Ray Charles was born in 1930 in Georgia and lost his sight at age 7. He studied music at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. In the late 1940s, he began performing with bands and released his first hit, "Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand," in 1951. His 1955 song "I Got a Woman" helped establish the genre of soul music by blending R&B and gospel. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Charles had numerous number-one hits including "Georgia on My Mind," "Hit the Road Jack," and albums like Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. He received many honors in his career and helped pave the way for crossover appeal among black and white audiences. Ray Charles passed away in

1. "The Father of Soul" Amber Rusello

2. And a Star was Born: Ray Charles was born Ray Charles Robinson on September 23, 1930, in Albany, Georgia. As an infant, his family moved to Greenville, Florida. Ray lost his sight to undiagnosed glaucoma at the age of seven. In October of 1937, Ray enrolled in Florida’s State School for Deaf and Blind. Here he studies composition, classical piano, organ, trumpet, alto sax and clarinet. In 1946, upon his mother’s death he set out on a solo career playing with local bands around Jacksonville, Florida. He modeled himself after Nat “King” Cole. In 1948, He found his way to Seattle, Washington. Here he met a young Quincy Jones and began to make a name for himself in the clubs. In 1949, he dropped his last name of Robinson to avoid confusion with the legendary boxer, and from this Ray Charles was born.

3. In 1951, Ray entered the R&B charts for the first time with “Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand." March 16, 1955, Ray hits #2 on the R&B charts with “I Got A Woman”, which is widely considered the first song to be labeled “soul”—a blending of R&B and gospel. From his debut album Ray Charles in 1957, "Swanee River Rock (Talkin' 'Bout That River") becomes his first crossover hit and reaches #34 on the pop charts. In August of 1959, the revolutionary mega-hit “What’d I Say” is released and reaches #1 on the R&B chart and #6 on the pop chart, becoming one of his signature tunes. In November of 1959, "Georgia on My Mind" lands at #1 on the singles chart and its album, “The Genius Hits The Road” becomes his first Top 10 pop album. 1950

4. 1960 In April of 1961, Ray takes home 4 Grammy Awards. Two for "Georgia On My Mind," and one each for The Genius Of Ray Charles and "Let The Good Times Roll". October of 1961 one of his career-defining anthems, "Hit The Road Jack" zooms to #1 on the pop charts. In January of 1962, "Unchain My Heart" becomes another Top 10 smash. Ray breaks ground in June of 1962 with his crossover album Modern Sounds in Country And Western Music. This album stay at #1 on the charts for 3 ½ months and includes the smashes "I Can't Stop Loving You" and "You Don't Know Me". June, 1969 - Performs alongside top artists such as Aretha Franklin and the Staple Singers, at the Soul Bowl '69 in Houston, the largest attended soul music concert yet staged.

5. 1970 In 1975, Ray earns the Golden Plate Award given by the American Academy of Achievement for his outstanding artistic contributions. Is presented with The National Association for Sickle Cell Disease's first "Man of Distinction" Award in 1975. Is inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 1976. "I Got A Woman“ lands him a nomination for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in 1976. In 1978 his autobiography "Brother Ray" (written with David Ritz) is published by Dial Press and quickly becomes a national bestseller. In 1979 his legendary rendition of "Georgia On My Mind" is adopted as the official Song of the State of Georgia and in that same year he is inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

6. 1980 December of 1981, Ray received his Hollywood “Walk of Fame” star honoring both his artistic and humanitarian achievements. In 1983, he is bestowed with the "Hall of Fame Award" at the 1983 NAACP's Image Awards. 1983 - Signs with the Nashville division of CBS/Columbia Records in an effort to focus on country-soul based music. In January of 1986, he becomes one of the original inductees into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. November of 1986, Ray is made a Commander of Fine Arts and Letters, by the French government. This is a highly prestigious honor. In December of 1986, he is the recipient of the coveted Kennedy Center Lifetime of Achievement Award in Washington, D.C. He is the second youngest recipient of this award at the age of 56.

7. In March of 1994, Ray wins his 12th Grammy Award in "The Best R&B Vocal by a Male Performer" category for "A Song For You". Also is March of 1994 he earns a Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the Black Achievement Awards television show. May of 1994, he receives the Helen Keller Personal Achievement Award from the American Foundation for the Blind. March 2, 1995, Ray is given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Rhythm & Blues Foundation’s annual Pioneer Awards. In June of 1995, he is honored with the Horatio Alger Award given to distinguished American citizens who have succeeded despite adversity. May of 1996, Ray receives an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Performing Arts from Occidental College. 1990

8. On June 10 of 2004, Ray passes away at age 73 in Beverly Hills, CA. because of a liver disease called Hepatocellular Carcinoma. In August of 2004, two months after Ray had passed away, “Genius Loves Company,” was released. This was an album of duets with superstars including Elton John, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, Johnny Mathis and Van Morrison It peaks at #2 on the album charts and quickly goes platinum. I'm Movin' On...

9. My Favorite Music...

10. Hit The Road Jack Georgia On My Mind What’d I Say I’ve Got A Woman