Biography of ray charles
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The Story of Ray Charles
As a talented singer, songwriter and composer, Ray Charles captivated the eyes and ears of people around the world. Dubbed the “Father of Soul”, he brought soul music into the mainstream by using a unique blend of R&B, gospel and blues in hits such as “Georgia on My Mind” and “Hit the Road Jack”. In honor of what would have been his 84th birthday, we’re taking a look back at Ray Charles’ story, and how it’s impacted us here at Industries for the Blind – Milwaukee.
Ray Charles Robinson was born September 23, in Albany, Georgia. His mother Aretha was a sharecropper, and his father Bailey worked as a railroad repair man and handyman. At an early age, his vision began to deteriorate, and by age seven, Ray was completely blind. The cause of his blindness was believed to be glaucoma.
Shortly after losing his vision in , Ray Charles was sent to St. Augustine, Florida to attend a special school for the deaf and visually impaired. At that time, the school – wh
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Ray Charles
American musician (–)
For other people named Ray Charles, see Ray Charles (disambiguation).
Ray Charles Robinson[a] (September 23, – June 10, ) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential musicians in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Genius". Among friends and fellow musicians, he preferred being called "Brother Ray".[2][3] Charles was blinded during childhood, possibly due to glaucoma.[4]
Charles pioneered the soul music genre during the s bygd combining elements of blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel into his music during his time with Atlantic Records.[4][5][6] He contributed to the integration of country music, rhythm and blues, and pop music during the s with his crossover success on ABC Records, notably with his two Modern Sounds albums.[7][8] While he was with ABC, Charles
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About
America the Beautiful:
Of All the hundreds of songs he recorded, Ray Charles’ rendition of “America the Beautiful” remains to this day the definitive version of that song.
It exceeds all others in its ability to lift our collective spirits.
Ray Charles recorded the song in In live performances he followed a consistent pattern, of improvisations we associate with gospel and soul music. He added, “I’m talkin’ about America” and “I love America, and you should too,” and “Sweet America,” all passionate accents that indelibly marked the song as a personal tribute to the country he loved so much.
Ray Charles performed “America the Beautiful” on national and international world stages, all by popular demand, from the Major League Baseball World Series to NFL Superbowls, and both summer and winter Olympics. Ray’s “America the Beautiful” hits the right tone of brotherhood and patriotism unlike any other song. It remains one of Ray Charles’ most requested songs, first introduced