Ray Charles (1930–2004,) born Ray Charles Robinson, was an American pianist and singer. Often called the “Father of Soul,” he drew from rhythm-and-blues, jazz, and gospel music to create a new kind of African-American music known as soul. He is remembered for such beloved songs as “What’d I Say” (1959) and “Georgia on My Mind” (1960.)
Born in Albany, Georgia, Charles contracted glaucoma at the age of five, which soon left him completely blind. He learned to read Braille, studied music composition, and mastered many instruments (trumpet, alto saxophone, clarinet, organ, and piano.) After relocating to Seattle, he played in several jazz trios before recording and gaining fame.
Charles’s musical versatility and his achievements celebrate him as one of the most important and influential American musicians of all time. He died in the same year that the award-winning biopic Ray (2004) was released.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Ray Charles
I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great.
—Ray Charles
Topics: Greatness, Greatness & Great Things
I’m not into the money thing. You can only sleep in one bed at a time. You can only eat one meal at a time, or be in one car at a time. So I don’t have to have millions of dollars to be happy. All I need are clothes on my back, a decent meal, and a little loving when I feel like it. That’s the bottom line.
—Ray Charles
Topics: Money
With singing, the name of the game is to make yourself believable. When somebody hears you sing a song and they say, Oh, that must have happened to him, that’s when you know you’re transmitting. It’s like being a good actor. You make people feel things, emotions, and whatnot. But you gotta start with yourself. You got to feel it yourself. If you don’t feel it, how do you expect someone else to?
—Ray Charles
Don’t go backwards, you have already been there.
—Ray Charles
There’s nothing written in the Bible, Old or New testament, that says, “If you believe in Me, you ain’t going to have no troubles.”
—Ray Charles
Topics: Trials, Justice
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