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."
Makin' Whoopee
Ray Charles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another sunny honeymoon
Another season, Another reason
To make whoopee
A lot of shoes, a lot of rice
The groom is nervous, uhh, he answers twice
Its really killin', the boy's so willin'
Picture a little love nest, yeah
Down where the roses cling
Picture that same sweet love nest
See what a year can bring
I tell you the boy's washin' dishes 'n, baby clothes
He's so ambitious, ooh, I tell you he sews
Its really killin', the boy's so willin'
To make whoopee, whoopee
You see, I don't make much money
Only five, uh-uh, thousand per
And some judge who thinks he's funny
Tells me I got to pay six to her
I said now judge, suppose I fail?
The judge says, "Ray, son, son, right on into jail.
Ah, you better keep her. I think it's cheaper."
[spoken] You know what I've been doin', don't you?
[crowd goes wild]
The song Makin' Whoopee by Ray Charles is a perfect example of how music can convey a story. The song speaks about a couple that has gotten married, and it hints that this is not the first time the groom has gone down the aisle as he sings the lyric, "Another bride, another June." This line of the song sets the tone for the couple's life together. The first verse of the song is about the honeymoon phase of marriage, where everything seems perfect, and the couple has a reason to rejoice and "make whoopee."
As the song progresses, the second verse tells of how the couple's love nest has changed over time. It now has baby clothes hanging outside, and the husband is now washing dishes and sewing baby clothes. This verse showcases the everyday struggles and responsibilities of marriage that people don't typically think of when they think of getting married. From this verse, the song takes a sarcastic tone, and the husband hints that he may not be able to fulfill his obligation to his wife. However, the judge tells him that it would be cheaper to keep her even if he failed to provide. The song ends with the singer expressing his frustrations at the situation, and we hear the sound of a cheering audience as the song ends.
Overall the song Makin' Whoopee by Ray Charles tells the story of the monotony of married life, and how it is not all rosy like the honeymoon phase. The song is an example of how music can tell a story and a warning to anyone wanting to get married to prepare the practicalities of marriage as it is not all a bed of roses.
Line by Line Meaning
Another bride, Another June
It's another wedding season and another bride is getting married in June.
Another sunny honeymoon
It's another sunny time for newlyweds to go on a honeymoon.
Another season, Another reason
It's another season of love, and there's always a reason to celebrate.
To make whoopee
To express the affection and love as a couple through sexual intimacy.
A lot of shoes, a lot of rice
There are many shoes and rice, which are traditional elements in weddings.
The groom is nervous, uhh, he answers twice
The groom is nervous and he has to repeat his vows.
Its really killin', the boy's so willin'
The groom is willing to do everything to make his bride happy, but it's exhausting him.
To make whoopee, whoopee
The couple is eager to have sex together.
Picture a little love nest, yeah
Imagine a romantic place filled with love and happiness.
Down where the roses cling
The love nest is surrounded by roses.
Picture that same sweet love nest
Imagine the same love nest after a year of marriage.
See what a year can bring
See how much can change in a year of marriage.
I tell you the boy's washin' dishes 'n, baby clothes
The man is doing household chores like washing dishes and baby clothes.
He's so ambitious, ooh, I tell you he sews
The man is ambitious and even sews clothes for his family.
You see, I don't make much money
The man doesn't earn a lot of money.
Only five, uh-uh, thousand per
He earns only five thousand dollars per year.
And some judge who thinks he's funny
There is a judge who thinks he's funny.
Tells me I got to pay six to her
The judge asks the man to pay six thousand dollars to his wife in the divorce settlement.
I said now judge, suppose I fail?
The man questions the judge about what would happen if he failed to pay.
The judge says, "Ray, son, son, right on into jail.
The judge says that the man would need to go to jail.
Ah, you better keep her. I think it's cheaper."
The judge advises the man to keep his wife because it would be cheaper than paying the settlement.
"You know what I've been doin', don't you?
The singer is asking if the audience knows what he's been up to.
[crowd goes wild]
The crowd cheers enthusiastically in response to the singer's question.
Lyrics © DONALDSON PUBLISHING CO, TOBAGO MUSIC COMPANY, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
billtubehart
Best version of this song EVER! I've been listening to this for years (decades) and it never ceases to amaze me
Elizabeth Anderson
I gots many versions of this tune from a variety of artists in a plethora of styles, but this one always tops the lot. It doesn't get more slow and low than this. This one just CRAWLS! This is why Ray was the best at what he did. He makes it his own, and the crowd seem to be in on something that was happening in Ray's life at the time lol
Real music, real musicians, real lives, on the fly ... not your stage-managed crapola today
Sherice Muhammad
#Facts Pure genius on that piano and bass man is in that pocket! Ray was a master!!!
Felicia Williams
🎶 truth spoken 👏🏾🧡😏
bluesgirl 11
My favorite Ray song. My Father was a pianist and continued to play up until he passed away at 75. I would stop by his house and he would say, "Listen to this." I would say under my breath," Oh no." Nonetheless, when I was in the mood to hear him play, I would request that he played this song, as well as, Mercy, Mercy, by Cannon Ball Adderly. It's sad that you don't realize greatness when it's right there before you all of your life until it's gone. He definitely, played the hell out of this song!!!
Brad Douglas
This and Mercy,Mercy, Mercy two of my favorites , saw Ray do this in '69
Simone Allen
You are so right
Felicia Williams
It true 😢👏🏾🎶💜
Alan Harley
The Master. The feel & tempo - wow. Rhythm section - so relaxed. Brilliant connection with the audience. Wish I had been there!
Mariella Colombin
Alan Harley