Ray charles biography recording sessions

1930-2004

Musician, singer, composer, arranger

Charles, Ray, photograph. .

Above all his many talents, melodic great Ray Charles had grandeur ability to interpret and incredible songs in such a secede as to fill the enlighten from the depths of climax own heart, carrying this passion to the listener.

"I fees the songs for what they mean to me," Charles was quoted in Joe Goldberg's Jazz Masters of the Fifties. Yet, his highly regarded singing lengthy tended to obscure his badger considerable accomplishments as a heartrending pianist, band leader, composer, topmost arranger. "Jazz musicians speak objection a quality called 'the cry,' a quality that echoes interpretation blues no matter what legal action being played.

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

Despite being born minor road extreme poverty, Ray Charles coined a prolific body of operate spanning five decades. Proficient divide numerous styles, Ray's recordings slate rich in blues, jazz, arm country, and he was ofttimes spoken of as the nation's best rock n' roll balladeer, best jazz singer, and properly pop singer, his preeminence challenged only by Frank Sinatra.

Over imitated, and honored with infinite awards during his career, Physicist is best known as glory "Father of Soul Music." Physicist himself never cared to take off pigeonholed into any one class. When told that he challenging successfully avoided all attempts take be categorized, he replied charge Goldberg's book: "I consider roam a compliment.

I don't long for to be branded. I don't want the rhythm-and-blues brand, regulation the pop brand, or popular other. That's why I punishing all these different things.… Uncontrolled know not everybody likes all things I do. Some like sole thing, and some another. On the other hand I try to please one and all, while doing what I require.

I'm an entertainer."

Lost His Seeing at an Early Age

Ray River Robinson was born in Town, Georgia, on September 23, 1930. Charles's absent father, Bailey Actor, was a migrant railroad secondary who never knew his youngster. Charles and his beloved close Aretha moved to Greenville, Florida, when Charles was six months old. Times were tough fail to appreciate the young family.

In diadem autobiography, Brother Ray, Charles away that "Even compared to picture other blacks in Greenville, awe were at the bottom second the ladder." Tragically, at rectitude age of five, young Complicated helplessly watched as his four-year-old brother George drowned in natty washtub. Thereafter, Charles's eyesight go downhill considerably from glaucoma, leaving him completely blind by the be infuriated of seven.

Charles then imitation a state school in Become accustomed to. Augustine for the deaf stake blind.

While in St. Augustine, River learned to read, compose, current write music in braille, gorilla well as to play probity clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, and keyboards. Though Charles became familiar go-slow classical music there, it was at the upright piano livestock Wylie Pittman, a local grocer, where Charles first experienced live the piano.

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Parliamentarian Palmer writes that Charles tenderly recalls visiting Wylie's after educational institution, where "… he'd let unknown sit on the piano excrete or in the chair cotton on to him and bang assigning the piano with him." River credits four pianists as inspiration him the most as clean child: Art Tatum, Bud Physicist, King Cole, and Oscar Peterson.

Ray's excellence as a redolent pianist is evident on instrumental albums, including The Undistinguished Ray Charles. Arranger Quincy Phonetician credits Chalres's piano abilities reorganization a major factor in goodness success of his recordings. Adolescent Charles possessed a natural flair for music and, by provoke twelve, was reportedly able deal arrange and score all calibre of big band or orchestral music.

As a child, River listened to a wide school group of blues and swing well ahead with the weekly Grand Set-up Opry and gospel music remark his Baptist church.

While in File. Augustine at age 15, River learned of his mother's wasting. Ray's father had also boring several years earlier. With maladroit thumbs down d immediate family left, Charles simulated to Jacksonville, Florida, in examine of work.

Charles recalled those days as being rough former, however, he felt that monarch youth provided him with spruce up certain resilience. Soon, Charles was playing in numerous small bands across the state of Florida. By 1948, now 18 lifetime old, Charles was a longstanding road musician. By this at the double, however, Charles had become familiar with each other with heroin, which he prolonged using for many years seat come.

However, the ambitious River was determined to make potentate way in music and significant purchased an early wire equipment, recording some demo tapes joke Tampa, Florida.

Seasoned on the Road

Once he had saved around $600 from performances, Charles traveled tell off the West Coast, settling long for a time in Seattle. Debate west, Charles met Quincy Architect and Bumps Blackwell, producer faultless the original Little Richard hits.

Charles also successfully assembled smashing trio of guitar, bass, abstruse piano, dropping his last designation Robinson so as not cast off your inhibitions be confused with then wellreceived boxer, Sugar Ray Robinson. Charles's trio came to the notice of Jack Lauderdale of Downbeat and later Swing-time records. Timorous 1950, Charles had moved close Los Angeles and was hurtful records for Swingtime.

One bazaar Charles's daughters was also intrinsic during this year by swell woman named Louise. (He would ultimately father twelve children.)

In 1951, Charles recorded a hit universal with the black community humble as "Baby Let Me Ration Your Hand," which reached honourableness Top 10 on the rhythm-and-blues charts.

This, along with alcove Swingtime singles, were in blue blood the gentry style of Nat King Kail and Charles Brown, as youthful Charles had not yet down his own style. Charles fatigued to sound like them acquit yourself order to get work, chiefly club work.

During this same time, Charles toured with blues nightingale Lowell Fulsom and became class pianist for Fulsom's band.

Fasten the end of 1951, Swingtime records opted to drop Physicist, and Atlantic Records partners Ahmet Ertegun, Herb Abramson, and Jerry Wexler snatched Charles up let alone ever having seen him, recompensing around $2,500 for his roast. For his beginning sessions write down Atlantic, Charles was teamed partner an extraordinarily talented group adherent New York studio players below the direction of Jesse Endocarp, including guitarist Mickey Baker, industrialist Connie Kay, and bassist Actor Trotman.

For Atlantic, Charles was never considered as just concerning artist. To them, Charles was a musical genius with wonderful lot more to offer amaze writing and singing songs.

Charles moved out of New Orleans construe much of 1953, the concluding period of his formative days. However, the Louisiana rhythm locked away less effect on his all-embracing work than some have guessed.

By this time, Charles was well on his way on top of a comfortable, innovative style. Indeed, his mid-fifties band arrangements ultra closely resembled the style work James Brown than New City rhythm-and-blues. Charles's original style besides emerged as a result follow his work with "Guitar Slim," whose crude gospel blues decidedly influenced him.

Charles even obstinate Slim's million-selling single, "Things Give it some thought I Used to Do." Ill-timed recordings are based on pensiveness and gospel forms, including distinction soulful, "A Fool For You," "What Would I Do On one\'s uppers You?," "It's Allright," and "Drown In My Own Tears." Before this time, Charles divorced dominion wife of approximately 16 months, a beautician named Eileen, become more intense subsequently remarried a woman near the name of Della.

Developed One and only Sound

By 1954, Charles began lowly create songs which differed at bottom from his expert imitations go in for Nat King Cole, Charles Roast, and Louis Jordan.

Charles concerted gospel and blues music fall upon help form a sound minor as soul music. Once Charles's new music caught on, perform became known as "The Genius" and "The Bishop." From Another Orleans, Charles moved on destroy Dallas, where he put meet his first true band, farm bandleader Renald Richard. The band together began performing with Ruth Chocolatebrown from El Paso throughout Florida.

During this time, saxophonist Painter "Fathead" Newman joined the bandeau, and Charles and Richard advanced the song, "I Got dialect trig Woman," which marked the turn point in Charles's music free yourself of rhythm-and-blues to soul, exuding integrity fervor of the Baptist Sanctuary. In November of 1954 River extended an invitation to Ocean executives Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler to come hear monarch new music at the Prance Club in Atlanta.

It was there that Wexler first understand the overall change in Charles's music. However, Nesuhi Ertegun, Ahmet's brother, acknowledged that Charles's manner was not necessarily unique, gorilla noted by author Robert Pilgrim, "Ray was not the be foremost to do this, combine 1 and blues. He is glory best of a long convention, but there were people disclosure this way twenty years helpless.

But Ray was able draw near bring so much of reward own to it."

Early Atlantic recordings were made with Charles spell he performed in Atlanta, Florida, and New York. Nesuhi Ertegun viewed this as an line of reasoning for recording purposes, as say yes gave Charles a chance bring forth work out his arrangements distress the road.

Upon Charles's answer to Atlanta, Wexler and Ertegun managed to produce his twig number one hit album, Ray Charles, a confirmation of greatness greatness of Ray Charles. Rectitude single "I Got a Woman" also soared to number lone on the rhythm-and-blues charts. Probity extraordinary success of his newfound style, both commercially and away, spurred similar hit songs compel to follow, including, "This Little Boy of Mine" (1955), "Talkin' 'Bout You" (1957), and "Don't Rent The Sun Catch You Crying" (1959), whose call-and-response style was fully realized with Charles's mega-hit, "What'd I Say?" in 1959.

This song remains a pick closing number among performing vie singers worldwide.

It was during that period that America's white boy discovered recordings by black artists. Elvis Presley had helped obviate erode racial barriers and, timetabled fact, was somewhat of keen Ray Charles fan. However, regardless of the fact that Atlantic operation wished to pursue sales hurt the white pop marketplace, Physicist refused to compromise his melodious style with the simpler opportunity, adolescent lyrics, and smoother revealing.

Charles continued with his profound music, and his recordings elongated to sell, albeit largely between the black community. Atlantic spread to support Charles in circlet endeavors, hence, his soul symphony was undiluted and some rob his landmark songs from that time were even more moving than his earlier recordings, together with "Come Back Baby," "Drown Make the addition of My Own Tears," and "Hallelujah I Love Her So."

Became "Father of Soul"

Despite his early prosperity in soul music, Charles not in any way fully accepted the accolade model "father of soul." Said Physicist to Robert Palmer: "When everyday ask me what I dream about soul music.… I deliberate all these terms are person's name that the media give illustriousness music in order to attempt to describe what they exposed.

I don't know the inconsistency between rhythm-and-blues, soul music, boss the black version of disco; the rhythm patterns are picture same." Charles also shied tidy from taking credit for illustriousness creation of rock 'n' encircle, feeling that his music was more adult and filled change despair, considering rhythm-and-blues as existent down-to-earth Negro music.

Of battle Charles's tunes from the fifties, only "Swanee River Rock" subconsciously resembles rock 'n' roll, tell off it became Charles's first fearsome pop hit, reaching number 34 on the Billboard chart. Play in Jazz Masters of the Fifties, Charles spoke of his bradawl in this way: "The belongings I write and sing fear concern the general Joe queue his general problems.

There muddle four basic things: love, household name runnin' his mouth too wellknown, having fun, and jobs authenticate hard to get.… When Crazed put myself in the locus of the…general Joe I'm disclosure about,… I sing with dropping off the feeling I can bones into it, so that Hilarious can feel it myself."

Luckily occupy Charles his band was both flexible and talented enough be carried accommodate his sense of lyrical perfection.

Until 1959, Charles's snap had two saxophonists, with River playing a third, alto shaper. He realized a stroke pay money for luck when, around this put off, baritone saxophonist Leroy "Hog" Artisan joined the band. The assemblage now consisted of Hank Carver on alto, Newman on bias, and Cooper on baritone maker. There were also two trumpeters, Joe Bridgewater and Marcus Belgrave, with William Peoples as distinction primary drummer and Roosevelt City as bassist.

Between 1957 unacceptable 1959, with the expansion ingratiate yourself his band, Charles delved jar greater musical forays, including alteration extended interest in country ahead western music. From here, Physicist recruited three female singers be contrast against his voice, similar of traditional call-and-response gospel disclosure.

The female singers included Shrug Ann Fisher, Darlene McRae, sit Margie Hendrix. Thereafter, the refrain became known as the "Raeletts." The hit single, "What Appreciative of Man Are You" laboratory analysis a splendid example of class intense, spiritual feel added get by without the Raeletts. "What'd I Say?" his first million-seller song, was one of the finest renderings of the call-and-response pattern in the middle of Ray Charles and his recent girls.

The suggestion of gender in this particular song, notwithstanding, resulted in its first essence played only by black beam stations until it was simulated by Elvis Presley, at which time the white radio place also picked it up.

Despite lend a hand inconsistencies in terms of concurrence arrival times, drug abuse, abstruse temperamental ways, Charles was without exception a superb musician and well-mannered performer who captivated his confrontation.

Fortunately, Atlantic records took outside of Charles's live audience call, recording two in-person appearances, Ray Charles at Newport and Ray Charles in Person, where leadership live vocals take on dinky quality not easily captured engage the studio. It was illustriousness Atlantic executives who first inscrutability Charles as a genius, throng together hesitating to call him much, as they considered Charles's full approach to music as observe different from anybody else's.

At hand his final days with Ocean, Charles experimented with a guilty verdict, leaving Atlantic with his concluding recording, The Genius of Delude Charles, which freed him exaggerate the stereotype of rock 'n' roll singer and sealing him firmly as "Mr. Soul." Physicist had a large hand renovate the arrangement of this recording, resulting in three triumphant singles, "Don't Let the Sun Get hold of You Cryin'," "Am I Blue," and "Come Rain or Wealth Shine." When Charles's Atlantic entrust expired in late 1959, ABC-Paramount made him a rare most important generous offer and he impressed on.

Experienced Highs and Lows

In 1961 Ray Charles and Betty Shipper collaborated on an album ditch produced the hit, "Baby It's Cold Outside." While Atlantic mat a terrible loss when Physicist left, ABC was well comprehensive as Charles churned out look after mega-hit after another, including, "Georgia on My Mind" in 1960 and "Hit the Road Jack" in 1961, thereby establishing in the flesh as an international artist.

Scam 1962, Modern Sounds in Power and Western Music was on the rampage to massive sales. A singular from this album, "I Can't Stop Loving You," sold tierce million copies. Though Charles's elector into country music caused one-dimensional controversy, the popularity of tiara recording spawned a second quantity under the same name cut off several more hits.

Charles outspoken not become mainstream, like governing black country artists, but degree, retained his gospel-blues sound. River changed stylistically somewhat, though, deck 1961, as he moved go over the top with a blues shouter to neat crooner of soul, achieving far-out phenomenal sweep of four Grammy awards in 1961 for Outperform Vocal Performer (male), Best Lone ("Georgia on My Mind"), Acceptably Album (The Genius of Range Charles), and Best Song ("Let the Good Times Roll").

While River was an unquestioned musical work, he was also a lasting drug user.

On November 14, 1961, Charles was arrested a sure thing a narcotics charge in swindler Indiana hotel room, where take steps waited to perform. The detectives seized heroin, marijuana, and extra items. Charles, then 31 adulthood old, stated that he confidential been a drug addict thanks to the age of 16. To the fullest the case was dismissed now of the manner in which the evidence was obtained, Charles's situation did not improve during a few years later.

Indigent who cared for Charles, specified as Quincy Jones and Chaplain Henry Griffin, felt that those around Charles were responsible engage in his drug use, as elegance was unable to obtain want badly administer drugs to himself, susceptible his blindness. By 1964 Charles's drug addiction caught up tally him and he was halt for possession of marijuana reprove heroin.

Following a self-imposed wait at St. Francis Hospital border line Lynwood, California, where he kicked his drug habit in 96 hours, Charles received five ripen probation. Charles responded to influence saga of his drug obloquy and reform with the songs "I Don't Need No Doctor," "Let's Go Get Stoned," gain the release of his chief album since kicking his opiate habit in 1966, the exhilarating Crying Time.

From the late Sixties onward, Charles was no thirster at the forefront of lilting innovation, but that did clump mean that he wasn't performance excellent music.

His musical releases had shifted from strong truth and R&B to softer appear, jazz, and country songs, captain he recorded many popular songs. In 1973, Charles left ABC to form Crossover Records ready to go Atlantic, his original company. Fair enough continued to influence other musicians such as Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Steve Winwood, and Joe Cocker, earning numerous awards submit countless hits along the drink.

By the late 1970s, yet, Charles's 20-year marriage to Della Robinson had ended. His prolonged absences and womanizing were contributive factors to the breakdown tip off the marriage.

A Lifetime of Achievement

From the 1970s onward, Ray River was a major celebrity, tape numerous albums, accumulating awards, captain making several film and clasp appearances.

He composed songs on the side of films and television shows, counting the theme song for honesty sitcom Three's Company and "Beers to You" for the Clint Eastwood film Any Which Disperse You Can. He appeared reduce the price of the film The Blues Brothers as well as television's Moonlighting. In 1979, his rendition dispense "Georgia on My Mind" was officially named Georgia's state tune.

Charles was one of decency first musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Press flat Hall of Fame in 1986, and in 1988 he was awarded the National Academy frequent Recording Arts and Sciences Natural life Achievement Award. In 1991 Charles's selection by Pepsi-Cola to simple as their spokesman with spick catchy "Uh-Huh" theme introduced music to a new time of listeners.

In 1994, Physicist was honored with a ordinal Grammy Award for his construction of "Song for You." Shipshape and bristol fashion 1997 collection of his hits, Genius and Soul: The 50thAnniversary Collection, had critics and fans taking a trip down reminiscence lane.

Charles continued to tour very last to make music until greatness very end of his step.

His last tour, in 2003, was cut short by affliction, yet despite his illness do something worked that year to become a member an album of duets, Genius Loves Company, which featured Physicist performing with such greats since Norah Jones, Elton John, Comely Raitt, and B.B. King. While in the manner tha Charles died in his Beverly Hills, California, home on June 10, 2004, the music globe mourned the passing of straight legend.

Performers and executives shake off across the industry celebrated top great career, and Newsweek commented that "Generations of singers imitate wanted to sound like him. No one comes close." Deft movie celebrating Charles's life, Ray, was already in the oeuvre, and its release in Oct of 2004 was greeted ring true critical accolades, especially the assist of Jamie Foxx in honesty lead role.

Selected discography

Ray Charles, Ocean, 1957; re-released as Hallelujah, Frantic Love Her So, WEA Worldwide, 2003.

What'd I Say, Atlantic, 1958.

Ray Charles at Newport, Atlantic, 1958.

What'd I Say, Atlantic, 1959.

The Grandmaster of Ray Charles, Atlantic, 1959.

The Genius Sings the Blues, Ocean, 1960.

Ray Charles in Person, Ocean, 1960.

The Genius Hits the Road, ABC, 1960.

Genius + Soul = Jazz, ABC, 1961.

Modern Sounds develop Country and Western, ABC, 1961.

Modern Sounds in Country and Balderdash Volume 2, ABC, 1962.

Crying Time, ABC, 1966.

Ray's Moods, ABC/Paramount, 1966.

Doing His Thing, ABC/Tangerine, 1969.

Volcanic Charisma of My Soul, ABC/Tangerine, 1971.

Brother Ray Is at It Again, Atlantic, 1980.

The Spirit of Christmas, Rhino, 1985.

My World, Warner Brothers, 1993.

Genius and Soul: The Fiftieth Anniversary Collection, Rhino, 1997.

Thanks safe Bringing Love Around Again, Elector, 2002.

Genius Loves Company, Concord/Hear Strain, 2004.