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."
I'Ve Had My Fun
Ray Charles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well I've had my fun if I don't get well no more
Yeah my head is spinning, and I'm going down slow
Please write my mother tell her the shape I'm in
Please write my mother tell her the shape I'm in
Tell her to pray for me, forgive me for my sins
Tell her don't send me no doctor he won't do me no good
[I said] it's all my fault, did do things I shouldn't have..(chris)
Mother, please don't worry this is only my prayer
Mother, please don't worry this is only my prayer
Just say you son is gone, out of this world somewhere
** In Other version**
[On that next train south mother - You can look for my clothes on
On that next train south mother - You can look for my clothes on
Drifting and stumbling like a ship out on the sea
Driftin and stumblin like a ship out on the sea
I aint got nobody
To care for me]
The song "I've Had My Fun" is a blues song recorded by Ray Charles, originally written by Charles and released in 1952. The song reflects a person's realization that their time for enjoyment might be over, and they might be facing severe consequences for their actions. The lyrics are emotional and heartfelt, expressing the person's regret for the things they have done and the consequences they are now facing. The first two lines of the song -- "Well I've had my fun if I don't get well no more/ Yeah my head is spinning, and I'm going down slow" -- set the tone for the melancholy, resigned feeling that the lyrics evoke. The singer acknowledges that their actions have taken a toll on them and that they might not recover, but they don't seem overly concerned about it.
The second set of lyrics -- "Please write my mother tell her the shape I'm in/ Tell her to pray for me, forgive me for my sins" -- reflects the singer's realization that their behavior has hurt others, particularly their mother. They are asking their mother for forgiveness and asking her to pray for them, recognizing that they need help of a spiritual kind. The lack of specificity in the lyrics suggests that the singer might be facing severe issues that are not explicitly stated, such as addiction or illness, but the overall feeling is one of remorse and repentance.
The final set of lyrics -- "Tell her don't send me no doctor he won't do me no good/ [I said] it's all my fault, did do things I shouldn't have/ Mother, please don't worry this is only my prayer/ Just say you son is gone, out of this world somewhere" -- provides a sense of finality, with the singer recognizing that they might not recover and that medical intervention would be of no use. They are asking their mother to accept their fate and reassure her that they are ready to face the consequences of their actions. The sense of acceptance and fatalism is palpable in the lyrics, with the singer acknowledging that they might not recover and that their time for enjoying life is over.
Overall, "I've Had My Fun" is a poignant and powerful song that evokes a sense of regret and sadness in the listener. The lyrics are straightforward but emotional, and Ray Charles's delivery conveys the feelings of the singer in a way that is both moving and memorable.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I've had my fun if I don't get well no more
I have thoroughly enjoyed myself, but if I do not become healthy again, it will all be for nothing.
Yeah my head is spinning, and I'm going down slow
I am experiencing dizziness and confusion, and my health is declining at a slow pace.
Please write my mother tell her the shape I'm in
I request that you inform my mother of my current condition.
Tell her to pray for me, forgive me for my sins
Please ask her to pray for me and forgive me for any wrongdoings I have committed in the past.
Tell her don't send me no doctor he won't do me no good
Do not send a doctor to attend to me, as they will not be of any benefit.
[I said] it's all my fault, did do things I shouldn't have..(chris)
I am responsible for my current situation, as I have made choices that were not wise or beneficial to my health.
Mother, please don't worry this is only my prayer
Please assure my mother that this message is only a prayer and she should not be concerned for my safety.
Just say you son is gone, out of this world somewhere
If I am unable to recover, tell my mother that I have passed away and am now in another place.
On that next train south mother - You can look for my clothes on
I plan to leave and will not be returning, so you can find my clothing on the train going south.
Driftin and stumblin like a ship out on the sea
I feel lost and out of control, like a ship at sea without a steady course.
I aint got nobody
To care for me
I do not have anyone to take care of me and look after my well-being.
Contributed by Gabriella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@herbertstrunkiii876
This is THE most underrated song for both Ray Charles and Willie Nelson. Their talents blended perfectly.
@dwaterson21
Id have to give the "Most Underrated Willie Nelson Song" distinction to "The Great Divide" but this is my favorite from him. It's incredible.
@koldaussie
It also puts me into tears at times. Ah, Granddad Whyatt, I miss you, you damned best Grazier in Australia at your prime... well my opinion, none of them were as cool and had good access to Japanese markets in the 80's. Us grandkids loved you tonnes. You won't be chasing the devil's herd across the sky wherever you be, you'll be teaching them how to do it properly so the damned cattle don't escape in the first place.
@soposh5673
lol
@BradyAlley
Ah yes, the "UNDERRATED" song with 100 million views lol
@kellyjodesigns
Incredible!!
@alexshmurak96
This is just great! Black and white in harmony. Nothing better. We are brothers and sisters in this country.
@sunderwood9321
As long as I’ve been alive,we have been and are! My grandma will sit your butt down quick if you’re misbehaving when your parents aren’t around just like your grandma did to me! Don’t let them tell one of your aunts ❤
@user-bk4kc9mr4q
Yes, indeed, we are.❤
@nicrob80
This has absolutely nothing to do with black and white. This is about 2 amazing artists collaborating to make an awesome song! Why does everyone have to make it about race.. who gives a crap what color they are