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Artist

Ray Charles [US1]

visual
Aliases
Ray Charles
Ray Charles and His Band
Ray Charles and His Orchestra
Ray Charles Trio
Ray Charles with Orchestra & Chorus
Real name
Raymond Charles Robinson
Born
September 23, 1930
Died
June 10, 2004
Country
United States
IPI
00005905501 51 works
00026286484 3 works
00060773970 2 works
Affiliation
ASCAP, BMI
Comments
Genre-crossing R&B singer and pianist most popular in the period of 1954 to 1967. Charles was completely blind by age seven, presumably from untreated glaucoma. In the mid-1950s until the early-1960s, Charles wrote a good number of songs, but thereafter he was much more an interpreter of others' works. Charles was arrested three times on drug charges and struggled with heroin addiction, which he was able to kick in 1966.
Charles was much-honored, including, among others, induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class in 1986 and receipt of the National Medal of Arts in 1993. His version of "Georgia on My Mind" became the official song of the State of Georgia in April 1979.
Member of
USA for Africa (1985)
Related
The Maxim Trio
Margie Hendrix
The Raylettes
Not to be confused with
Ray Charles [US2] Leader of the Ray Charles Singers
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