano and played one dodgy note, at which Ray Charles got strangely angry. Afterwards Foxx realised that being blind, all of Ray’s senses were trained on sound, and one dodgy note to him was unbearable - like someone shining a light in your eyes. He claims this was the clue to Ray he needed.
In an interview with Ray Charles he said “I love the old writers, who wrote beautiful love songs. I came up on those kinds of songs. But I have just as much love for blues and jazz too.
“It’s like Duke Ellington said; there are only two kinds of music - good and bad. And you can tell when something is good.”
In the words of Ray Charles this is what Soul music is all about.
“There were people who objected to soul being played on the radio because of the depth of feeling in the music. Some people thought it was too suggestive, and some thought it was just plain vulgar. But the feeling that comes through in the music –that’s the essence of soul — the word itself tells you that.”
Ray Charles took certain aspects of gospel music (chord changes, song structures, call and response techniques, and vocal screams, wails, and moans) and by adding blues based lyrics, he virtually invented a new genre of music. Thank-you for soul, Ray!
Have you ever listened to Ruby by Ray Charles? - its stunning. I think it was used in the soundtrack to the film Ruby Gentry or was the song inspired by the film, I can’t remember. But its one of those lovely haunting melodies.
Ray Charles – A Man Of Vision!…
Ray Charles was an America singer and pianist and was highly acclaimed in the field of music of soul, pop or R&B music. He was born on 23rd September 1930 and died on 10th June 2004 and is truly loved by his fans. Hew was called as “The only true…