3/7/18 Ray Charles
One of my favorite artists of all time, Ray Charles was a pioneer of soul music, integrating R&B, gospel, pop and country to create hits like “What I’d Say,” "Hit the Road Jack" and "Georgia on My Mind." A blind genius, he is considered one of the greatest artists of all time. Charles's mother died when he was 15, and for a year he toured on the "Chitlin' Circuit" in the South. One of my favorite songs by him being his duet with Willie Nelson "Seven Spanish Angels".
At the of age 16, Charles moved to Seattle. There, he met a young Quincy Jones, a friend and collaborator he would keep for the rest of his life. Charles performed with the McSon Trio in 1940s. His early playing style closely resembled the work of his two major influences—Charles Brown and Nat King Cole. Charles later developed his distinctive sound. In 1949, he released his first single, "Confession Blues," with the Maxin Trio. The song did well on the R&B charts. 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. He celebrated his first R&B hit single with the label, "Mess Around."
A year later, Charles's now classic song, "I Got a Woman," reached No. 1 on the R&B charts. The song reflected an advance in his musical style. He was no longer a Nat King Cole imitator. His fusion of gospel and R&B helped to create a new musical genre known as soul. By the late 1950s, Charles began entertaining the world of jazz, as well as country and blues. Fellow musicians began to call Charles "The Genius," an appropriate title for the talented musician, who never worked in just one style, but blended and beautified all that he touched (thus earning him the nickname the “Father of Soul"). Charles's biggest success was perhaps his ability to cross over into pop music too, reaching No. 6 on the pop chart and No. 1 on the R&B chart with his hit "What'd I Say."
In 1960, Charles brought home his first Grammy Award for "Georgia on My Mind," followed by another Grammy for his single "Hit the Road, Jack." Even today, he maintains a rare level of creative control over his own music. Charles broke down the boundaries of music genres in 1962 with Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. On this album, he gave his own soulful interpretations of many country classics.
Charles passed away in 2004, at the age of 73, leaving a lasting impression on contemporary music. Ray Charles still serves as an inspiration to many young artists, never letting his blindness keep him back from doing what he loved. Everyone needs a challenge in their life, and while some are greater than others, that challenge is what keeps us going.
At the of age 16, Charles moved to Seattle. There, he met a young Quincy Jones, a friend and collaborator he would keep for the rest of his life. Charles performed with the McSon Trio in 1940s. His early playing style closely resembled the work of his two major influences—Charles Brown and Nat King Cole. Charles later developed his distinctive sound. In 1949, he released his first single, "Confession Blues," with the Maxin Trio. The song did well on the R&B charts. 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. He celebrated his first R&B hit single with the label, "Mess Around."
A year later, Charles's now classic song, "I Got a Woman," reached No. 1 on the R&B charts. The song reflected an advance in his musical style. He was no longer a Nat King Cole imitator. His fusion of gospel and R&B helped to create a new musical genre known as soul. By the late 1950s, Charles began entertaining the world of jazz, as well as country and blues. Fellow musicians began to call Charles "The Genius," an appropriate title for the talented musician, who never worked in just one style, but blended and beautified all that he touched (thus earning him the nickname the “Father of Soul"). Charles's biggest success was perhaps his ability to cross over into pop music too, reaching No. 6 on the pop chart and No. 1 on the R&B chart with his hit "What'd I Say."
In 1960, Charles brought home his first Grammy Award for "Georgia on My Mind," followed by another Grammy for his single "Hit the Road, Jack." Even today, he maintains a rare level of creative control over his own music. Charles broke down the boundaries of music genres in 1962 with Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. On this album, he gave his own soulful interpretations of many country classics.
Charles passed away in 2004, at the age of 73, leaving a lasting impression on contemporary music. Ray Charles still serves as an inspiration to many young artists, never letting his blindness keep him back from doing what he loved. Everyone needs a challenge in their life, and while some are greater than others, that challenge is what keeps us going.
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