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."
If I Were You
Ray Charles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd never let you leave me
If you were mine
I'd never let you go
Because you are
Just what I've always wanted
cnd I think that you oughta know
Girl, you went straight to my brain
In my heart I've got a feeling
That I could never explain
I'm not one to believe in love at first sight
But you changed, changed my mind last night
I fell in love, even though I didn't intend to
Hard as I tried, I couldn't keep my eyes off you
I know to you I'm just a stranger
I'm a stranger, baby
cnd I, probably I don't mean a thing
I don't mean nothing to you, baby, I know that
But to me you are an angel
cnd I want to be your man
If you were mine
You'd never know no sorrow
If you were mine
I'd marry you tomorrow, yes, I would
Believe me, girl
What the occasion
If you call me
I'll come with no persuasion
You just call
cnd I'll come running
Oh, yes, I will, baby
Come rainstorm, hail or snow
'Cause the way I feel about you, well now
No place is too remote to go
Oh well, baby, oh well
Now now now now now now now now now
Hey girl, oh well
Oh baby, oh well
Oh girl, well
In Ray Charles's song "I Wish You Were Here Toni," the singer expresses his loneliness and desire for the company of his lover, Toni. He is on the road, away from home, and reading old magazines, which could symbolize his feelings of being stuck in the past and wanting to move forward with Toni. He mentions that there is no one to save him, which could mean that he feels vulnerable and needs someone to be there for him. He wishes Toni were there with him to share in his experiences, particularly as he prepares for yet another show.
The chorus reveals that the singer's love for Toni is a product of his imagination, but he yearns for her to be by his side to make it a reality. He has a dream burning inside of him, but it cannot come to fruition without her. He visualizes a scenario where they are the only two people around, loving each other passionately, and wishes that it could become a reality.
In the second verse, the singer turns to his television as a source of comfort, as he can choose shows with happy endings that never have to end. However, he still finds himself longing for Toni's presence and imagines her as the lover who has to leave him, further emphasizing his desire to be with her.
Overall, "I Wish You Were Here Toni" is a poignant song about the pain of separation from a loved one and the longing to be reunited once again.
Line by Line Meaning
Reading old magazines,
I'm feeling lonely and bored on this trip and have nothing else to do but read old magazines.
I'm on the road no one to save me girl,
I'm traveling alone without you and I feel like I have no one to turn to for consolation.
I wish you were here tonight,
I long for your presence and wish you were here with me in this moment.
There's a knock on my door,
Someone is at my door and it's time to start another show/performance.
Yes, it's time to give another show,
I have to start performing again, even though I would rather spend time with you.
I wish you were here tonight.
I miss you and wish you were here to share this experience with me.
My love is all imagination,
My love for you is just a fantasy that I dream about.
Just a dream without you to make it real,
My love for you has no substance without you here with me to experience it.
And, baby, I got a dream,
I have a desire to be with you.
Burning inside,
My longing for you is intense and passionate.
No one else around,
Without you, I feel like there is no one else that matters.
Just you and I,
I want it to be just the two of us together.
Loving in the fire,
We share a passionate love that burns intensely.
It made us so right,
Our love was perfect and complete.
And I wish you were here tonight.
I yearn for your presence and wish you were here with me to experience this intense love again.
The T.V is a friend,
I turn to the television as a comfort and distraction from missing you.
'cause I can choose the show with a happy end,
I choose programs with happy endings to make me feel better.
That never ends,
The happiness shown on the television is never-ending, unlike my current situation.
Forever and ever more,
The happiness portrayed on the television show is forever and unchanging, unlike my life without you.
If I make believe your on the show,
I pretend that you are the lover on the television program to feel closer to you.
Your the lover that says she has to go,
The lover on the television program says she has to leave, just as I am separated from you.
And I end up wishing you were here tonight.
I realize that my longing for you is stronger than any distraction or comfort that I may find elsewhere.
Chorus
Reiteration of the main theme of the song: I long for your presence and feel incomplete without you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kassner Associated Publishers Ltd
Written by: James E Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jayne Bhardwaj
One of my all time greatest songs Ray Charles sang. My Auntie introduced me to him many years ago. And this was the first song on the album she owned. She tried tirelessly to get me a copy with no avail it had been deleted!. Tonight I was just flicking through Ray Charles full song lists had no idea what the song was called just could not remember. “If You Were Mine “the name came in to my head, so I typed it in and was so happy that was my lost song. My Auntie passed away in February of this year. Thank you Auntie Diana you gave me a sign I love you rest in peace love Jayne your niece and God daughter!. And Thank You for introducing me to the legend Ray Charles😘❤️🌹🙏🏻
Tom Mcfadden
....a gift that lasted a lifetime....none better.
Darlene Battle
A song he recorded when I was a little girl. It wasn't very popular in NY, and I never heard it again until today, March 19, 2021. It played in my head this morning and I searched it out on YouTube. I forgot Ray Charles did it. What a pleasure to hear again.
DB Connor
Girl me Too!❤❤❤
kelly aylor-jarrell
I love this song! One of his best one's ❤❤❤
Ljiljana Nejak
One of my favourites.Really love this song-now it is more than 40 years from first listening.Many thanks for song and text
DB Connor
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️This whole album does something to me!
Betty Pierce
love this song and I love you ray Charles, Rip.
marcelita1234kk
recuerdos hermosos de mis 17 años
Carmen Torres
🙏🙏LOVE IT SINCE 1970❤️🙏🙏🤟🙏🙏