Ray Charles songs have won the heart of many, and his music is still heard in every nook and corner of the world.
He had the charisma and enigma to blend the blues and gospel to produce the greatest music of all time.
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From 1960 to 1966, this man bagged 12 Grammy Awards, including the Best R&B recording for three years.
In contrast, this man was famous for his feature as a womanizer. Also, he struggled with heroin addiction for more than 20 years.
Ray Charles songs that are still in the market are Hit the Road, Jack, I Got a Woman, America The Beautiful, Seven Spanish Angels, A Song For You, and many more.
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Quick Facts: Ray Charles
| Full Name | Raymond Charles Robinson |
| Nickname | Brother Ray, The Genius, The High Priest, Ray |
| Date of Birth | September 23, 1930. |
| Birth Place | Albany, Georgia, United States |
| Age | 74 years old (During Death) |
| Died On | 10th June 2004 |
| Sun Sign | Libra |
| Father’s Name | Bailey Robinson |
| Mother’s Name | Aretha Williams |
| Siblings | George Robinson |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in or 175 cm |
| Weight | Not Known |
| Nationality | America |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Ethnicity | Black |
| Body Measurements | Not Known |
| Eye Color | Gray |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Shoe Size | Not known |
| Education | Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind |
| Body Type | Average |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Net Worth | $80 million |
| Social Media Presence | None |
| Last Updated On | February 2023 |
Ray Charles Songs
Ray Charles has left a unfadable print in singing history. With his swift and melodious songs, he earned massive fan followings.
Therefore, some of the best songs Charles has left to this world are;
- Hit the Road Jack
- I Got a Woman
- I Can’t Stop Lovin’ You
- Got A Woman
- A Fool for You
- Greenbacks
- Dont Let The Sun Catch You Cryin’
- Unchain My Heart
- What’d I Say, Pt. 1
- Night Time Is the Right Time
Who Is Ray Charles?
Ray Charles Robinson is a legendary singer who created a unique piece of music and helped in the music industry’s evolution.
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He was born to his mother Aretha Williams and his father Bailey Robinson in Albany, Georgia, United States.
When he was just a kid, his father left the family to settle down with another woman. Therefore his mother single-handedly raised the family.
There is no denying that Ray belonged to a very low-income family. Also, he was blessed to have a brother.
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However, when Charles was a kid of 5 years old, he encountered his brother drown in a tub where his mother used to do the laundry.
He was diagnosed with sightlessness during that time, and after two years, he could not see because of Glaucoma.
Despite all this, his mother never pitied him; in fact, after Aretha knew that he was losing his sight, she assisted him in dealing with things.
Aretha helped young Ray to figure out the environment and find out things. According to reliable sources, he started dabbling with musical instruments at the age of 3.
In terms of education, he has been to the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind located in St Augustine until 1945. After that, Ray started his venture to play the piano music of the great musician J.S. Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart. Ms. Lawrence taught him everything about braille music.
Unfortunately, Charles’s mother died in 1945, and this fact was devastating for this man. As a matter of fact, the death of his mother and brother was a tragic moment in his life.
Ray Charles Obituary
The world bears a great loss in the music industry after Ray was no more. In 2003 he underwent hip replacement surgery.
Although it was successful, he had to bear other ailments. Sadly he died at the age of 73 on June 10, 2004, in Beverly Hills, California. The main cause of his death was recorded as liver failure.
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Eight days later, Charles’s funeral was held at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles. His funeral was attended by B.B. King, Stevie Wonder, Wynton Marshalls, Glen Campbell, and others.
Charles’s last album happens to be Genius Loves Company, where he had duets with several other singers and admirers.
Some of them include Van Morrison, Elton John, James Taylor, B.B King, Wilie Nelson, Gladys Knight, Norah Jones, Michael McDonald, and Bonn, to mention a few.
Ray Charles Wife
Apart from playing and songwriting, this man spent the remaining time with other women. Although he had a reputation for being a womanizer, Ray had only two wives.
He fell in love with his first wife, Eileen Williams, in 1951. Eventually, they walked down the aisle in the same year and parted in 1952.
During their time together, they did not have any kids. Later in 1954, Ray bumped into a beautiful girl Della Robins whom he called Bea.
They tied the knot in 1955, and they were together for more than 22 years. The only hurdle in their marriage was Ray’s addiction.
Despite all this, Robins gave birth to her first kid in 1955 named Ray Jr. Three years later, David was born in 1958, and Robert was born in 1960.
Although he was committed to Della, he still had an affair with another woman. According to some sources, his first child was born in 1949 to a girl named Evelyn.
In addition to this, Ray’s affair with Margie Hendricks lasted for six years. In 1959, his son Charles Wayne was born while Charles was still married to Della.
Moving on, Mae Mosley gave birth to his daughter Renee in 1961, and daughter Sheila from Sandra Jean Betts.
Similarly, Mary Chantal Bertrand gave birth to his child Alexandra in 1968 and Reatha in 1966. Likewise, in 1977, Arlette Kotchounian gave birth to a son named Vincent.
That is also the year when Bea finally divorced this musician. In total, Ray had relationships with 10 different women and had 12 children.
Ray Charles Net Worth
A musician, singer, and philanthropist by profession, Ray made tremendous money from his work. At the time of Charles’s demise, he had a total net worth of $75 million. After Ray’s death, his children each received a sum of $500,000 from their father’s wealth.
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In addition to this, they will also receive intellectual property and royalties from their father’s work. Moreover, his children argued that master recording and other IP assets should be worth $50 million and not $25 million.
Social Media Presence
There is no doubt that Ray is not active on any social media platforms.
Interesting Facts about Ray Charles
- As a child, Ray suffered from Glaucoma, which made him totally sightless at seven.
- He was very poor during his childhood.
- Charles lost his young brother at the age of 5, got blinded at age 7, and was orphaned at 15.
- U.S. President Richard Nixon adored Ray very much.
- Due to his Exquisite musical talent, Ray was named The Genius, The High Priest of Soul, and many more.
FAQs
What caused Ray Charles to go blind?
A disease called juvenile glaucoma was the cause behind Ray Charles blindness.
Was Ray Charles born blind and deaf?
By birth, Charles was not blind but the diseased glaucoma was the cause of his blindness at the age of four. Also, he was never deaf.
Was Ray Charles completely blind?
Yes, Ray was completely blind.
What is Ray Charles most famous for?
Ray Charles was famous for producing unimaginable songs.
