Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was a singer, songwriter, and pianist from the United States.
He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history and was often referred to as “The Genius” by his contemporaries. He preferred the moniker “Brother Ray” among his friends and fellow musicians. Charles was blinded as a child, possibly as a result of glaucoma.
During the 1950s, Charles pioneered the soul music genre by fusing blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel styles into the music he recorded for Atlantic Records. With his crossover success on ABC Records, particularly with his two Modern Sounds albums, he helped to integrate country music, rhythm and blues, and pop music during the 1960s. During his time at ABC, Charles became one of the first black musicians to be granted artistic control by a major record label.
Charles’s 1960 hit “Georgia On My Mind” was the first of three Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits in his career. His 1962 album Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music became his first Billboard 200 chart-topper. Charles had 44 singles reach the Top 40 on the US R&B singles chart, 11 on the Hot 100 singles chart, and two on the Hot Country singles charts.
Was Ray Charles born blind and deaf?
Charles was not born blind but began losing his vision at the age of four due to glaucoma, which was later diagnosed.
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