Soul/R&B Soul/R&B • American
Category: Composers & Musicians
Start: 1930-09-23 · End: 2004-06-10
Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004), universally known as Ray Charles, was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist whose profound impact on 20th-century music is virtually unparalleled. Often hailed by his contemporaries, including Frank Sinatra, as "The Genius," Charles was a transformative figure who seamlessly blended disparate musical traditions, laying the groundwork for soul music and irrevocably altering the landscape of popular music. Among his intimate circle and fellow musicians, he preferred the moniker "Brother Ray," a testament to his approachable yet commanding presence. His life was marked by both profound challenges, including the loss of his vision in childhood, and extraordinary triumphs, culminating in a legacy that continues to resonate across generations. Born in Albany, Georgia, Charles's early life was fraught with hardship, a narrative that would deeply inform the emotional depth of his later musical expressions. His father, Bailey Robinson, a mechanic and railroad worker, abandoned the family when Ray was very young. This left his mother, Aretha Williams, a deeply religious and resilient woman, to raise him in poverty amidst the r…
I was born with music inside me.