Ray Charles – Forgotten Genius

Only a handful of musicians are blessed with the ability, imagination and raw talent to alter music indefinitely. Mozart transformed structures, Elvis wooed the world with his showmanship and charisma, while Wilson constructed unbelievable layers. Ray Charles has never been grouped with such leading luminaries, but has anyone had a bigger impact on modern day music, including blues, jazz, R&B, rock, country and pop?

Ray was one of the original inductees into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and in 1994 received his 12th Grammy Award. When Quincy Jones wanted to learn how to write music he went to Ray. The range of emotion from song to song is more extensive than any other artist, with the heartfelt "Georgia on My Mind" to the pure happiness of "Hallelujah I Love Her So". Obviously this type of genius is natural, but circumstance and hard work are required to home this talent. So what made Ray Charles such a genius?

Ray was born Ray Charles Robinson (changing his name in his early twenties so not to be confused with the Boxer Sugar Ray Robinson), September 1930 Georiga USA, and sorrow found him quickly. Around the age of five Ray and his younger brother where playing in the backyard. His brother fell into a metal washtub full of water. After realising his brother wasn’t playing and was in serious trouble Ray tried to pull him out, but by that time his clothes were soaking wet and he was just to heavy to pull out. He died before his mother could rescue him.

Ray was afflicted by glaucoma and was left totally blind by the age of seven. As his mother was aware he would become blind she conditioned him, reducing the trauma of losing his sight. He began his education at St. Augustine’s school for the blind, where he learned to play several instruments. As he needed his fingers to read the music, he was forced to learn music quickly, repeat it in his mind, and then play the instrument.

Already you can see the type of circumstance that made Ray such a legend. With the inbred genius bubbling deep down below, Ray encountered unbelievable pain at an early age, with music becoming his crouch. You can easily understand why his songs are so emotional, which makes them so intense. With his love for music he played as much as he could, on any instrument, giving him the type of insight and experience that many artists never have. With the need to memorise music Ray had the skill to listen to music in his head, without even playing an instrument, with Ray once stating "I can sit at my desk and write a whole arrangement in my head and never touch the piano".

Apart from a heroin addiction in the late sixties Ray always moved forward. In his career he made music with "ABC Paramount" and "Atlantic records". He Had made 3 number one hits, and over 20 top ten records. Ray has collaborated with Billy Joel, Betty Carter, INXS, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and even CLINT EASTWOOD! Ray released "Modern Sounds in Country and Western", with Willie Nelson claiming Ray has had a greater impact on country and western than any other artist. Ray even advertised Pepsi.

So in the future, when your sitting around discussing music and its royalty, just remember BB Kings ultimate praise; "Ray is a genuine genius, not only because he is an educated and brilliant musician, but because he can take his music in so many directions."