Ray Charles
by:
Melissa Pate
Stacy Johnson
Vicki Steele
Family Background
Born Ray Charles Robinson
September 23, 1930, in Albany, GA
 Firstborn of Aretha and Baily
Robinson
 Born into a very poor family
 Moved to Greenville, FL
Death of Brother


Musical Influences During
Childhood
Wylie Pittman
 Owned the Red Wing Café

Artie Shaw
 A great clarinet player
 http://swingera.net/plimage07.html


The Grand Old Opry
Music of his community
 Church gospel
 Country and Western
 Blues
 Muddy Waters
 Blind Boy Fuller
Artie Shaw
Blind Boy Fuller
– http://ubl.artistdirect.com/music/artist/card/0%2C%2C433330%2C00.html
 Tampa Red
Education

St. Augustine’s School for the Blind
 Began attending at age 7
 Learned the correlation between mathematics
and music.
 Learned to read Braille
 Learned to compose and arrange music
 Left the school at age 15 after his mother’s
death
First Jobs
Musicians he played
with
– Henry Washington
– Joe Anderson
– The Florida
Playboys
 Learned to yodel
 Played dance halls
 Thompson sisters

The Turning Point

The move to Seattle
– Recognized at talent show by Elks Club

Elks Club
– Made the McSon Trio
 Gossady McGee, Milt Jarret
– 1st black group with T.V. show in Pacific Northwest

Rocking Chair
– Left Elk’s Club and played at this club
– Recognized by Jack Lauderdale of Swing Time Records
Musical Influences
Charles Brown
incredible piano skills
laid-back voice
Nat King Cole
Guitar Slim
pop singer
blues guitar player
throaty singer
Art Tatum
pianist
jazz musician
Louis Jordan
saxophonist
Early Recording Career

Recorded with Swingtime
– Recorded in L.A.
1st radio hit
 Baby, Let me hold your hand
 I Love You, I Love You
 Confession Blues

Recorded with Atlantic
– Stopped imitating Nat King Cole
 I Got a Woman
– Transforms the Cookies into the Raelettes
 Margie Hendrix, Ethel (Darlene) McCrae and Pat Lyles

Signed with ABC in 1959

http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=Xz67zd9AcA&
EAN=76119115423&ITM=7
GRAMMYS
•Twelve
throughout career
•Ranging from the year 1960 -1993
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.
asp?userid=Xz67zd9AcA&EAN=76119115423&ITM
=7
•Most
were for Best Rhythm and Blues
Performance
Three Number One Hits

Georgia On My Mind

http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=Xz67z
d9AcA&EAN=76119115423&ITM=7
Hit the Road Jack
I Can’t Stop Loving You


Influenced Many Great Artists
Marvin Gaye
 Aretha Franklin
 James Brown
 Stevie Wonder
 Norah Jones

Resources
http://www.raycharles.com/autobio.htm
http://www.rhino.com/features/liners/75644lin.html
http://www.mmguide.musicmatch.com/artist/artist.
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=
Xz67zd9AcA&EAN=76119115423&ITM=7
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3797311.stm
Our Questions
1. Who taught Ray Charles to play the piano?
2. What was the name of the trio that Ray Charles belonged to in
Seattle?
3. What year did Ray Charles win the most grammys?