Ray Charles, 68,
declares, "I was born with music inside me. Music is nothing separate from me. It is
me
."
This legendary musician, nicknamed "Genius" by an admiring Frank Sinatra, is
an exuberant singer, composer, and arranger of gospel, jazz, soul, rock n
roll, country-western, and rhythm and blues music.
He fondly remembers his familys friend, Wylie Pitman, who encouraged the
curious3-year-old Charles to explore the keys of his piano and learn how to caress music
from them.
When Charles was 5, his little brother drowned in their mothers backyard laundry
tub in spite of Rays frantic efforts to save him. One year later, Charles eyes
began to mysteriously fail him: By the age of 7, Charles was blind. Ray credits his
mother, Aretha Robinson, for preparing her son for a lifetime of independence despite his
sightlessness.
At St. Augustines School for the Blind, Charles encountered racism: Although all
the children were blind, white and black students were separated. Charles studied
classical music, a change for a black, dirt-poor, Georgia country boy whod been
raised on gospel, church, country, and blues "race" music. Charles was 12 when
he began writing music himself.
Charles was 14 when his beloved mother died. After a wise old woman friend persuaded
the devastated youngster his mother wouldve wanted him to persevere and succeed in
life, Charles began his musical career in earnest. Born Ray Charles Robinson, he dropped
his last name, in deference to boxer "Sugar" Ray Robinson.
It would take pages to recount Ray Charles songs. Charles has a star on
Hollywoods Walk of Fame; he has won 12 Grammy awards; he is enshrined in the Rhythm
& Blues, Jazz and Rock & Roll halls of fame.
By Emily L. Bell