Singer Ray Charles. Biography of Ray Charles

Ray Charles, a musician who performed compositions in the style of jazz, rhythm and blues and soul, became one of the most famous American musicians. The result of his creative activity was the release of more than seventy albums, multiple Grammy awards (13 times), and membership in the Hall of Fame of individual musical genres (rock and roll, jazz, country, blues).

The United States contains the hits of Ray Charles, and the famous words spoken by Frank Sinatra call him the only genius in show business.

Ray's childhood

Born Ray Charles Robinson, he saw the world in Albany in 1930. The town was small, and the financial and social situation of Ray's family was unfavorable. A few months after his birth, the whole family had to change their place of residence: they now called the small gray area of ​​Greenville (South Florida) their home.

His father's role in the musician's life was short and insignificant, since he left when the boy and his brother George were very young. He was raised by his mother Aretha and grandmother Mary Jane Robinson.

Tragic incident

The biography of Ray Charles contains one notorious fact related to the death of his brother. This happened when the future musician was only five years old, and George was four. Having plunged headlong into a deep tub of water that stood on the street, George was unable to get out and began to choke. Seeing his brother drowning, Ray tried to save him, but he did not have enough strength to pull the child out.

The resulting shock had a profound effect on Ray. He himself assumed that it was for this reason that his vision began to deteriorate until it disappeared completely. Complete blindness occurred when he was seven years old. Later, glaucoma and its consequences were considered the probable cause of blindness.

There are rumors claiming that the musician, having achieved fame, tried to find a donor for a one-eye transplant. However, the operation was never carried out due to the opinion of doctors who considered this step pointless and risky.

Ray Charles: music training

The formation of the musician’s future career was directly influenced by a pharmacist who played the piano and lived not far from Ray’s house. First manifestations musical talent the boy's appearance was already noticeable when he was three years old.

Therefore, after completely losing his sight, his mother made sure that Ray entered a specialized boarding school. It was located in St. Augustine, and here Ray Charles studied organ, piano, trombone, saxophone and clarinet. Thanks to his success in music, the boy was enrolled in the Baptist choir.

1945 was the year of Ray's mother's death, his father died two years later.

Musical career: first steps

The further biography of Ray Charles (the period after completing his studies at the boarding school) is replete with the names of numerous musical projects, in which he took part. They often performed country or jazz. The greatest influence on the formation of Ray's style and manner of performance was exerted by such famous jazzmen as Count Basie, Art Tatum, and Artie Shaw.

The first group of which the musician became a full member was called The Florida Playboys.

A trip to Seattle in 1947 was a very significant event for seventeen-year-old Ray. With $600 saved up and the support of guitarist Gossady McGee, he founds and develops the MacSon Trio. To record his first compositions, Ray collaborated with the group of the famous performer Lowell Fulson. Ray's task was to accompany the musicians on the piano. Two years later, Ray Charles's first rhythm and blues song was released. Then several more compositions were released, which later became hits.

Musician's activities in the 50s

The new decade was marked for Ray Charles Robinson by a change of label and a shortening of his name. This measure was necessary, since a boxer with a similar name was popular at that time.

Ray's first marriage lasted only a year. Started in July 1951, living together musician and Eileen Williams has not stood the test of time. The next time Ray joined the barque three years later, he married Della Beatrice Robinson (nee Howard). They lived together until 1977.

The biography of Ray Charles in the mid-50s is full of successful songs, written independently or in collaboration with other musicians. It is during this period that a recognizable and original unique sound is formed.

Ray Charles's songs sold millions of copies, bringing popularity to the musician himself and the styles in which he worked. Ray's repertoire included secular gospel songs and blues ballads. The popularity of gospel and R&B owes much to the work of this musician, whose activities attracted a large number of new fans. There were representatives of both black and white audiences. Ray Charles, as one of the first performers in the style of rhythm and blues, is credited with the impressive spread of “black” music.

The end of the fifties brought Ray universal popularity, participation in the Newport Festival, recording large quantity hits, as well as the first Grammy Award.

Biography of Ray Charles: 60s

After receiving worldwide recognition, Ray moved to huge mansion in Beverly Hills. As one of the few top-earning artists, he began to use his creative freedom to expand his approach to music. As a result, his works became closer to pop and mainstream styles. Despite the fact that the new compositions were strikingly different from what he had done before, Ray's music was consistently successful. The breadth and variety of the musician's repertoire has reached amazing volumes.

The song "Georgia On My Mind", which became the anthem of Ray Charles' home state, was published in the early 60s. A significant event followed: the release of the album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. The hits included in it belong to the country genre, which, in combination with racial identity Ray became a kind of revolution.

The musician's anti-racist sentiment

Coming from the lowest social class Ray Charles was a lifelong activist for racial equality. An excellent example of his attitude to this issue can be seen in the cancellation of a concert in Augusta in 1961 due to the fact that black and white spectators were planned to be seated separately. In addition, Ray contributed (including financially) to King's activities and openly expressed disapproval of the policies of J.F. Kennedy.

Some sources mention a twenty-year ban for Ray from entering Georgia, but in reality he simply did not plan to go there.

Ray Charles and his "monkey on his back"

This is how the musician allegorically called his addiction to heroin. After discovering what it was at age 16, he spent the next two decades dependent on the drug.

In 1961, during a search of Ray's hotel room, illegal drugs were found, but there was no trial because the procedure was violated (there was no warrant). In subsequent years, the musician was repeatedly found using drugs, and in 1965 in Boston he was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana and heroin.

Life with a clean slate

The decisive step, after which Ray Charles said a decisive “no” to drugs, was long-term treatment in a clinic in Los Angeles. This measure saved him from being in prison; the court limited himself to assigning a rather lenient punishment: one year of probation. After completing a rehabilitation course, Ray Charles did not return to using, finding inspiration and solace exclusively in music and performances.

Ray, the film about Ray Charles, covers the topic in great detail drug addiction musician.

Mainstream and Ray's later years

Freed from drugs, the musician finds a new style, approaching the mainstream. A feature of this period is the absence of their own compositions in favor of fantastic performances of songs by other musicians.

With the advent of the 80s, Ray Charles expanded his range of activities: participation in the filming of the film “The Blues Brothers”, in a popular television show, as well as in Pepsi advertising.

The musician accepts invitations from the organizers of charity events, works with popular young performers and performs at the inauguration. Ray Charles's activity, full of public events, ended in 2004 in Los Angeles, when his last performance took place.

In the last years of his life, the musician suffered from liver cancer and severe consequences of surgery performed on his hip. Despite this, he showed up at his RPM studio every day to do his job. In one of his interviews, he noted that it doesn’t matter how long life is, what matters is how beautiful it is.

After Ray Charles died in 2004, his memory was honored with the release of a posthumous album. He has received eight Grammy awards. Later, another collection would be released, including joint compositions by Ray Charles and other performers.

As part of the memorial ceremony, many musicians and thousands of loyal fans said goodbye to Ray.

Ray Charles never wanted to be famous. In his opinion, fame is like a headache. But he always wanted to be great. And he became one. Frank Sinatra spoke of Charles as a genius. Elvis Presley, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Mig Jagger and others popular artists they considered him a teacher whose songs shaped their musical careers.

Ray recorded 70 studio albums, numerous gold records and received 17 Grammy Awards. He himself was surprised at the number of people who gathered at his concerts far beyond America. And this was true. Everyone came to listen to the blind African-American, the father of soul, a brilliant pianist, composer and arranger. What is his secret? In talent, multiplied by sincerity and passion for music.

short biography

Raymond Charles Robinson's life has been a series of losses and victories since childhood. He was born on September 23, 1930 in the southern United States in the town of Albany, Georgia. A couple of months after his birth, the family moved to Greenville, Florida. It was here that the future singer spent his childhood.The family lived in poverty. Raising a son fell on the shoulders of his mother, a fragile and petite woman. The father disappeared at work, and later left the family altogether.

As you know, trouble does not come alone. At the age of 5, Ray began to go blind. Glaucoma developed, as a result of which the boy completely lost his sight two years later. Simultaneously with terrible disease another tragedy occurs. Ray drowns before his eyes younger brother. Until the end of his life, he regretted that he could not save him.

Stopping seeing the world is scary. But not for Ray. Mom prepared the boy for his future life. She told me how to move around the house and how to perform household chores. He washed dishes, chopped wood and did absolutely everything that a sighted person would do. The neighbors condemned my mother for such an upbringing, but Ray was grateful.

There was a cafe near their home in Greenville that often played boogie-woogie. As soon as he heard a familiar melody, the boy dropped everything and ran to a cafe, where he was taught to play the piano.

After losing his sight, his mother sent her son to St. Augustine's School for the Deaf and Blind. Here Ray continued his musical education in Braille. He learned the intricacies of playing the clarinet, saxophone and other instruments, and sang in a Baptist choir. Here he first encountered harsh racism: insults and fights from white students.

At the age of 15, Ray lost his mother. He could not cry, the grief was so great. After this, Charles decides to quit school and go to his mother's friend in Jacksonville. A little later he wanted independence. So he ended up in Orlando, where hunger, poverty, gambling in various cafes and drugs awaited him, addiction to which lasted 17 years.

Ray began performing with the group "The Florida Playboys", which consisted mainly of white performers. One of the members of the lineup liked the performance of the young African-American, and he was offered to replace the pianist.

The dream of having his own group haunted the future father of soul. It's time to take on new heights, as his mother bequeathed to him. He immediately excluded large cities - the probability of remaining a nobody is too great. Ray asked a friend to look on the map for a city that is located on the other side of the country if you draw a straight line from Orlando. Seattle lay ahead.

In Seattle, he begins to record his own songs, adhering to the R&B direction. One of the popular compositions of that time is considered “Baby, let me hold your hand”, which received recognition. Everyone said he sang like Nat "King" Cole. Ray did not deny this, he honed his skills, sang, enjoying his favorite pastime. According to critics, his early songs sounded cold and less emotional. Everything changed in the 50s, when Ray made another important decision in life - to be himself. This is how soul began to appear.

Ray Charles literally merged white and black musical cultures into one. Soul included jazz, rhythm and blues, and black spirituals. Ray changed the pitch of his voice. No imitation, only his own baritone, seasoned with various moans, screams and other sounds. This made his work exceptional, memorable, alive and real.

Under Atlantic Records, Ray Charles recorded one of the most famous songs- "I Got a Woman". The plaintive vocals combined with the horn arrangement gave the composition an emotionality that still touches the heartstrings.

The pinnacle of Ray Charles's success is associated with the release of the album "What'd I Say". It combined gospel, jazz and blues. Despite the popularity of the song of the same name, it was not allowed on the radio. It was considered too sexy because of Ray's characteristic vocals. This is not prevented many performers from including the composition in their repertoire in the future.

Charles later moves to record company ABC, where he begins to earn large fees. This is the time of the hits "Georgia On My Mind" and "Hit the Road Jack". The popularity of the singer and composer is growing, he tours and continues to immerse himself in the world of music as deeply as possible, releasing new hits.

The career decline occurs in the mid-60s. It is connected to an arrest for heroin possession. Medication-assisted rehabilitation helped avoid a prison sentence. He was given a year's probation. The drugs were over.

A genius died musical world at the age of 73, on June 10, 2004, at his home in Beverly Hills, California. Liver disease worsened. After his death, several more albums were released, which received 5 Grammys. The talent of Ray Charles cannot be overestimated; one can only enjoy it and be amazed at its endless energy.

Interesting Facts:

• While blind, Ray rode a bicycle and motorcycle.
• He always shaved in front of the mirror.
• Ray was married twice, although the number of women he was interested in was not limited to two. In total he had 12 children from 9 different women. Subsequently, the heirs gave him 20 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

• In 2004, Ray gave $1 million to each child.
• Charles helped Martin Luther King in the fight against racism. He sponsored the pastor's activities, sending him money from concerts. Ray did not dare to give sermons, he was afraid that he could not restrain himself and “break the woods.”
• The single "Georgia on My Mind" became the official anthem of the state of Georgia - the place where the father of soul was born.
• The song “What"d I Say” is pure improvisation. At one of the concerts, Ray had 10-12 minutes left that needed to be worked out. He asked the women who sang along with him to simply repeat the phrases after him - characteristic church hymns. Thus a new hit was born. After the concert, people came up to him and asked where they could buy the record.
• His most famous hit in America was the song “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” It occupied the leading position for 5 weeks.
• Ray Charles became one of the few black artists to reach number one on the country's music charts.
• As he became famous, he dropped Robinson from his name to avoid confusion with boxer Ray Robinson.
• He underwent hip replacement surgery in the fall of 2003.
• Before each concert, he took a glass of gin and coffee, which gave him courage and enthusiasm.
• In the early 60s, he almost died while flying from Louisiana to Oklahoma City. Ice completely covered the plane's windshield, forcing the pilot to fly at random. After several circles in the air, through a small area on the glass, we managed to see the space around us and land the plane.
• In the early 90s he participated in the Diet Pepsi advertising campaign.

• Ray did not like to communicate with journalists and was reluctant to give autographs due to the fact that he did not see exactly what he would have to leave a signature on.
• His example and resounding success became an inspiration for other blind musicians: Ronnie Milsap and Terry Gibbs.
• Charles's records are included in the Library of Congress.
• In his hometown of Albany, Ray Charles Plaza was opened in 2007 with a round rotating pedestal on which is located bronze sculpture famous piano performer.
• One of Ray's hobbies was chess.
• He was the first to combine rhythm and blues with black church singing.
• Pictured on postage stamps USA, a series dedicated to musical idols.
• Ray Charles received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on December 16, 1981.
• Ray was ranked second in a Rolling Stone magazine poll as the greatest singer of his era. The survey was conducted in 2008.

• He performed at the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan in 1985. This caused a flurry of discontent and is associated with differences in political beliefs. Ray was considered a Democrat and Reagan was considered a Republican. According to the musician's agent, he was simply making money. The fee for the performance was 100 thousand dollars.
• He also performed at Bill Clinton's first inauguration in 1993.
• At one of the concerts in Southern France, a young man climbed onto the stage and began to perform “Mess around”. What did Ray do? He began to accompany the fan.

Ray Charles Robinson, American jazz and country singer, pianist, composer, one of the founders of the soul style, was born in Albany (Georgia) on September 23, 1930. The musician's name can serve as a classic example American dream. We can say that his whole life is inextricably linked with music.

His father, Bailey Robinson, was a mechanic, and his mother worked in a sawmill. During the height of the Great Depression, the family moved to Gainesville, Florida. When Ray was five, his younger brother drowned in the washtub his mother used to do laundry. A year later, Ray became blind. Glaucoma was cited as the cause, but the diagnosis was never properly made. He later recalled that his mother and music saved him. At the age of three, Ray began humming, imitating a tapper from a nearby cafe. He had a talent from God. At a boarding school for deaf and blind children, he simultaneously learned to read words and music using the Braille system. He played many instruments - trumpet, clarinet, organ, saxophone and piano.

After Ray was orphaned at the age of fifteen, he formed his own country band in Florida. Then in 1948 future star succumbed to a sudden impulse, and with the $600 raised he went to the other end of the continent, to Seattle, where he founded the trio Maxim. During this period, Charles began using heroin.

Having settled in Los Angeles in the late 1940s, he recorded his first record. Having signed a contract with the Atlantic record company, Charles released several records, two of which were the rhythm and blues “It Should Have Been Me” and the rock gospel “I Found a Woman” (“I Got a Woman") - hit the charts in 1954, and the singer gained fame as an innovator who transformed the melancholy genre of gospel (religious hymn) into energetic rhythm and blues. Largely thanks to Charles, “black” rock and roll emerged, growing out of traditional blues and gospel.

In the 1950s, Charles released numerous recordings that formed the "canon" corporate identity singer and pianist - “Greenbacks”, “This Little Girl of Mine”, “Hallelujah I Love Her So”, “What Should I Say” (“What`d I Say”), etc.

Realizing that the Atlantic recording studio would always give preference to R$B musicians, Ray Charles decided to change the label and in 1959 signed a contract with the ABC-Paramoumt studio. And already in the early 1960s, his main soul hits were released: “Sticks and Stones”, “Hit the Road, Jack”, “Georgia in My Soul” ( "Georgia On My Mind"), "Ruby" ("Ruby").

In 1959, the song "What'd I Say" made him a star. Some radio stations took her off the air, finding Charles' voice too erotic. Soon he was performing at Carnegie Hall and the Newport Jazz Festival.

It was during this period that the first significant thing came to him when he was chosen as the performer of the anthem American state Georgia, written by Hodja Carmichael - a Broadway classic from the 30s to the 60s. It would seem that the anthem does not imply anything other than a standard patriotic outpouring of feelings. But Charles, performing “Georgia on my mind,” achieves real catharsis. “Georgia on my mind” became a worldwide hit, and the name Georgia became a fashionable female name.

His expressive, cracked voice, virtuoso keyboard playing, and genuine charm as a blind performer earned him love and success among both black and white listeners even at a time when strict racial barriers existed in American show business.

In 1959, his famous “What`d I Say” was released, with which the history of “soul” began - an inimitable combination of rock, r&b, jazz and country.

Over time, the singer's genre range expanded significantly, as his repertoire included new songs from a variety of genres - from country classics to old-fashioned romantic ballads, from rock and roll to modern pop hits.

During those same golden years, Charles recorded the famous version of the Groundhogs' hit "I can't stop loving you", and a little later - his unusual and mysterious variations on the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby" and "Yesterday". The same sincerity of sadness struck the Americans.

Ray Charles himself spoke more modestly about himself. “Music has been in the world for a very long time, and will be after me. I was just trying to leave my mark, to do something good in music.”

Ray Charles (full real name Raymond Charles Robinson) is an outstanding musician who has become a true legend for all connoisseurs of blues, jazz and soul music. His compositions captivate and fascinate, his amazing voice cannot be forgotten.

That is why our today's hero has remained the standard for many, many musicians on our planet for many years in a row, as well as the number one star for all connoisseurs of quality music.

Early years, childhood and family of Ray Charles

Ray Charles was born on September 23, 1930 in Albany, located in central Georgia. His family was very poor, and therefore from a very early age the great musician was accustomed to lack of money and constant deprivation. Ray's father, Bailey Robinson, abandoned the family, leaving his two sons in the care of their mother and grandmother. After this, the unlucky father practically did not take part in the lives of his children, appearing in their house once a year at most.

At the age of five, another serious shock occurred in the life of little Ray Charles. While swimming in a tub, his younger brother George drowned. The child died right before the eyes of the future musician. Five-year-old Ray tried to help his brother, but was unable to pull him out of the deep tub.

This event shocked our today’s hero so much that very soon he began to experience vision problems. By the age of seven, Ray Charles was completely blind. Subsequently, the version about the psychological nature of the musician’s blindness was the most popular among all his fans.

However, many years later, American doctors who examined the musician put forward the version that the loss of vision occurred as a result of glaucoma.

Returning to the topic of the outstanding master’s childhood, we note that the turmoil in the musician’s life did not end there. Already in 1945, the singer lost his mother, thus remaining in the care of his elderly grandmother.

Perhaps it was a series of life blows that laid the foundations for the famous musical style Ray Charles. After all, his music always contained a lot of melancholy and very little joy...

Musical career of singer Ray Charles

Our today's hero began to show interest in musical studies back in early age. While studying at a specialized school in the city of St. Augustine, the talented guy not only quickly mastered the Braille alphabet, but also learned to play the trombone, saxophone, piano, organ and some other instruments perfectly.

Ray Charles. One of the most popular songs.

It was from this moment that his passion for music began. After all, there was essentially nothing else in his life.

At the age of seventeen, our today's hero moved to the large and vibrant Seattle, which at that time was considered the American capital instrumental music. Here such trends as soul, blues and jazz were especially popular. That’s why Ray Charles chose Washington state to continue his musical career.

In Seattle, our today's hero founded his first musical ensemble and soon it became quite popular in the northern United States. Famous performer Lowell Fulson invited him to work together. Subsequently, representatives of well-known record companies also began to approach Ray Charles with offers of long-term cooperation.

Thus, in 1949, our today’s hero recorded his first full-scale hit, “Confession Blues,” which very soon began to be heard even on federal radio stations in America. From that moment on, Ray Charles began to frequently tour various cities in the United States, giving small concerts and recording performances for national television.

Ray Charles - Confession Blues

In 1953, the talented black singer recorded the singles “It Should Have Been Me” and “Mess Around,” which three years later formed the basis of his first solo album, “The Great Ray Charles.”

Throughout his career, our today's hero has released more than a hundred (!) albums, as well as official recordings concert performances. The geography of his tours stretches from the USA to Japan and from Germany to Russia. Many of his compositions - such as “Hit The Road Jack”, “You Are My Sunshine”, “Unchain My Heart” - became immortal hits. That is why the influence of Ray Charles on world music is very difficult to overestimate. As recognized figures in the scene note, it was the music of Ray Charles that laid the foundations for such trends as modern jazz, blues and even rock and R&B.

Ray Charles' awards include his own star on the Walk of Fame, as well as 17 Grammy Awards, the Order of Arts and Letters, the National Medal of Arts and several other awards. Currently, the name of the great musician is listed simultaneously in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in the Jazz Hall of Fame. Several streets in the United States and even an entire post office are named after Ray Charles.

The last years of Ray Charles' life

In the last years of his life, the artist was very ill. In 2002, he began to show symptoms characteristic of liver cancer. At some point, the great musician lost the ability to walk. He managed to speak with great difficulty. However, even despite this, before last days During his life, Ray Charles regularly worked in the studio, recording new tunes and performing keyboard parts for fresh compositions.

On June 10, 2004, the outstanding master of music died at his home in Beverly Hills. Two months after his death, his final album, Genius Loves Company, was officially released in the United States. At the farewell concert, the musician’s songs were performed by BB King, Elton John, Van Morrison and many other outstanding musicians who considered themselves friends and followers of Ray Charles.

Personal life of Ray Charles

Despite the fact that the musician was married only twice, he had many mistresses in his life. Thus, it is known for certain that the mothers of his twelve children (!) are nine (!) different women. Shortly before his death, our today's hero gave each of them one million dollars as a last gift.

The musician spent the last years of his life with a woman named Norma Pinella

Biography of Ray Charles

Real name: Ray Charles Robinson
Date of Birth: September 23, 1930 in the USA, Albany, Georgia
Tools: Piano, saxophone, vocals, keyboards.
Genre: Jazz, soul, rhythm and blues.

Ray Charles's contribution to modern music cannot be overestimated: without Ray Charles, perhaps such performers as Stevie Wonder, Joe Cocker, Manfred Mann, Eric Clapton and many others would not have appeared, considering the blind pianist their spiritual father. In 1994, at the MIDEM festival in Monaco, Ray Charles was awarded a special prize for his contribution to contemporary music.

Ray - a personality from those drummers of musical work who were always bored with being content with what they had, who needed discoveries and constant movement forward. One of the main founders of soul, he successfully expanded the boundaries of rhythm and blues of the 50s with gospel vocals, modern jazz, blues and country. I would like to describe his fate in terms from our half-forgotten Soviet past: a leader, a Stakhanovite and a multi-machine operator. His musical achievements cannot be assessed otherwise: the author of more than 70 studio and concert albums, a composer with 50 years of experience, a charming singer, an excellent pianist, arranger and bandleader. And although the most interesting pages his creative biography were written a long time ago and since the late 60s he rarely managed to capture the imagination of the public, he has remained in excellent performing form for decades, continues to record annually and perform extensively.

Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23, 1930 in Albany, Georgia, in poor family. He never knew his father; his mother raised him and his brother alone. Poverty was soon supplemented by an incurable disease: glaucoma robbed the boy of his sight year after year, and by the age of seven he was completely blind. Shortly before this, little Ray had to endure a terrible shock when his brother drowned before his eyes. He learned to read and write, and then write down notes, using the Braille method. The boy was able to develop his undoubted musical abilities at St. Augustine's school for blind and deaf children. Here he studied the art of composition and mastered musical instruments; the piano, of course, immediately became his favorite. He was only 15 years old when his mother died, leaving him in the care of his estranged father's first wife. Without finishing school, the guy wandered around Florida for several years in search of any job. And having saved a small amount, he crossed the United States and settled in Seattle, where he managed to get a job as an accompanist in local clubs and cafes.

By the end of the 40s, Ray Charles was already collaborating with small record companies and recording smooth compositions, a mixture of pop style and rhythm and blues, which most closely resembled Nat "King" Cole. He accompanied himself on the piano and sang, imitating the style of Charles Brown. In 1951, his song "Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand" gained some fame and appeared in the top ten of the R&B chart. However, Charles's early recordings did little to attract attention. Repeatedly and quite rightly criticized, they sounded colder, more mediocre and much less emotional than the works of his best period, which formed the golden fund of modern music. Although there was no reason to doubt the skill and performing technique of their author.

In the early 50s, the sound of his music changed; he moved from mostly imitative recordings to independent original creativity. The change in playing style and composition was influenced by touring with Lowell Fulson, participation in the backing band of rhythm and blues star Ruth Brown, but primarily by studio work in New Orleans with Guitar Slim Slim). Ray played piano and arranged his famous rhythm and blues hit "The Things That I Used to Do." Slim, this crazy-passionate performer, made an indelible impression on Charles.

Since 1952, the Atlantic Records label began to deal with the musician’s creative affairs, and Only now is Charles finding his true voice. Summarizing the experience of past years and using the best practices, he creates his most popular and iconic hit “I Got a Woman”. In this composition 1955 2010, Ray for the first time felt his unmistakable plaintive vocal style, close to gospel, which was perfectly set off by elastic, upbeat horn arrangements.

The soul style as such did not yet exist in the 50s. Meanwhile, all the work done by the musician during these years was precisely aimed at creating a more refined variety of rhythm and blues, in which all the richness of emotional nuances would be preserved. A number of the most successful songs Ray Charles recorded in the 50s were precisely this sophisticated version of R&B, which would soon be called soul. The biggest hits of his time were “This Little Girl of Mine”, “Greenbacks”, “Drown in My Own Tears”, “Hallelujah I Love Her So”, “ Mary Ann", "Lonely Avenue" and "The Right Time". Black listeners predominated among the musician’s fans, and all of the listed compositions appeared in the Top 10 rating of “black” singles. It took pop music fans many years to appreciate the originality of Charles' sound and skill. The real breakthrough came in 1959, when the artist presented the single “What’d I Say (Part I),” which combined a church atmosphere, successfully conveyed by touching vocals, and the spirit of rock and roll, delivered with the help of an electric piano. Long recognized as a classic, the song “What’d I Say” has been included in the repertoire of an endless number of bands and artists singing in venues ranging from stadiums to restaurants. It was the first single of Charles' career to reach number six on the national pop chart. And one of the last releases under the auspices of Atlantic, which the artist said goodbye to in the late 50s, moving to the ABC label.

Now he was no longer a beginner boy, but famous performer and a mature author who could dictate his terms to the ABC company. One of them—the right to control the artistic level of his recordings—he especially valued. This immediately affected the quality of new publications. If until the early 60s there was not a single truly popular album in the musician’s discography, then already in 1960 the picture changed dramatically. Eight records, released between 1960 and 1963, climbed into the Top 20 of the pop chart, at a time when rhythm and blues albums rarely managed to attract mainstream attention. The excellent long-plays “Genius + Soul = Jazz” and “Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul” do the almost impossible, conquering the 4th and 2nd lines of the national chart.

Things are just as great with the hits. Left at his disposal, Charles knows how to achieve the desired result and, having only slightly polished his rhythm and blues sound, in which he has achieved perfection, he produces a series of hit singles that bring him enormous popularity. The peaks of his career are the famous hits “Georgia On My Mind”, “Hit the Road Jack”, “You Don’t Know Me”. They turned Charles into a world star.

In 1962, he surprised both his newfound fans and the old guard by deciding to delve into country music and the music of the American West in general. And he went deeper so successfully that he released another number one hit, “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” which sold a million copies, and then a wonderful album, “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music,” which ended up being a top hit that same year. -parade. Luxurious arrangements for these compositions were created with the participation of a big band, string orchestra and choir. For those who were intimately familiar with all creative laboratory musician (though there were fewer of them then than we would like), there was nothing surprising in this “renegadeism” of Ray Charles. Restless in his pursuit and open to experimentation, he has always been an eclectic artist, and during his collaboration with Atlantic Records, for example, he repeatedly recorded with famous jazz musicians David Newman, Milt Jackson and others.

If we once again allow ourselves to use Soviet terminology, then Charles can safely be called a sixties man. It was in the 60s that his composing talent flourished; he proved himself to be an exceptionally attractive vocalist and competent arranger. He has the first-class hit singles “Busted”, “You Are My Sunshine”, “Take These Chains From My Heart”, “Crying Time”, “Love Me With All Your Heart”, “Together Again”. Like many of his colleagues, he often recorded cover versions of other artists, among whom the Beatles were especially popular. His covers of "Yesterday" and "Eleanor Rigby" had some success, reaching Top 30 in the US.

The beginning of the 60s also marked the culmination of his relationship with the managers of the Grammy ceremony: seven times in four years he became a laureate of the award. The single “Georgia on My Mind” was awarded for best pop vocal and best pop-rock track, and Charles’ vocal performance on the album “Genius of Ray Charles” was also awarded. And in the category “Best R&B Recording” the artist won four years in a row with the songs “Let the Good Times Roll”, “Hit the Road Jack”, “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and “Busted”.

The rapid development of events slowed down somewhat in 1965, when the musician was arrested for possession of heroin. This could have happened much earlier and at any moment, because his heroin experience totaled almost 20 years. He spent almost a year in prison, but returned in surprisingly good shape and immediately got down to business. In the second half of the 60s, the musician was less interested in rock and soul, and pop melodies and jazz styles took priority. He especially loved the string arrangements, creating a bridge to the lounge. There were few albums that equally combined commercial and creative success. Among the best are the 1966 disc “Crying Time” (Top 20 US) and the finalist of the top five jazz recordings “A Portrait of Ray”. Rock musicians, as has been the custom for a long time, closely followed the creative vicissitudes of Ray Charles and willingly used his findings. Joe Cocker and Steve Winwood, for example, never hid the powerful influence the artist had on shaping their tastes and playing style. The musician's signature phrasing found its successor and modernizer in the person of another charismatic character - Van Morrison.

During the first twenty years of his professional career, Ray Charles reached such heights that seemed to insure him against any vicissitudes of fate. It’s somehow even indecent to criticize him. Charles is the legendary embodiment of American music, and the American Dream for that matter. His artistry has not faded over the years; his characteristic touching vocals have retained all their overtones. But the fact remains: as a composer over the past thirty years he has had practically nothing to boast about. Millions of his fans would react with delight to his return to the soul of the mid-50s and 60s. But for some reason, Charles no longer felt the same passion for soul music that inspired him to create his best songs. The passion for jazz, country and, of course, pop standards won out. He continued to record almost as actively, but did not arouse the same interest among the public. Track "Living" for the City,” winner of the 1975 Grammy for best male vocal in the genre of rhythm and blues, was made, as always, very high quality, but did not captivate the audience.

The singer mastered the country style quite successfully; his 1985 long-play “Friendship” even topped the country chart. A reminder of the true extent of Ray Charles's talent was his participation in the album "We Are The World" (1985) as part of the USA for Africa program. The same periodic successes accompanied him in his jazz excursions, where the album “Ray Charles” (1988) was the most successful. The musician did well in his film debut, playing a small role in famous movie"The Blues Brothers". Finally, his services to the arts were recognized by his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In different parts of the world, Ray Charles had devoted fans who filled thousands of halls, and in live shows he appeared fully armed. Even into his 60s, he remained an amazing vocalist. What the organizers of the Grammy ceremony could not help but admit, who in 1990 awarded the musician for the best duet (track “I’ll Be Good to You”), and in 1993 - for best male vocal in the R&B genre (track “Song for You”, cover of a song by Leon Russell). Delivered in Charles's inimitable style, "Song for You" was featured on the 1993 LP My World, one of the few '90s releases recorded with real inspiration and passion.

With the advent of the CD era, the collected works of Ray Charles were systematically remastered and reissued in different thematic and chronological collections, compilations of concert recordings, rare and unreleased materials appeared - dozens of discs and box sets. In the mid-90s, the musician reminded Americans of himself in another way, one of the most effective: he recorded vocals for several commercials for diet Pepsi. His discography during these years was rarely replenished with new releases. In 1998, Ray Charles released a good blues recording, “Dedicated to You,” and in 2000, he returned to jazz and prepared an interesting tribute to Steve Turre, “In the Spur of the Moment.”

In May 2002, the Roman Colosseum received its first listeners - after a 2000-year hiatus (yes!). The host of the show, which was held in defense of world peace, was none other than Ray Charles. He performed his classic hit “Georgia on My Mind” ". In May 2003, Charles played his 10,000th concert in Los Angeles. That is, for 50 recent years throughout his life he appeared on stage an average of 200 times a year. This would have continued further, but my health had let me down. After hip surgery, the musician spent many months regaining his shape. He had to cancel a number of performances but giving up work completely was beyond his strength. Therefore, the musician continued to prepare a new album, this time a selection of duets with Elton John, Norah Jones, Johnny Mathis and other vocalists. This last album, released after Ray's death in 2004, just went and took almost all the 2005 Grammys in their respective categories.

“The Father of Soul”, who went through the instructive school of life, Ray Charles has sincere fatherly feelings for people who are somehow deprived by fate. In 1987, he allocated a million dollars to create a fund to help the deaf and opened a special clinic for patients with hearing impairment. He not only participated in the fight for civil rights, but also actively financed the activities of Martin Luther King Jr. And in 2003, he sponsored a million dollars to the University of New Orleans to develop a special training course, dedicated to the culture, music, linguistics and cooking of black Americans, their contributions to the life of modern America. It would only be logical if one of the main characters of this course would be Ray Charles Robinson himself.

“Ray, you will forever be in our hearts!”

Ray Charles discography:

• 1956 The Great Ray Charles (Atlantic)
• 1956 The Genius After Hours (Rhino)
• 1957 Ray Charles (Atlantic)
• 1958 Ray Charles at Newport (Atlantic)
• 1958 Yes, Indeed!! (Atlantic)
• 1958 Soul Brothers (Atlantic)
• 1959 What'd I Say (Atlantic)
• 1959 Ray Charles (Xtra)
• 1959 The Fabulous Ray Charles (Hollywood)
• 1959 Ray Charles (Hollywood)
• 1959 The Genius of Ray Charles (Atlantic)
• 1960 Ray Charles in Person (Atlantic)
• 1960 Genius + Soul = Jazz (DCC)
• 1960 Basin Street Blues (ABC)
• 1960 Ray Charles Sextet (Atlantic)
• 1961 Dedicated to You (ABC/Paramount)
• 1961 Ray Charles & Betty Carter (ABC/Paramount)
• 1961 The Genius Sings the Blues (Atlantic)
• 1961 The Do the Twist with Ray Charles! (Atlantic)
• 1961 Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music (Rhino)
• 1961 Soul Meeting (Atlantic)
• 1962 Hit the Road Jack (HMV)
• 1962 The Original Ray Charles London
• 1962 Modern Sounds in Country & Western, Vol. 2 (Rhino)
• 1963 Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul (ABC)
• 1963 I Can't Stop Loving You (HMV)
• 1964 Sweet & Sour Tears (Rhino)
• 1964 Have a Smile with Me (ABC/Paramount)
• 1964 Ballad of Ray Charles (HMV)
• 1965 Live in Concert (ABC)
• 1965 Country & Western Meets Rhythm & Blues (ABC/Paramount)
• 1965 Ballad Style of Ray Charles (HMV)
• 1965 Swinging Style (HMV)
• 1965 Baby Its Cold Outside (HMV)
• 1965 Take These Chains (HMV)
• 1965 Ray Charles Sings (HMV)
• 1965 Cincinnati Kid (MGM)
• 1966 Crying Time (ABC/Paramount)
• 1966 Ray's Moods (ABC/Paramount)
• 1966 Busted (HMV)
• 1967 A Man & His Soul (ABC/Paramount)
• 1967 Ray Charles Invites You to Listen (ABC)
• 1968 Memories of a Middle Aged Man (Atlantic)
• 1969 I'm All Yours-Baby! (ABC/Tangerine)
• 1969 Doing His Thing (ABC/Tangerine)
• 196? Le Grand (Atlantic)
• 1970 My Kind of Jazz (Tangerine)
• 1970 Love Country Style (ABC/Tangerine)
• 1970 Ray Charles (Everest)
• 1971 Volcanic Action of My Soul (ABC/Tangerine)
• 1972 A Message from the People (ABC/Tangerine)
• 1972 Through the Eyes of Love (ABC/Tangerine)
• 1972 Presents the Raelettes (Tangerine)
• 1972 The Original Ray Charles Boulevard
• 1973 Ray Charles Live (Atlantic)
• 1973 Jazz Number II (Tangerine)
• 1973 Genius in Concert L.A. (Bluesway)
• 1974 Come Live with Me (Crossover)
• 1975 Renaissance (Crossover)
• 1975 My Kind of Jazz, Vol. 3 (Crossover)
• 1975 World of Ray Charles, Vol. 2 (Decca)
• 1975 Live in Japan (Crossover)
• 1975 Ray Charles (Up Front)
• 1976 Porgy & Bess (RCA Victor)
• 1977 True to Life (Atlantic)
• 1978 Love & Peace (Atco)
• 1978 Blues (Ember)
• 1978 The Fabulous Ray Charles (Musidisc)
• 1979 Ain't It So (Atlantic)
• 1979 King of the Blues (Ampro)
• 197? Incomparable (Strand)
• 1980 Brother Ray Is at It Again (Atlantic)
• 1980 I Can't Stop Loving You (Pickwick)
• 1982 A Life in Music (Atlantic)
• 1982 I Give You My Love (IMS)
• 1983 Wish You Were Here Tonight (Columbia)
• 1984 Do I Ever Cross Your Mind? (Columbia)
• 1984 Friendship (Columbia)
• 1984 Jammin' the Blues (Astan)
• 1984 C C Rider (Premier)
• 1984 Ray Charles Blues (Astan)
• 1985 The Spirit of Christmas (Rhino)
• 1986 From the Pages of My Mind (Columbia)
• 1987 The Right Time (Atlantic)
• 1988 Just Between Us (Columbia)
• 1988 I Can't Stop Loving You (Colorado)
• 1988 The Love Songs (Deja Vu)
• 1989 18 Golden Hits (SPA)
• 1989 Blues Is My Middle Name Object
• 1990 Would You Believe? (Warner)
• 1993 My World (Warner)
• 1995 It's a Blues (Thing Monad)
• 1996 Strong Love Affair (Warner)
• 1996 Berlin, 1962 (Pablo)
• 1996 Berlin 1962 (Fantasy)
• 1998 In Concert (Rhino)
• 1998 Dedicated to You (Rhino)
• 2000 Sittin' on Top of the World(Pilz)
• 2000 Les Incontournables
• 2004 Genius Loves Company