Ray Charles is one of the greatest figures in post-war black music. His music was a bold fusion of gospel, blues and soul and later, even country music. His sharp grip on the business side of his career was in stark contrast to many artists who were victims of unscrupulous entrepreneurs in the 50s. His story is part and parcel of the American dream, - rags to riches and triumph over tragedy. In addition, his singing inspired a generation of white singers including Steve Winwood and Joe Cocker.



Ray Charles Robinson was born on 23 September, 1930 in Albany, Georgia. He was born into extreme poverty in Georgia and grew up in Greenville Florida. In a childhood that would have broken lesser men, Ray witnessed his younger brother's death from drowning in a water tub, and he was blinded by glaucoma by the age of 7. By the age of 15 he had lost his mother, Aretha. He learned to read and write music in Braille learning classical and jazz piano at a special school.



After playing in local dance, jazz and even country bands in Florida, Ray Charles (He dropped the Robinson part of his name in deference to champion boxer Sugar Ray Robinson) moved to Seattle in 1948. He made his first recordings with the McSon Trio playing nightclub covers of Nat King Cole hits and original recordings, including 1951 hit, Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand. In 1952 Charles signed to Atlantic Records. The following year he played on and produced Guitar Slim's The Things I Used To Do. This impassioned blues performer with gospel fervour greatly influenced Charles who went on to form his own first small group, with David Fathead Newman on tenor sax. The line-up of piano, bass, drums, two trumpets and two saxes became the model for all great R&B and blues bands to follow. The result was fully realized on Ray's 1954 single, I Got A Woman, a song soaked in the fervour of the church but still salacious enough to be daring. Further hits of the time included Mess Around, Lonely Avenue and Hallelujah I Love Her So in 1956. A year later Ray perfectly simulated the call and response of the preacher and congregation by adding a female vocal trio, The Raelettes. The new sound was showcased on the 1959 hit single What'd I Say (Part 1). In the same year Charles also had hits with string soaked ballads such as Drown In My Own Tears and even a minor country and western hit with a cover of Hank Snow's I'm Movin' On.