As a rock and roll, rhythm & blues, soul, blues, jazz, country and pop musician he helped to shape the sound of rhythm & blues.
He brought a soulful sound to everything from country music ("I Can't Stop Loving You") to rock and roll ("Mess Around"), to pop standards to a now-iconic rendition of "America the Beautiful." Frank Sinatra called him "the only genius in the business."
Ray Charles was born in Albany, Georgia on September 23, 1930. He was the son of Aretha Williams, a share cropper, and Bailey Robinson, a railroad repair man, mechanic and handyman. The two were never married. The family moved to Greenville, Florida, when Ray was an infant. Bailey had three more families, leaving Aretha to raise the family on her own.
Ray Charles was not born blind. He started to lose his sight somewhere at the age of five. He was rendered totally blind by the age of seven. Charles never knew exactly why he lost his sight, though there are sources that suggest his blindness was due to glaucoma, and some other sources suggest that Ray began to lose his sight from an infection caused by soapy water to his eyes which was left untreated. He attended school at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine, Florida from 1937-1945 where he developed his musical gift that he is known and remembered for today. His father died when he was ten, followed by his mother five years later.
In school, he was taught only classical music, but he wanted to play what he heard on the radio, jazz and blues. After his mother died, Charles did not return to school. He lived in Jacksonville with a couple who were friends of his mother. For over a year, he played the piano for bands at the Ritz Theatre in LaVilla, earning $4 a night. Charles moved to Orlando, then Tampa, where he played "with a hillbilly band called The Florida Playboys." This is where Charles began his reputation of always wearing sunglasses that were made by designer Billy Stickles.
Charles had always played for other people, but he wanted a band that was his own. He decided to leave Florida for a large city, but Chicago and New York City were too big. He moved to Seattle in 1947 and soon started recording, first for the label Swing Time Records, achieving his first hit with the 1949 "Confession Blues". The song soared to #2 on the R&B charts. He followed his first recording with his only other hit with Swingtime, "Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand" in 1951. It hit #5 on the R&B charts. He then signed with Ahmet Ertegün at Atlantic Records a year later. When he entered show business, his name was shortened to Ray Charles to avoid confusion with boxer Sugar Ray Robinson.
Breakthrough period with Atlantic Records
Almost immediately after signing with Atlantic, Charles scored his first hit singles with the label with "It Should Have Been Me" and the Ertegün-composed "Mess Around", both making the charts in 1953. But it was Charles' "I Got A Woman" (composed with band mate Renald Richard) that brought the musician to national prominence.
The song reached the top of Billboard's R&B singles chart in 1955 and from there until 1959, Charles would have a series of R&B chart-toppers including "This Little Girl of Mine", "Lonely Avenue", "Mary Ann", "Drown in My Own Tears" and "The Night Time (Is the Right Time)", which were compiled on his Atlantic releases Hallelujah, I Love Her So, Yes Indeed!, and The Genius Sings the Blues. Charles was often cited for using his voice like a saxophone, most notably by the prominent critic Victor Bollo. During this time of transition, he recruited a young girl group from Philadelphia named The Cookies as his background singing group, recording with them in New York and changing their name to the Raelettes in the process.
Crossover success
In 1959, Charles crossed over to top 40 radio with the release of his impromptu blues number, "What'd I Say", which was initially conceived while Charles was in concert. The song would reach number 1 on the R&B list and would become Charles' first top ten single on the pop charts, peaking at number 6. Charles would also record The Genius of Ray Charles, before leaving Atlantic for a more lucrative deal with ABC Records in 1959.
Hit songs such as "Georgia On My Mind" (US #1), "Hit the Road Jack" (US #1) and "Unchain My Heart" (US #9) helped him transition to pop success and his landmark 1962 album, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music and its sequel Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Vol. 2, helped to bring country into the mainstream of music. He also had major pop hits in 1963 with "Busted" (US #4) and "Take These Chains From My Heart" (US #8), and also scoring a Top 20 hit four years later, in 1967, with "Here We Go Again" (US #15) (which would later be duetted with Norah Jones in 2004).
Later years
In 1965, Charles was arrested for possession of heroin, a drug to which he had been addicted for nearly 20 years. It was his third arrest for the offence, but he avoided jail time after kicking the habit in a clinic in Los Angeles. He spent a year on parole in 1966, when his single "Crying Time" reached #6 on the charts.
During the late 1960s and into the 1970s, Charles' releases were hit-or-miss, with some big hits and critically acclaimed work. His version of "Georgia On My Mind" was proclaimed the state song of Georgia on April 24, 1979, with Charles performing it on the floor of the state legislature. He also had success with his unique version of "America the Beautiful."
In November 1977 Charles appeared as the host of NBC's Saturday Night Live. In the 1980s a number of other events increased Charles' recognition among young audiences. He made a cameo appearance in the popular 1980 film The Blues Brothers. In 1985, "The Right Time" was featured in the episode "Happy Anniversary" of The Cosby Show on NBC. The next year in 1986, he sang America The Beautiful at Wrestlemania 2. In a Pepsi Cola commercial of the early 1990s, Charles popularized the catchphrase "You Got the Right One, Baby!" plus he helped in the song "We Are the World" a touching song for USA for Africa.
Despite his support of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960s and his support for the American Civil Rights Movement, Charles courted controversy when he toured South Africa in 1981, during an international boycott of the country because of its apartheid policy.
Charles recorded a cover version of the Japanese band Southern All Stars' song "Itoshi no Ellie" as "Ellie My Love" for a Suntory TV advertisement, reaching #3 on Japan's Oricon chart. Eventually, it sold more than 400,000 copies, and became that year's best-selling single performed by a Western artist for the Japanese music market.
Besides winning 17 Grammy Awards in his career (include five posthumous ones), Charles was also honored in many other ways. In 1979, he was one of the first honorees of the Georgia State Music Hall of Fame being recognized for being a musician born in the state. Ray's version of "Georgia On My Mind" was made into the official state song for Georgia. In 1981, he was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was one of the first inductees to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at its inaugural ceremony in 1986. He received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986. In 1987, he was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1991, he was inducted to the Rhythm & Blues Foundation. In 1998 he was awarded the Polar Music Prize together with Ravi Shankar in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2004 he was inducted to the Jazz Hall of Fame, and inducted to the National Black Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame. Also in 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him #10 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
The Grammy Awards of 2005 were dedicated to Charles.
On December 7, 2007, Ray Charles Plaza was opened in Albany, Georgia, with a revolving, lighted bronze sculpture of Charles seated at a piano.
On December 26, 2007, Ray Charles was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
Ray Charles Post Office Building
In 2005, the U.S. postal facility located at 4960 W. Washington Blvd., in Los Angeles, California, was designated the Ray Charles Post Office Building.
On August 24, 2005, the United States Congress honored Charles by dedicating and renaming the former West Adams Station post office in Los Angeles the "Ray Charles Station".
Charles has also appeared at two Presidential inaugurations in his lifetime. In 1985, he performed for Ronald Reagan's second inauguration, and in 1993 performed for Bill Clinton's first inauguration.
In the late '80s and early '90s, Charles made appearances on The Super Dave Osbourne Show, where he performed and appeared in a few vignettes where he was somehow driving a car, often as Super Dave's chauffeur. At the height of his newfound fame in the early nineties, Charles did guest vocals for quite a few projects. He also appeared (with Chaka Khan) on long time friend Quincy Jones' hit "I'll Be Good to You" in 1990, from Jones' album Back on the Block.
Following Jim Henson's death in 1990, Ray Charles appeared in the one-hour CBS tribute, The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson. He gave a short speech about the deceased, stating that Henson "took a simple song and a piece of felt and turned it into a moment of great power". Charles was referring to the song "It's Not Easy Being Green", which Charles later performed with the rest of the Muppet cast in a tribute to Henson's legacy.
During the sixth season of Designing Women, Ray Charles vocally performed "Georgia On My Mind", rather than the song being rendered by other musicians without lyrics as in the previous five seasons
During his life he received eight honorary doctorates, the last from Dillard University in New Orleans in 2003. Later that same year, he performed his 10,000th career concert at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles.
Charles finalized "Genius Loves Company" a duets album in 2004, which posthumously became the best selling album of his career. Norah Jones, B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Michael McDonald, Bonnie Raitt, Gladys Knight, Johnny Mathis and James Taylor are just a few of the notable artists involved with the project.
Charles was awarded the prestigious "President's Merit Award" from the Grammy(r) organization and was named a City of Los Angeles "Cultural Treasure" by LA Mayor James Hahn during "African American Heritage Month" in a ceremony that he attended. He also received the NAACP Image Awards' "Hall of Fame Award."
Charles died in July 2004 in California. Three months later, his biopic "Ray" opened in theaters. The performance of Jamie Foxx as Ray gave him an Oscar for best lead performance in a feature film.
Recently, a series of slot machines were designed in Charles' name for the visually handicapped and the legendary performer was also named a "living legend" by the Library of Congress.
Charles once told an interviewer from USA Today, "Music to me is just like breathing. I have to have it. It's part of me."
the Right Time
Ray Charles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the right time (night and day)
To be (night and day)
With the one you love, now (night and day)
Say now, oh baby (night and day)
When I come home baby, now (night and day)
I wanna be with the one I love, now (night and day)
You know what I'm thinking of (night and day)
I know the night time (night and day, oh)
Whoa, is the right time (night and day, oh)
To be with the one you love, now (night and day)
I said to be with the one you love (night and day)
You know my mother, now (night and day)
Had to die, now (night and day)
Mmm-hmm, and my father (night and day)
Left the poor child to cry (night and day)
Whoah, whoa baby (night and day)
When I come home baby now (night and day)
I want you to hold my hand (night and day)
Yeah, tight as you can (night and day)
I know the night time (night and day, oh)
Whoah, is the right time (night and day, oh)
To be with the one you love (night and day)
You know what I'm thinking of (night and day)
Whoah, sing your song, Margie (baby)
(Night and day)
Baby (night and day)
Baby (night and day)
Oh, Baby (night and day)
Do I love you? (night and day)
No one above you (night and day)
Hold me tight (night and day)
And make everything all right (night and day)
Because the night time (night and day)
Oh, is the right time (night and day)
To be with the one you love now (night and day)
Oh yeah (night and day)
Tease me (night and day)
Squeeze me (night and day)
Leave me (night and day)
Ah, don't leave me (night and day)
Lord, baby (night and day)
Take my hand, now (night and day)
I don't need (night and day)
No other man (night and day)
Because the night time (night and day)
Oh, is the right time (night and day)
To be with the one you love (night and day)
Oh yeah (night and day)
I said baby (night and day)
Baby (night and day)
Baby (night and day)
Whoah, baby now (night and day)
Oh, come on baby (night and day)
You know I want you by my side (night and day)
I want you to keep (night and day)
Oh, keep me satisfied (night and day)
I know the night time (night and day)
Everyday is the right time (night and day)
Yeah, to be with the one you love now (night and day)
Well, you know it's all right
Ray Charles's song "The Right Time" brings to light the idea that every moment in time has its own unique purpose, and the night time is the perfect time to be with the one you love. It touches on the common feeling of wanting to be close to someone after a long day. Ray's voice is smooth and soulful as he proclaims the importance of companionship and affection.
The line "you know my mother, now / had to die, now / mmm-hmm, and my father / left the poor child to cry" is a reference to Ray's own personal experiences. He lost his mother when he was fifteen and his father even before that. He had a difficult childhood and perhaps the song is about finding comfort and solace in the embrace of a loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
You know the night time, darling (night and day)
The singer is addressing their lover and acknowledging that both night and day are suitable times to be with them.
Is the right time (night and day)
Night time and daytime are both perfect times to be with one's significant other.
To be (night and day)
The singer is emphasizing the importance of spending time with their lover, regardless of the time of day.
With the one you love, now (night and day)
The artist is explicitly calling for their lover's company right now, regardless of the time.
Say now, oh baby (night and day)
The artist is urging their lover to speak and respond to them, addressing them affectionately.
When I come home baby, now (night and day)
The singer is expressing their desire to be with their lover when they come home, emphasizing the importance of spending time together.
You know what I'm thinking of (night and day)
The singer is reminding their lover of their thoughts, desires, and intentions to be with them at all times.
I know the night time (night and day, oh)
The artist is reaffirming their knowledge and belief that night time is as suitable as daytime to be with one's lover.
Whoa, is the right time (night and day, oh)
The artist is exclaiming out loud that night time is indeed the right time to be with the one you love.
Said to be with the one you love (night and day)
The artist is restating the importance of being with one's lover at any given time.
You know my mother, now (night and day)
The singer is introducing a personal reference to their mother, suggesting that their relationship with their lover is as close and constant as their relationship with their mother.
Had to die, now (night and day)
The artist is mentioning the passing of their mother, indicating the great significance of their relationship with her.
Left the poor child to cry (night and day)
The singer is expressing the emotional impact of losing their mother, implying that only their lover can console them.
When I come home baby now (night and day)
The singer is repeating their desire to be with their lover when they come home, emphasizing the idea of maintaining their connection.
I want you to hold my hand (night and day)
The singer is expressing the need for physical intimacy with their lover and the comfort that comes from holding hands.
Yeah, tight as you can (night and day)
The artist is emphasizing the desire for a tight, secure grip or embrace from their lover, suggesting a need for emotional support.
Whoah, sing your song, Margie (baby)
The artist is addressing someone named Margie and asking them to sing their song, potentially indicating a musical or creative atmosphere.
Do I love you? (night and day)
The singer is rhetorically asking their lover if they love them, emphasizing the importance of verbalizing affection.
No one above you (night and day)
The singer is expressing their devotion and loyalty to their lover, indicating that no one else is more important to them.
Hold me tight (night and day)
The artist is restating their desire for physical intimacy and emotional support from their lover.
And make everything all right (night and day)
The artist is expressing their belief that their lover's embrace can solve any problem and make everything right again.
Tease me (night and day)
The artist is asking for playful affection, suggesting a fun and joyous relationship dynamic.
Squeeze me (night and day)
The singer is requesting a tighter, more intense embrace from their lover, emphasizing their desire for physical intimacy and passion.
Leave me (night and day)
The artist is making a sarcastic comment, expressing the opposite of their true feelings and desires for their lover.
Ah, don't leave me (night and day)
The singer is correcting their previous sarcastic statement, emphasizing their desire for their lover's company and rejecting the idea of being alone.
Lord, baby (night and day)
The singer is addressing their lover affectionately and expressing their emotions to a higher power or entity.
Take my hand, now (night and day)
The singer is repeating their request for physical intimacy and emotional support from their lover.
I don't need (night and day)
The artist is implying that they do not need anyone other than their lover to be happy and content.
No other man (night and day)
The artist is expressing their devotion and commitment to their lover and their belief that there is no one else for them.
Everyday is the right time (night and day)
The singer is extending their belief that any day or time is perfect to be with the one you love.
Well, you know it's all right
The singer is asserting that everything is okay and that their relationship with their lover is strong and stable.
Oh yeah (night and day)
The artist is expressing their excitement and enthusiasm towards being with their lover at any given time.
Baby (night and day)
The artist is repeatedly addressing their lover affectionately and emphasizing the importance of their relationship.
Oh, come on baby (night and day)
The artist is urging their lover in a playful and flirtatious way, expressing their desire for their company.
You know I want you by my side (night and day)
The singer is expressing their desire and need for their lover's presence and company, emphasizing the importance of their connection.
I want you to keep (night and day)
The artist is restating their desire for their lover's physical and emotional support and their belief that it can make everything better.
Oh, keep me satisfied (night and day)
The singer is expressing their desire and need for satisfaction and happiness in their relationship with their lover.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James Oden, Roosevelt Sykes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@christopherwalker4256
Not sure what everyone else heard, I didn’t hear Margie sing one note, I heard her Soul speak from the deepest place a human can draw from. Pure emotion.
@pafree4402
I absolutely agree, well said!
@e37a
HOOOOOO!!!
@blackkjuice
Yeah she sang from the soul because she was fucking Ray LOL
@pamelaoliver8442
Blakkjuice.. We know. He was her child's father, no?
@chosensevenosev7013
agreed. cant find a singer with that much soul nowadays
@e37a
The Blackest record in musical history. Ray Charles KILLED IT!!!
@AAwildeone
Especially because of what "night" meant to him, it was perpetual
@garyAjames
absolutely
@EricCole69
Whites also made similar music but yeah the soul genre mostly belongs to black folk