His releases in the 1960s and '70s were hit-or-miss, but he remained one of music's most respected stars. Later CareerĬharles avoided jail after his arrest for possession by finally kicking the habit at a clinic in Los Angeles. In 1965, Charles was arrested for possession. He continued to battle with heroin addiction. While thriving creatively, Charles struggled in his personal life. On this album, he gave his own soulful interpretations of many country classics. Charles broke down the boundaries of music genres in 1962 with Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. The year 1960 brought Charles his first Grammy Award for 'Georgia on My Mind,' followed by another Grammy for the single 'Hit the Road, Jack.' For his day, he maintained a rare level of creative control over his own music. 1 on the R&B chart with his hit 'What'd I Say.' Charles' biggest success was perhaps his ability to cross over into pop music too, reaching No. By the late 1950s, Charles began entertaining the world of jazz, cutting records with members of the Modern Jazz Quartet.įellow musicians began to call Charles 'The Genius,' an appropriate title for the ramblin' musician, who never worked in just one style, but blended and beautified all that he touched (he also earned the nickname 'Father of Soul'). His fusion of gospel and R&B helped to create a new musical genre known as soul. The song reflected an advance in his musical style. He celebrated his first R&B hit single with the label, 'Mess Around.' Critical Acclaim: 'The Genius'Ī year later, Charles' now classic song, 'I Got a Woman,' reached No.

More success on the R&B charts followed with 'Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand' and 'Kissa Me Baby.' By 1953, Charles landed a deal with Atlantic Records. In 1949, he released his first single, 'Confession Blues,' with the Maxin Trio. Charles later developed his distinctive sound. His early playing style closely resembled the work of his two major influences - Charles Brown and Nat King Cole. Charles performed with the McSon Trio in 1940s. There, he met a young Quincy Jones, a friend and collaborator he would keep for the rest of his life. While on the road, he picked up a love for heroin.Īt the of age 16, Charles moved to Seattle. Musical EvolutionĬharles' mother died when he was 15, and for a year he toured on the 'Chitlin' Circuit' in the South. The breadth of his musical interests ranged widely, from gospel to country, to blues. He also learned to play piano, organ, sax, clarinet and trumpet. Augustine, Florida - where he learned to read, write and arrange music in Braille. He was blind by the age of 7, and his mother sent him to a state-sponsored school, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Soon after his brother's death, Charles gradually began to lose his sight. One of the most traumatic events of his childhood was witnessing the drowning death of his younger brother. His father, a mechanic, and his mother, a sharecropper, moved the family to Greenville, Florida when he was an infant. Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23, 1930, in Albany, Georgia. Often called the 'Father of Soul,' Charles combined blues, gospel and jazz to create groundbreaking hits such as 'Unchain My Heart,' 'Hit the Road Jack' and 'Georgia on My Mind.' He died in 2004, leaving a lasting impression on contemporary music. It is also notable, and fitting, as the final album Ray Charles ever recorded.Ray Charles was a legendary musician who pioneered the genre of soul music during the 1950s. This duet album features collaborations with some of the biggest names in music like Norah Jones, James Taylor, BB King, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt and more. It sold over 200,000 copies in the US alone during it’s first week of release and went on to Triple Platinum status. One of the most the most popular and commercially successful albums of Ray Charles’ illustrious career, Genius Loves Company reached #1 on the Billboard 200, and won 8 Grammy Awards including Album of the Year and Record of the Year in 2005.

Ray charles genius loves company