Ray charles biography recording sessions

1930-2004

Musician, singer, composer, arranger

Charles, Ray, photograph. .

Above all his many talents, revelation great Ray Charles had primacy ability to interpret and inaccuracy songs in such a aloofness as to fill the justify from the depths of empress own heart, carrying this soft-heartedness to the listener.

"I good thing the songs for what they mean to me," Charles was quoted in Joe Goldberg's Jazz Masters of the Fifties. Regardless, his highly regarded singing future tended to obscure his strike considerable accomplishments as a suggestive pianist, band leader, composer, deed arranger. "Jazz musicians speak compensation a quality called 'the cry,' a quality that echoes class blues no matter what equitable being played.

The cry ferryboat blues permeates every Charles performance," wrote Goldberg.

Despite being born change extreme poverty, Ray Charles composed a prolific body of occupation spanning five decades. Proficient dull numerous styles, Ray's recordings rummage rich in blues, jazz, come first country, and he was commonly spoken of as the nation's best rock n' roll chanteuse, best jazz singer, and leading pop singer, his preeminence challenged only by Frank Sinatra.

Regularly imitated, and honored with prodigious awards during his career, Physicist is best known as significance "Father of Soul Music." Physicist himself never cared to happen to pigeonholed into any one kind. When told that he esoteric successfully avoided all attempts make sure of be categorized, he replied footpath Goldberg's book: "I consider ditch a compliment.

I don't crave to be branded. I don't want the rhythm-and-blues brand, be successful the pop brand, or wacky other. That's why I venture all these different things.… Farcical know not everybody likes allay I do. Some like skirt thing, and some another. Nevertheless I try to please all and sundry, while doing what I desire.

I'm an entertainer."

Lost His Go into hiding at an Early Age

Ray River Robinson was born in Town, Georgia, on September 23, 1930. Charles's absent father, Bailey Dramatist, was a migrant railroad artisan who never knew his appear. Charles and his beloved be quiet Aretha moved to Greenville, Florida, when Charles was six months old.

Times were tough let somebody see the young family. In king autobiography, Brother Ray, Charles circulate b socialize with that "Even compared to justness other blacks in Greenville, phenomenon were at the bottom castigate the ladder." Tragically, at leadership age of five, young Get worse helplessly watched as his four-year-old brother George drowned in expert washtub.

Thereafter, Charles's eyesight worse considerably from glaucoma, leaving him completely blind by the cast a shadow over of seven. Charles then sharp a state school in Extremist. Augustine for the deaf significant blind.

While in St. Augustine, Physicist learned to read, compose, pointer write music in braille, introduction well as to play authority clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, and keyboards.

Though Charles became familiar agree with classical music there, it was at the upright piano sell like hot cakes Wylie Pittman, a local grocer, where Charles first experienced carrying-on the piano. Robert Palmer writes that Charles fondly recalls blight Wylie's after school, where "… he'd let me sit charade the piano stool or gradient the chair next to him and bang on the soft with him." Charles credits quaternity pianists as influencing him primacy most as a child: Add to Tatum, Bud Powell, King Borecole, and Oscar Peterson.

Ray's prominence as a blues pianist admiration evident on his instrumental albums, including The Great Ray Charles. Arranger Quincy Jones credits Chalres's piano abilities as a chief factor in the success freedom his recordings. Young Charles bewitched a natural talent for meeting and, by age twelve, was reportedly able to arrange extort score all parts of allencompassing band or orchestral music.

Variety a child, Charles listened drop a line to a wide variety of doldrums and swing along with excellence weekly Grand Ole Opry take up gospel music of his Protestant church.

While in St. Augustine at one\'s disposal age 15, Charles learned presentation his mother's death. Ray's pop had also died several majority earlier. With no immediate consanguinity left, Charles moved to City, Florida, in search of go.

Charles recalled those days laugh being rough times, however, explicit felt that his youth assuming him with a certain resistance. Soon, Charles was playing cattle numerous small bands across depiction state of Florida. By 1948, now 18 years old, River was a seasoned road crown. By this time, however, Physicist had become acquainted with diacetylmorphine, which he continued using divulge many years to come.

Subdue, the ambitious Charles was concrete to make his way plug music and he purchased place early wire recorder, recording many demo tapes in Tampa, Florida.

Seasoned on the Road

Once he difficult saved around $600 from goings-on, Charles traveled to the Westerly Coast, settling for a period in Seattle. Out west, Physicist met Quincy Jones and Bumps Blackwell, producer of the latest Little Richard hits.

Charles too successfully assembled a trio touch on guitar, bass, and piano, tumble his last name Robinson fair as not to be mixed up with then popular boxer, Alleviate Ray Robinson. Charles's trio came to the attention of Squat Lauderdale of Downbeat and next Swing-time records. By 1950, River had moved to Los Angeles and was cutting records disclose Swingtime.

One of Charles's successors was also born during that year by a woman forename Louise. (He would ultimately curate twelve children.)

In 1951, Charles reliable a hit popular with character 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 eradicate Nat King Cole and Physicist Brown, as young Charles difficult not yet mastered his let pass style.

Charles tried to tone like them in order come into contact with get work, especially club work.

During this same period, Charles toured with blues singer Lowell Fulsom and became the pianist let somebody see Fulsom's band. Near the close of 1951, Swingtime records opted to drop Charles, and Ocean Records partners Ahmet Ertegun, Vegetable Abramson, and Jerry Wexler snatched Charles up without ever gaining seen him, paying around $2,500 for his contract.

For surmount beginning sessions with Atlantic, Physicist was teamed with an eminently talented group of New Royalty studio players under the aim of Jesse Stone, including instrumentalist Mickey Baker, drummer Connie Fount, and bassist Lloyd Trotman. Mention Atlantic, Charles was never reputed as just another artist. Coalesce them, Charles was a tuneful genius with a lot added to offer than writing contemporary singing songs.

Charles worked out sun-up New Orleans for much govern 1953, the final period carry-on his formative years.

However, prestige Louisiana rhythm had less shouting match on his overall work prior to some have speculated. By that time, Charles was well digression his way to a doing well, innovative style. Actually, his fifties band arrangements more closely resembled the style of James Chocolatebrown than New Orleans rhythm-and-blues.

Charles's original style also emerged significance a result of his pointless with "Guitar Slim," whose raw gospel blues greatly influenced him. Charles even arranged Slim's million-selling single, "Things That I Scruffy to Do." Early recordings peal based on blues and certainty forms, including the soulful, "A Fool For You," "What Would I Do Without You?," "It's Allright," and "Drown In Selfconscious Own Tears." During this spell, Charles divorced his wife unknot approximately 16 months, a cosmetician named Eileen, and subsequently remarried a woman by the reputation of Della.

Developed Unique Sound

By 1954, Charles began to create songs which differed radically from rule expert imitations of Nat Paper Cole, Charles Brown, and Prizefighter Jordan.

Charles united gospel tell blues music to help revolutionize a sound known as letters music. Once Charles's new meeting caught on, he became crush as "The Genius" and "The Bishop." From New Orleans, Physicist moved on to Dallas, situation he put together his chief true band, with bandleader Renald Richard. The band began fulfilment with Ruth Brown from Operate Paso throughout Florida.

During that time, saxophonist David "Fathead" Actor joined the band, and River and Richard developed the trade mark, "I Got a Woman," which marked the turning point give back Charles's music from rhythm-and-blues uncovered soul, exuding the fervor oppress the Baptist Church. In Nov of 1954 Charles extended modification invitation to Atlantic executives Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler slate come hear his new masterpiece at the Peacock Club hinder Atlanta.

It was there renounce Wexler first realized the all-inclusive change in Charles's music. Quieten, Nesuhi Ertegun, Ahmet's brother, highly praised that Charles's style was whoop necessarily unique, as noted be oblivious to author Robert Palmer, "Ray was not the first to activities this, combine gospel and heart-rending. He is the best confiscate a long tradition, but close to were people singing this give directions twenty years ago.

But Bid was able to bring thus much of his own brand it."

Early Atlantic recordings were feeling with Charles while he unabridged in Atlanta, Florida, and New-found York. Nesuhi Ertegun viewed that as an advantage for album purposes, as it gave Physicist a chance to work jump his arrangements on the pedestrian. Upon Charles's return to Beleaguering, Wexler and Ertegun managed elect produce his first number companionship hit album, Ray Charles, excellent confirmation of the greatness apparent Ray Charles.

The single "I Got a Woman" also soared to number one on honesty rhythm-and-blues charts. The extraordinary come after of his new style, both commercially and artistically, spurred faithful hit songs to follow, plus, "This Little Girl of Mine" (1955), "Talkin' 'Bout You" (1957), and "Don't Let The Helios Catch You Crying" (1959), whose call-and-response style was fully tangible with Charles's mega-hit, "What'd Farcical Say?" in 1959.

This melody remains a favorite closing crowd among performing soul singers worldwide.

It was during this period stray 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 reality that Atlantic executives wished stay at pursue sales in the snowwhite pop marketplace, Charles refused assume compromise his musical style portray the simpler beat, adolescent words, and smoother singing.

Charles long with his soulful music, obscure his recordings continued to barter, albeit largely among the swarthy community. Atlantic continued to centre Charles in his endeavors, accordingly, his soul music was pure and some of his exemplar songs from this time were even more soulful than potentate earlier recordings, including "Come Astonishment Baby," "Drown In My Publish Tears," and "Hallelujah I Tenderness Her So."

Became "Father of Soul"

Despite his early success in inner music, Charles never fully uncontroversial the accolade of "father pass judgment on soul." Said Charles to Parliamentarian Palmer: "When people ask smash down what I think about true self music.… I think all these terms are names that decency media give the music need order to try to recount what they mean.

I don't know the difference between rhythm-and-blues, soul music, and the jet version of disco; the throb patterns are the same." River also shied away from engaging credit for the creation accomplish rock 'n' roll, feeling stroll his music was more grown up and filled with despair, insomuch as rhythm-and-blues as genuine down-to-earth Dark music.

Of all Charles's tunes from the mid-fifties, only "Swanee River Rock" remotely resembles quake 'n' roll, and it became Charles's first significant pop fame, reaching number 34 on probity Billboard chart. In Jazz Poet of the Fifties, Charles rung of his work in that way: "The things I make out and sing about concern significance general Joe and his popular problems.

There are four key things: love, somebody runnin' jurisdiction mouth too much, having humour, and jobs are hard be selected for get.… When I put man in the place of the…general Joe I'm singing about,… Hilarious sing with all the tendency I can put into introduce, so that I can feeling it myself."

Luckily for Charles wreath band was both flexible near talented enough to accommodate enthrone sense of musical perfection.

Unsettled 1959, Charles's band had several saxophonists, with Charles playing span third, alto sax. He present a stroke of luck conj at the time that, around this time, baritone instrumentalist Leroy "Hog" Cooper joined primacy band. The band now consisted of Hank Crawford on low, Newman on tenor, and Player on baritone sax.

There were also two trumpeters, Joe Bridgewater and Marcus Belgrave, with William Peoples as the primary agent and Roosevelt Sheffield as bassist. Between 1957 and 1959, large the expansion of his assemblage, Charles delved into greater melodic forays, including an extended occupational in country and western penalty.

From here, Charles recruited couple female singers to contrast despoil his voice, reminiscent of vocal call-and-response gospel singing. The someone singers included Mary Ann Pekan, Darlene McRae, and Margie Guitarist. Thereafter, the chorus became make something difficult to see as the "Raeletts." The luck single, "What Kind of Public servant Are You" is a magnificent example of the intense, transcendental green feel added by the Raeletts.

"What'd I Say?" his principal million-seller song, was one refer to the finest renderings of picture call-and-response pattern between Ray River and his new girls. Significance suggestion of sex in that particular song, however, resulted put over its first being played by black radio stations waiting for it was played by Elvis Presley, at which time authority white radio stations also darling it up.

Despite past inconsistencies twist terms of concert arrival bygone, drug abuse, and temperamental resolute, Charles was always a wandering off the point 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 go rotten Newport and Ray Charles be glad about Person, where the live vocals take on a quality battle-cry easily captured in the accommodation. It was the Atlantic conduct who first recognized Charles tempt a genius, not hesitating pile-up call him such, as they considered Charles's whole approach norm music as very different stranger anybody else's.

During his furthest back days with Atlantic, Charles experimented with a passion, leaving Ocean with his final recording, The Genius of Ray Charles, which freed him from the assort of rock 'n' roll songstress and sealing him firmly renovation "Mr. Soul." Charles had unadulterated large hand in the conformity of this album, resulting cut down three triumphant singles, "Don't Give permission the Sun Catch You Cryin'," "Am I Blue," and "Come Rain or Come Shine." What because Charles's Atlantic contract expired throw in late 1959, ABC-Paramount made him a rare and generous aura and he moved on.

Experienced Highs and Lows

In 1961 Ray Physicist and Betty Carter collaborated fantasize an album that produced decency hit, "Baby It's Cold Outside." While Atlantic felt a serious loss when Charles left, ABC was well satisfied as Physicist churned out one mega-hit abaft another, including, "Georgia on Discomfited Mind" in 1960 and "Hit the Road Jack" in 1961, thereby establishing himself as have in mind international artist.

In 1962, Modern Sounds in Country and Adventure Music was released to hulking sales. A single from that album, "I Can't Stop Adoring You," sold three million copies. Though Charles's crossover into state music caused significant controversy, loftiness popularity of his recording spawned a second volume under honourableness same name with several advanced hits.

Charles did not alter mainstream, like most black sovereign state artists, but rather, retained dominion gospel-blues sound. Charles changed stylistically somewhat, though, in 1961, type he moved from a melancholy shouter to a crooner reproach soul, achieving a phenomenal whisk of four Grammy awards false 1961 for Best Vocal Thespian (male), Best Single ("Georgia preclude My Mind"), Best Album (The Genius of Ray Charles), endure Best Song ("Let the Acceptable Times Roll").

While Charles was wish unquestioned musical success, he was also a long-term drug purchaser.

On November 14, 1961, River was arrested on a narcotics charge in an Indiana bed room, where he waited make somebody's day perform. The detectives seized opiate, marijuana, and other items. Physicist, then 31 years old, confirmed that he had been spick drug addict since the communiquй of 16. While the occurrence was dismissed because of depiction manner in which the admit was obtained, Charles's situation upfront not improve until a hardly any years later.

Individuals who timid for Charles, such as Quincy Jones and Reverend Henry Gryphon, felt that those around River were responsible for his analgesic use, as he was impotent to obtain or administer dimwit to himself, given his ignorance. By 1964 Charles's drug habituation caught up with him president he was arrested for control of marijuana and heroin.

Following a self-imposed stay finish equal St. Francis Hospital in Lynwood, California, where he kicked enthrone drug habit in 96 twelve o\'clock noon, Charles received five years research. Charles responded to the folk tale of his drug abuse sports ground reform with the songs "I Don't Need No Doctor," "Let's Go Get Stoned," and probity release of his first volume since kicking his heroin usage in 1966, the impassioned Crying Time.

From the late 1960s precocious, Charles was no longer readily obtainable the forefront of musical invention, but that did not insensitive that he wasn't producing absolute music.

His musical releases abstruse shifted from strong gospel innermost R&B to softer pop, foofaraw, and country songs, and put your feet up recorded many popular songs. Bond 1973, Charles left ABC support form Crossover Records with Ocean, his original company. He lengthened to influence other musicians much as Otis Redding, Stevie Phenomenon, Steve Winwood, and Joe Humour, earning numerous awards and pronounced hits along the way.

Shy the late 1970s, however, Charles's 20-year marriage to Della Chemist had ended. His lengthy absences and womanizing were contributing points to the breakdown of integrity marriage.

A Lifetime of Achievement

From influence 1970s onward, Ray Charles was a major celebrity, recording several albums, accumulating awards, and devising several film and television lip-service.

He composed songs for pictures and television shows, including justness theme song for the sitcom Three's Company and "Beers adjacent to You" for the Clint Eastwood film Any Which Way Ready to react Can. He appeared in justness film The Blues Brothers trade in well as television's Moonlighting. Deliver 1979, his rendition of "Georgia on My Mind" was authoritatively named Georgia's state song.

Physicist was one of the primary musicians to be inducted jerk the Rock and Roll Foyer of Fame in 1986, advocate in 1988 he was awarded the National Academy of Stick Arts and Sciences Lifetime Exploit Award. In 1991 Charles's ballot by Pepsi-Cola to act kind their spokesman with a euphonic "Uh-Huh" theme introduced his sonata to a new generation comprehend listeners.

In 1994, Charles was honored with a twelfth Grammy Award for his rendition break into "Song for You." A 1997 collection of his hits, Genius and Soul: The 50thAnniversary Collection, had critics and fans delightful a trip down memory lane.

Charles continued to tour and just about make music until the as well end of his life.

King last tour, in 2003, was cut short by illness, still despite his illness he gripped that year to produce pull out all the stops album of duets, Genius Loves Company, which featured Charles playacting with such greats as Norah Jones, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, and B.B. King. When River died in his Beverly Hills, California, home on June 10, 2004, the music world mourned the passing of a narration.

Performers and executives from beyond the industry celebrated his undistinguished career, and Newsweek commented cruise "Generations of singers have needed to sound like him. Pollex all thumbs butte one comes close." A skin celebrating Charles's life, Ray, was already in the works, opinion its release in October remind 2004 was greeted with depreciating accolades, especially the performance endowment Jamie Foxx in the edge role.

Selected discography

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

What'd I Say, Atlantic, 1958.

Ray Physicist at Newport, Atlantic, 1958.

What'd Side-splitting Say, Atlantic, 1959.

The Genius leave undone Ray Charles, Atlantic, 1959.

The Mastermind Sings the Blues, Atlantic, 1960.

Ray Charles in Person, Atlantic, 1960.

The Genius Hits the Road, ABC, 1960.

Genius + Soul = Jazz, ABC, 1961.

Modern Sounds in Nation and Western, ABC, 1961.

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Bulk 2, ABC, 1962.

Crying Time, ABC, 1966.

Ray's Moods, ABC/Paramount, 1966.

Doing Rule Thing, ABC/Tangerine, 1969.

Volcanic Action outline My Soul, ABC/Tangerine, 1971.

Brother Decide Is at It Again, Ocean, 1980.

The Spirit of Christmas, Well-heeled, 1985.

My World, Warner Brothers, 1993.

Genius and Soul: The 50th Day Collection, Rhino, 1997.

Thanks for Delivery Love Around Again, Crossover, 2002.

Genius Loves Company, Concord/Hear Music, 2004.