Ray Charles

Ray Charles (Ray Charles Robinson) called “The Genius” (genius) (September 23rd 1930 - June 10th 2004) is a Chanteur and American Pianiste of Jazz, Gospel, Blues, Country, Rhythm and blues (origins of R&B) and style which it popularized: the Drunk.

Biography

Youth

Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23rd, 1930 in a family very poor from Albany in Georgia and was raised by her mother with Greenville in Florida. It has a difficult childhood, indeed, after having attended impotent the drowning of his young three year old brother, it contracts an eye disease (it is thought that it is a Glaucome) at the four years age. At seven years, its Cécité is complete and it is placed in an specialized establishment.

It is in this school that, nine years during, he learns the composition, as well as the practice of several instruments, of which the Piano and the Saxophone viola. Although musical teaching that it receives there is primarily traditional, its preferences go as of this time to the musics of its childhood: the Gospel, the Blues and the Jazz and the Country.

Fifteen years old, it loses his mother and decides to leave the institution. It is made lodge by a friend of its mother with Jacksonville, where it starts to work as musician. It tries then its chance with Orlando, then with Tampa, where it gains with large-sorrow what to survive while playing of the piano in dance bands.

Its beginnings

It is only in 1947, after having crossed all the country to settle with Seattle, which it starts to occur in the clubs as singer, with its own training. It is there that it meets Quincy Jones, with which it binds friendship. After several discs without success, it records “ Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand ”, which is placed in the first places of R&B charts in 1951. It then starts to forge its musical personality, moving away little by little from its first influences, Nat King Cole and Charles Brown.

Helped by Atlantic Records, its recording company, which leave him any freedom of creation, Ray Charles will know one decade of success. The first hit which it records is “ Mess Around ”, written by Ahmet Ertegün, its producer and founder of Atlantic Records. It composes its first large hit “ I Got has Woman ”. Come then “ Hallelujah I Coils Her So ”, “ Drown in My Own Tears ”, “ This Little Girl off Mine ”, “ The Right Time ” placed very well in the R&B charts. It is necessary to await the exit of “ What' D I Say ” in 1959, first hit in the Pop charts, so that success is complete.

The confirmation

Firmly decided to continue his opening in direction of the pop market, the singer leaves Atlantic for ABC Paramount in 1959, more capable to offer a footbridge to him towards the public of the White. Thus “ Georgia One My Mind ”, “ Hit the Road Jack ” and “ I Edge' T Stop Loving You ” will follow one another between 1960 and 1962 in the first place of the pop charts, whereas other titles like “ One Mint Julep ”, “ Unchain My Heart ” or “ You Are My Sunshine ” continue to culminate in the R&B charts. Ray Charles concretizes the dream of many artists Soul: The “crossover”, touch at the same time white public and black public.

Large Ray Charles

The businesses go then so much well for Ray Charles that, associated with its manager Joe Adams, it assembles his own production company “Ray Charles Enterprises”. It is also unfortunately a period when it must face serious problems of dependence to the Héroïne. In spite of a small bad patch, Ray Charles returns in force in 1966, with “ Let' S Go Get Stoned ”. After some songs with the still honourable results (of which its resumptions of “ Yesterday ” and “ Eleanor Rigby ” of the Beatles), it disappears little by little from the charts.

During years 1980, it makes some sporadic appearances, at the time of events such as film “ The Blues Brothers ” or the song “ We Are the World ” for the benefit of the USA for Africa. In spite of many changes of recording companies, it does not obtain any more but from modest successes. Only exception, its duet with Chaka Khan in 1989, “ I' L Be Good to You ”, which briefly reconciles it with the pop charts.

Ray Charles inlassablement continues to turn in the whole world to closed counter near her public of amateur until old advanced in spite of a disaffection of the general public.

It is rewarded for twelve Grammy Award S, among the very many rewards and distinctions which it receives during its career counts. It is one of the first to enter to the Rock' Roll Hall off Famed in 1986. It receives the medal of Chevalier of Arts and Lettres this same year and the song “ Georgia One My Mind ” is devoted official Hymne State of Georgia in 1979.

Disappearance

He dies in 73 years of a disease of the Foie, on June 10th, 2004, in his house of Beverly Hills and rests with the cemetery of Inglewood in California. June 10th as from 10 p.m., is one hour after the advertisement of its disappearance, France Info pays homage to him by diffusing all the night its songs, up to six hours the following day. In the same way the radio TSF, station of jazz, devoted one day whole to him.

The following day, the titles of the French national press also paid homage to Genius, Libération titrating " No more Ray " , Le Monde " Ray Charles, the death of Genius ". To note that it was the first time since its creation which the newspaper Le Monde put in one of its newspaper the death of a personality other than political. Elsewhere, the death of Ray Charles was somewhat eclipsed, in particular with the the United States, because she was announced the day before national funeral of the president Ronald Reagan. Thus, by respect towards the 40e President of the United States, there was no official reaction the shortly after its death. It is only the day of its burial, on June 18th, which George W. Bush returned homage to the one of the largest American artists.

Many artists greeted his death. One can quote personalities of the music like Willie Nelson, Quincy Jones, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Neil Young, Norah Jones, Elton John, or Stevie Wonder.

Married twice, it had twelve children: Ray Jr, David, Robert, Charles, Alexandria, Reatha, Robyn, Evelyn, Raenee, Sheila, Vincent and Corey.

Catalog of films

2005 : Ray of Taylor Hackford with Jamie Foxx in the role of Ray Charles

This film left to France the February 23rd 2005, recalls its life of its beginnings to Seattle until the resolution of its problems of Drogue at the end of the Années 1960. Jamie Foxx, which incarnates Ray Charles, receives the Oscar better actor in 2005 for his performance. It dedicates its price to Ray Charles who had personally chosen it for the role. The film, also named in the " category; Better film " , the Oscar better original band gains. It also turned in The Blues Brothers (1980) where it had an enormous success.

Discography

Albums

1957 - The Great Ray Charles
1958 - Drunk person Brothers
1958 - Yes Indeed!
1959 - The Genius Off Ray Charles
1960 - The Genius Hits the Road
1960 - Dedicaced to You
1961 - Drunk person Meeting
1961 - C the Twist With Ray Charles
1961 - The Genius After Hours
1961 - Ray Charles and Betty Casing
1961 - Genius + Drunk = Jazz
1962 - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (flight 1 and 2)
1962 - Spotlight One
1963 - Ingredients in has recipe for drunk
1964 - Sweet & Sour Tears
1964 - Cuts has Smile With Me
1965 - Country & Wester Meets Rhythm & Blues
1966 - Crying Time
1966 - Ray' S Mood
1967 - Invites You to Listen
1967 - has Man and His Soul
1967 - Doing His Thing
1969 - I' m All Yours Baby
1970 - My Kind Of Jazz
1971 - Volcanic Action Off My Soul
1972 - Through The Eyes Of Coils
1972 - has Message From The People
1974 - As Live With Me
1976 - Porgy And Bess
1977 - True To Life
1978 - Coils & Peace
1980 - Brother Ray Is At It Again
1982 - Wish You Were Young stag Tonight
1984 - Friendship
1984 - C I Ever Cross-country race Your Mind
1985 - The Spirit Of Christmas
1986 - From The Pages Off My Mind
1990 - Would You Believe
1993 - My World
1996 - Strong Coils Affair
2002 - Thanks For Bringing Love Around Again
2004 - Genius Loves Company

Live

1958 - Ray Charles At Newport
1959 - What' D I Say
1965 - Live In Concert
2002 - Live At The Montreux Jazz Festival
2004 - Live At The Olympia 20 (Germany)

Sound extracts

Georgia One My Mind
I can' T stop loving you

See Too

External bonds

Official site of Ray Charles
Official site of the Ray film (realized in 2004)

Simple: Ray Charles Zh-min-nan: Ray Charles

Random links: