American singer, songwriter, and pianist Ray Charles Robinson Sr. was born on September 23, 1930, and he passed away on June 10, 2004.
He was frequently referred to by his contemporaries as “The Genius” and is recognized as one of the most recognizable and influential vocalists in history. He favored the moniker “Brother Ray” when referring to friends and other musicians. Charles lost his sight as a toddler, possibly from glaucoma.
During the 1950s, Charles pioneered the soul music genre by fusing blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel styles into the music he recorded for Atlantic Records. With his crossover success on ABC Records, particularly with his two Modern Sounds albums, he helped to integrate country music, rhythm and blues, and pop music during the 1960s. During his time at ABC, Charles became one of the first black musicians to be granted artistic control by a major record label.
Charles’s 1960 hit “Georgia On My Mind” was the first of three Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits in his career. His 1962 album Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music became his first Billboard 200 chart-topper. Charles had 44 singles reach the Top 40 on the US R&B singles chart, 11 on the Hot 100 singles chart, and two on the Hot Country singles charts.
Ray Charles married his first wife, Eileen Williams, on July 31, 1951.
Unfortunately, the marriage lasted only a year before they divorced in 1952. He didn’t marry again until 1955, making it his longest marriage, lasting 22 years.
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