Biography
"I was born with music inside me. That's the only explanation I know of," Ray Charles wrote in his 1978 autobiography, Brother Ray. "Music was one of my parts...like my blood... Like my blood. It was a force already with me when I arrived on the scene. It was a necessity for me, like food or water." As one of the most original American recording artists to emerge in the 20th century, Charles' music got into the blood of generations of admirers …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
2004 | Released final album "Genius Loves Company," a CD of duets with such performers as Elton John, Norah Jones and Willie Nelson is released a few months after his death; received seven Grammy nominations | |
2002 | Released "Thanks For Bringing Love Around Again" which included a new version of his first big pop success, 'What I'd Say' | |
1990 | Made appearances in the Diet Pepsi TV ads, along with his Rayettes; making a catchphrase of "You've got the right one baby, uh-huh."; was named the best commercial in the world | |
1988 | Appeared for the first time with the New York City Ballet, which choreographed dances to some of his classics | |
1986 | January, 1986, became one of the original inductees into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | |
1985 | Contributed to the historic "We Are The World" recording to benefit USA for Africa, which raised many millions to help feed Africa's starving | |
1984 | Made a successful return to country music with the release of "Friendship," an album of duets | |
1982 | Was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame | |
1980 | Made a cameo appearance as himself in "The Blues Brothers" which starred John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd | |
1966 | Released the hits "Crying Time," and his final R&B No. 1, "Let's Go Get Stoned" | |
1965 | Contributed to the soundtracks of two major films, "The Cincinnati Kid" (1965) and "In The Heat of the Night" (1967) | |
1962 | Released an album of country music, "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music," which broke new ground by combining soul and country music | |
1959 | Had a top 10 hit, "What'd I Say," which led to an appearance at New York's Carnegie Hall, and a contract from ABC-Paramount Records | |
1953 | Played piano on Guitar Slim's "The Things That I Used to Do," which sold more than a million copies | |
1952 | Signed with Atlantic Records and began recording and touring regularly | |
1951 | The McSon Trio released several singles including "Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand," which hit the U.S. R&B chart | |
1947 | Formed the McSon Trio with two other musicians, a group modeled on the Nat King Cole jazz group; signed with the Swingtime label, and recorded their first single, "Confession Blues," which Charles wrote | |
1945 | Left school at the age of 15, and joined dance bands in Florida | |
1937 | Entered the St. Augustine School for the Deaf and Blind as a charity student, studied classical piano and clarinet, and learned to read and write music in Braille | |
| Started playing the piano at the age of 3; began losing his sight about 5 years old and by the time he was 7, he was totally blind | ||
Awards
2004 | Grammy Award for Album Of The Year |
2004 | Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance |
2004 | Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals |
2004 | Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album |
2004 | Grammy Award for Record Of The Year |
1993 | Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male |
1990 | Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals |
1988 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance In a Variety or Music Program in Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration |
1975 | Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male |
1966 | Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording |
1966 | Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Male or Female |
1963 | Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording |
1962 | Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording |
1961 | Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording |
1960 | Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Pop Single Artist |
1960 | Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Performance |
1960 | Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance Album, Male |
1960 | Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance Single Record or Track, Male |