groove

wmode="transparent" align="middle" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" >

Ray Charles: The Black Blues Singer

Ray Charles was born September 23, 1930 in Albany Ga. His parents were Bailey
Robinson, a mechanic handyman, and Aretha Robinson. At the age of 5yrs old his
brother died by drowning in a laundry tub. Ray lost his sight at 7yrs old because of
glaucoma , a problem with the optic nerve, and went blind. At that point at the
age of 7, he went to St.Augustine for the blind,was a school , in Florida. He had no choice but to leave his mom. When Ray turned 15 his mother died that is when he dropped at of school. In 1945 he started taking heroin (didn't quit for over 20yrs) after his mother died. He traveled with a band and went to Seattle , Washington at 16yrs old ,then he met Quincey Jones, only 14, helped ray compose songs.

Later in Tampa , Florida his first 3 recordings were in 1947, Guitar Blues, Walkin And Talkin, and Wonderin and Wonderin. Ray had a recording contract in 1949 on the Downbeat label with his crew called Mcson Trio. In the early 1950's the trio moved to Los Angeles and released many singles including 'Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand' it hit the U.S. R&B chart. He got an Atlantic record deal in 1952, and in 1953 his first commerical for the played piano on the recording piof The Things I used to Do it sold a million copies.

Ray started showing emotional feelings in his recordings in 1954 on the record called 'I got a Woman'. It reach the #1 record on the R&B chart which was good for ray. Many years later the 1959's hit was What'd I Say, and some of his songs were recorded with the help of his friend Quincey Jones. Later in the late 1950s was called 'The Genius' he recorded an album called 'Soul Meeting' with a Jazz Quartet 1957.

He got his first 4 grammy awards in 1960. On June 26th, 1959 he cut his first country cover because of the recording the song I 'Movin On it was a hit. Geogria On My Mind, the song, gave him two more Grammy Awards at the 1960 ceremony in the Best Vocal Performance Single Record, male artist award. When August 1960 arrived he recorded the second album for ABC paramount Dedicated To You and that was the end of the 1960s.That was one of his theme songs.

Then ray went back to jazz and R&B and, he recorded so call the best jazz album ever.The album was Genuis + Soul = Jazz and everybody lov'd it. The biggest hit ever was in 1961 called Hit The Road Jack it was #1 on the pop chart for 2 weeks in October. It won a grammy in 1961 for best rhythm in Blues recording. Then he started trying country and western in classical blues.
He became so well known he was movies or films called Swinging Along. In 1964
ray had his own label it an ABC imprint called Tangerine records. On October 31, 1964
he was caught with marijuana and heroin in an Boston airport.He convicted in Dec.
1966 5yr suspension at that time he release 'I Don't Need a Doctor and Let's Go Get
Stoned in 66. Ray did not about the drug abuse after the situation.

He was in many commericals, films, and recorded many other songs. Such as the
Pepis commerical with his songs and (no longer shows). He died on Thursday June ,10
2004 a wonderful man. He inspires me to be my self no matter what happens. To
always be stronge when things go wrong and not right. He the King Of Blues in my
eyes. Thank you.