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 Love You More Than I Ever Have
Ray Charles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause you made a happy man out of me
You took a man who was tired of living
And installed the joy of life whit all that you're giving
And you came along in just a nick of time
'Cause I was just about to lose my mind
The frown upon my face became a smile
Oh, I want to thank you, baby
For what you've done for me
Oh, I want to thank you, baby
For helping me to see
That love is powerful
And what everybody needs
And I thank you for giving it to me
I had just fell out of love when I met you
Really did believe that love and were through
But I knew it right from the first time I kissed you
I felt your lips and could not resist you
Ever since that kiss I've been in love whit you
'Cause you been so good to me and so true
We've stood together through thick and thin
And I love you more than I ever have
Oh, I want to thank you, baby
For what you've done for me
Oh, I want to thank you, baby
For helping me to see
That love is powerful
And what everybody needs
And I thank you for giving it to me
There's a certain way that you say 'I love you'
Makes me want to lay down my life for you
You change my outlook on life and love
When it comes to you, I just cannot get enough of you, girl
I just want this one thing understood
All I want to do is make ya feel good
And you've been so doggone good to me, I say
That I love you more then I ever have
The love is powerful and everybody needs
And I thank you for giving it to me
Oh, I want to thank you, baby
For what you've done for me
Oh, I want to thank you, baby
For helping me to see
That love is powerful
And what everybody needs
And I thank you for giving it to me
Ray Charles's song "I Love You More Than I Ever Have" is a love song that celebrates the power of love and the transformative effect it can have on a person's life. The singer expresses his gratitude towards his partner for making him a happy man and bringing joy into his life. He acknowledges that he was on the verge of losing his mind before his partner came into his life and helped him see the beauty of love. He also admits that he had fallen out of love before he met his partner but fell in love with her as soon as he kissed her. The singer believes that his partner is the one who changed his outlook on life and love, and he wants to lay down his life for her.
The song's lyrics emphasize the idea that love is a powerful emotion that can transform people's lives. The singer's gratitude towards his partner for giving him love and bringing joy into his life shows the transformative power of love. The lyrics also highlight the importance of expressing appreciation and gratitude towards loved ones for the positive effect they have on one's life.
The singer's use of metaphors and analogies in the lyrics adds to the song's emotional depth. For instance, when he says, "You change my outlook on life and love," he is using a metaphor to express how his partner has influenced his perception of love. The line "Makes me want to lay down my life for you" is an analogy that emphasizes how much he loves his partner and how far he is willing to go for her.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't you know I'm about as happy as I can be
I am extremely happy and content.
'Cause you made a happy man out of me
You have brought joy and happiness into my life and made me a happier person overall.
You took a man who was tired of living
I was feeling exhausted and drained with life before I met you.
And installed the joy of life whit all that you're giving
You have given me so much love and positivity that it has brought me the joy of living again.
And you came along in just a nick of time
You came into my life just when I needed you the most.
'Cause I was just about to lose my mind
I was feeling overwhelmed and on the brink of losing my sanity.
The frown upon my face became a smile
Your presence in my life has turned my sadness into happiness.
And I love you more than I ever have
My love for you has grown stronger over time and I appreciate you even more.
Oh, I want to thank you, baby
I want to express my gratitude and appreciation towards you.
For what you've done for me
Thank you for all the positive changes and impact that you have brought into my life.
For helping me to see
Thank you for showing me the beauty and power of love.
That love is powerful
Love is a strong and influential force that can have a significant impact on our lives.
And what everybody needs
Love is a basic human need and is essential for our emotional well-being.
And I thank you for giving it to me
I am grateful to you for loving me and giving me the gift of love.
I had just fell out of love when I met you
I had lost hope in love and was no longer in a loving relationship when I met you.
Really did believe that love and were through
I genuinely thought that I was done with love and would never find it again.
But I knew it right from the first time I kissed you
I knew that I had found love again the moment I kissed you.
I felt your lips and could not resist you
Your kiss was so powerful and compelling that I could not resist falling in love with you.
Ever since that kiss I've been in love whit you
I have been deeply in love with you ever since that first kiss.
'Cause you been so good to me and so true
You have been so kind and genuine towards me and our relationship.
We've stood together through thick and thin
We have supported each other through difficult times and have remained committed to our relationship.
There's a certain way that you say 'I love you'
The way you express your love towards me is special and unique.
Makes me want to lay down my life for you
Your expression of love is so powerful that it makes me want to do anything for you, even sacrifice my life.
You change my outlook on life and love
Your love has had a profound impact on the way I see life and love.
When it comes to you, I just cannot get enough of you, girl
I am deeply in love with you and cannot get enough of being around you.
I just want this one thing understood
I want to make sure you understand this one important thing:
All I want to do is make ya feel good
All I want is to make you happy and feel good about yourself.
And you've been so doggone good to me, I say
You have been so incredibly good to me and our relationship.
The love is powerful and everybody needs
Love is powerful and essential for everyone's emotional well-being.
And I thank you for giving it to me
I am grateful to you for loving me and giving me the gift of love.
Contributed by Ian Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.