American Talent
The Greatest That Made It Great
American ingenuity architects
A chronicle of brilliance
Ray Charles was an early innovator in soul music
The life of Ray Charles is an inspiring tale of perseverance, dedication, and the transformational potential of music. He combined gospel with R&B to create soul music, an influential style in American music to this day. His dedication to overcoming racial barriers, both in and out of the music industry, further solidifies his status as a pivotal player in the development of American culture. Ray Charles was more than just an early innovator in soul music; he is also a genuine cultural icon in the United States.
Ray Charles Robinson, better known by his stage name, Ray Charles, was a pioneer in the music industry and in American popular culture. Soul music was born by his fusion of gospel and blues with jazz and even country influences. Charles never gave up on his pursuit of musical brilliance despite encountering racial hurdles and personal challenges, such as losing his sight at an early age.
Ray Charles was born in 1930 to poor parents in Albany, Georgia, at the height of the Great Depression. At age four, he started having trouble seeing, and by age seven, he was totally blind. But that challenge simply made him more dedicated to music. At the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, he studied piano, Braille music, and radio repair.
Soul's Formative Decades Charles began to mold R&B in the '50s by infusing gospel elements, giving the music a more fervent and dramatic sound. Especially in his first big song, "I Got a Woman," he combined secular words with spiritual music, paving the path for soul.
Charles' music was instrumental in breaking down racial barriers in 1950s America. He proved he could bridge the gap between genres and races by releasing a string of successful country and western albums. His CD "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music," released in 1962, broke down barriers and paved the way for greater musical diversity in the United States.
Charles's activities and legacy are also well-known. In 1961, he defied convention by canceling a performance in Augusta, Georgia after discovering that the crowd would be segregated.
Ray Charles was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and honored with 17 Grammy Awards, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Grammy Legend Award for his significant musical contributions. Countless musicians, from Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder to Billy Joel and Alicia Keys, have acknowledged his impact on their work.
Ray Charles was born in 1930 to poor parents in Albany, Georgia, at the height of the Great Depression. At age four, he started having trouble seeing, and by age seven, he was totally blind. But that challenge simply made him more dedicated to music. At the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, he studied piano, Braille music, and radio repair.
Soul's Formative Decades Charles began to mold R&B in the '50s by infusing gospel elements, giving the music a more fervent and dramatic sound. Especially in his first big song, "I Got a Woman," he combined secular words with spiritual music, paving the path for soul.
Charles' music was instrumental in breaking down racial barriers in 1950s America. He proved he could bridge the gap between genres and races by releasing a string of successful country and western albums. His CD "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music," released in 1962, broke down barriers and paved the way for greater musical diversity in the United States.
Charles's activities and legacy are also well-known. In 1961, he defied convention by canceling a performance in Augusta, Georgia after discovering that the crowd would be segregated.
Ray Charles was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and honored with 17 Grammy Awards, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Grammy Legend Award for his significant musical contributions. Countless musicians, from Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder to Billy Joel and Alicia Keys, have acknowledged his impact on their work.
