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."
All Night All Day
Ray Charles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got tears all in my eyes
Why don't you send down that cloud
With a silver linin'
Lift me to paradise
Show me that river
Why don't you take me across
And wash all my troubles away
But just roll around heaven all day
Good Lord above, don't you know I'm pinin'
Tears all in my eyes
Send down that cloud
With a silver linin'
Lift me to paradise
Show me that river
And take me across
Wash all my troubles away
I know that lucky old sun, he's got nothin' to do
Roll around heaven all day
He got nothing but roll around heaven all day
I say he just roll around heaven all day
Roll around heaven all day
The lyrics to Ray Charles's song "That Lucky Old Sun" express a deep desire to escape the pain and struggles of life and find peace in paradise. The singer is speaking to God, asking for divine intervention to lift him up and whisk him away from his troubles. The imagery of a cloud with a silver lining and a river that washes away his problems creates a vivid picture of a idyllic existence.
The focus then shifts to the titular "lucky old sun," who is seen rolling around heaven all day. The contrast between the singer's hardship and the sun's carefree existence is stark. Yet, despite this, the singer still finds comfort in the idea that somewhere, there is a place where even the sun has nothing to do but bask in the bliss of eternal life.
Through this song, Charles speaks to the universal human desire for relief from the burdens of daily life, and the hope that there is something better waiting for us beyond this mortal coil.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear Lord above, don't you see I'm pinin'
I feel utterly lonely here and I hope that you can see me.
I got tears all in my eyes
I'm crying my heart out here.
Why don't you send down that cloud
Can't you just provide a way out of my misery?
With a silver linin'
Please make it something that gives me hope.
Lift me to paradise
Take me to a place where I can finally be happy.
Show me that river
Take me to a place where my sorrows can float away.
Why don't you take me across
Please help me cross over to a better life.
And wash all my troubles away
Let me start anew, free from all my past sorrows and regrets.
I know that lucky old sun, he's got nothin' to do
The sun just keeps shining, with no regard for my troubles.
But just roll around heaven all day
The sun is free, doing what it pleases in the great beyond.
He got nothing but roll around heaven all day
The sun is completely carefree, never worrying like I do.
I say he just roll around heaven all day
The sun enjoys the simple pleasures of life, while I struggle to find happiness.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Beasley Smith, Haven Gillespie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
G McNeill
Dear James Smith.
14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14).
If you (or I) see it in the flesh, and not receive the testimony of Jesus Christ BY FAITH and faith alone in God the Father; then we will come up with, and believe, and be drawn away with whatever our minds and our fleshly understanding tells us.
Look FOR Jesus. Don't look AT the people. Let your faith in Jesus connect you to the words of the Holy Scriptures that are being sung about in the song. That way you would never be offended with Jesus Christ - the (Living) Word of God who became flesh for us. He is all that matters at the end of the day.
*John 12:32, [Jesus speaking...] "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."
*Paul also said this in Philippians 1:15-18 so we (the followers of Jesus Christ) may never lose our bearings on what truly matters in the kingdom of God. He said,
15 "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
16 "The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
17 "But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
18 "What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice."
The gospel/good news of Jesus Christ in this song is: - God has given to us, who believe in, follow after, and worship Jesus Christ, an everlasting covenant of peace that includes among many other precious promises, giving His angels charge over us (His children) to KEEP US in ALL our ways (Psalm 91:9-10,11-12).
That the blessing of hearing this song, and welcoming those who proclaim this good news, this truth, to us in song. (Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15)
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"
Blessings in Christ,
Arlette McNeill
G McNeill
James Smith. I have not heard the scriptures ever say music, or our music is what pleases the Lord. I have heard it say; and it is written,
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).
God looks for our FAITH in His Son Jesus Christ (the Living Word). This is what pleases Him. ...along with a broken and contrite heart He does not despise (Psalm 51:17).
So, if the people of God at any time stumble and fall, then turn back to God in repentance and humility, God loves that b/c they know He is their help and strength. And they know HIS STRENGTH is made perfect in their weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9).
I'm not sure why you have written what you've written; or whom exactly you're upset/angry with. However, we must be merciful to others as God Our Father has been merciful to us through Jesus Christ while we were yet sinners.
Funmi George
Thank God for the Angels on Assignment over us.
Constance Sutton
Yes!! Amen !1
Ernestine
Thank you for the anointed music
Drummer C
You just can’t get any better than the amazing Thelma Houston. Look at her video of “Let It Be” from this same show. Her voice is phenomenal.
David Whiteis
This is the song Ray sang at Sam Cooke's funeral. Those who were there said it was one of the most spellbinding, emotionally devastating gospel performances they ever saw; even Ray remembered it as one of his finest. Tragic that somehow it couldn't have been recorded.
V Brown
I would have loved to have heard that rendition.
Carlos Gibson
His funeral was recorded but only for his family it may be only something they have in their private collection
Jaqueline Noel
It's beautiful, thank you for sending it to me.🤎🤎🤎🤎🙏🙏🙏💞💞💗
HBK’s Lazy Eye
Perhaps. It was meant for Sam and only Sam to take with him to the great recording studio in the sky.
WesGriffin
Beautiful !!! One of the songs my grandma used to sing to me when she tucked me in at night. And I believe it. Angel's on guard around me all day, all night. And when I pray to the the Lord about something specific He instructs them what to do. I have witnessed this all my life
I Don't worship the angels... just love and appreciate what they do and appreciate their love and how loyal, dedicated and commited they are in serving God.