Brother Ray
The lights go dim on an otherwise brightly lit concert hall, he’s been in this same position, time and time again. You would think he’s a pro by now. The butterflies in his stomach make him feel queasy. The crowd only arrived to see him and only him. They roar and cheer for him to come on stage. He waits and lets them cheer a little longer, it’s so loud it’s music to his ears, his feet vibrate from the pandemonium. He walks out from behind the curtain, an eruption like Mount St. Helens, the stage shakes with power. He pauses for a moment, waves, walks over to his piano, sits down and the crowd stops as fast as it started, like an engine out of gas. But this engine wasn’t out of gas it wanted to hear the first song lyric... he begins to play and utters the famous lyrics “Georgia.... Georgia.... the whole day through” the crowd now clapping because they don’t want to miss this. Where did it all start? To find out we have to go all the way back to the famous stock market crash that started in October 1929 was the beginning of The Great Depression. Ok not that far, in Georgia 1930, Aretha and Bailey Robinson are about to have a new baby. They are blessed with a baby boy, Ray Charles Robinson was born September 23 1930.
I simple love Ray Charles, his music just speaks to me, One of my favorite song by far is Georgia. This is not even a song written by Charles but everyone knows him for it. Also became the state song of Georgia, which makes perfect sense. Please have a listen, I simply love it.
A little over one year after Ray was born he had a younger brother George, sadly for only a few short years. When Ray was 5 years old, George and Ray were playing ouside, running and playing. The boys then decide fatefully to play in a metal wash bin. The tub was filled with soapy water from his mom washing clothes. George slipped and fell under the water, Ray tried to save him but couldn’t pull him out. His brother died at the age of 4.
Sadly just like George, neither one of his parents lived long enough to see his success. His father passed away when Ray was 10, but really wasn’t in his life anyway. And his mother passed away when Ray was just 15 and was really hard on him but, For good reason.
Shortly after George’s accidental passing, Ray started having eye problems. By the time he turned 7 he was completely blind from undiagnosed glaucoma, this is a gues, doctors weren’t 100% sure but that’s what it got attributed too. His mother was preparing him for a long life in the dark, he still had all his chores to do. Often falling and crying for help, only his mother was not coming. Ray realizing this, got up and continued to do his chores because he had to. His mother was loving, but firm. She knew he would have a very hard life if he didn’t figure out how to manage the world of darkness. Later in life Ray was so good at navigating through the the sighted world that people often thought he really could see and it was just a gimmick to sell records. Aretha, his mother, passed away when Ray just 15 and that’s when he tried his hand at music. Not doing very well, only working a few days a month money was tight so Ray moved to Seattle. As like most artists playing in bars, he started to drink. Drinking eventually led to drugs, heroin to be specific. He spoke very highly of Seattle recorded saying
“I liked the atmosphere. The people were friendly, the people took to me right away. Seattle is the town where I made my first record. And if you ever want to say where I got my start, you have to say that”
Seattle had a huge Jazz following, Ray penetrated this scene very quickly in under a week he had a job playing at the Black Elks Club. It was here that he met Quincy Jones another up and coming artist. Charles and Jones soon became life long friends and collaborated on many projects. Jones referred to there friendship as “Love at first instinct, for both of us” Jones was always amazed how Ray could shop, cook , wash his clothes and cross the street like he could see just fine. Never bumped into anything, untill the girls were around then ray pretended to be a little helpless so he could hold them as he walked. Pretty sneaky Ray, pretty sneaky
They played a few places and finally landed at a place called Rocking Chair Blues, the place Ray met a recording producer from LA named Jack Lauderdale. Ray was with Jack and Swing time records for about 3 years before moving to Atlantic records. Atlantic gave Ray a better deal and let him keep his masters, which meant he owned his music. Ray jumped at the opportunity, it was there he recorded Mess Around, written by Atlantic records founder and president. This was one of Rays first big hits
In 1965 Ray got charged with possession of heroin and took a year off to kick the addictive drug. Which he successfully did. Charles was hard to tie down, hr really liked the ladies he went on to have 2 marriages. He also had 12 children with 10 different women, Wow Ray. In an interview he once said:
“Cigarettes and smack (heroin) are the two truly addictive habits I've known. You might add women to that list as well”
I think I agree Ray. His talent topped the jazz, soul, pop, country and R&B charts. He’s had so many hits over the years I can’t name them all, hit the road Jack, Georgia, mess around, I’ve got a women , what’d I say, the list goes on and on. He won 12 Grammys over his career. In 1987 he won a life time achievement award, his music touched so many people.
Ray a movie about Ray Charles life was released to theatre October 29 2004. Just 4 months before the big release, Ray passed away in June 2004. Ray is a really great movie with Jamie fox Playing Ray Charles who did an amazing job in the role. If you haven’t seen It, I’d put it on the must watch list
Thank you for reading ❤️ Until the next one
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