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."
New York's My Home
Ray Charles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That some of you good people
Want to leave this town
But you better consult me before you go
(Why?)
'Cause I've been in all these places
And I know
(Chicago) Chicago's all right
It's got the Wrigley Field and
Soldier's Field and Marshall Field
And it's on a nice lake
But it hasn't got
The hansoms in the park
It hasn't got a skyline after dark
That's why New York's my home
Never let me leave it
New York's my home, sweet home
(What about Hollywood)
Hollywood's got movie stars and
Movie czars and cocktail bars and
Shiny cars and a wonderful climate, they say
But it hasn't got
The handy subway train
You seldom find a taxi
When it rains
That's why New York's my home
Keep your California
New York's my home, sweet home
(Geez, what's happening in St.Louis)
Lots of people like St.Louis
It's got lots of shoes
And the St.Louis blues and
One of our larger rivers runs by
But it hasn't got the opera in The Met
It hasn't got a famous string quartet
That's why New York's my home
No, not a place to visit
New York's my home, sweet home
(San Francisco)
San Francisco is a lovely place
It's got lots of hills
And lots of thrills and it's
On an ocean of some size
But it hasn't got
The Bowery or The Bronx
It hasn't got the Harlem honkytonks
That's why New York's my home
Yeah, it's my favorite city
New York's my home, sweet home
So, save your time and trouble
I say save your railroad fare
I said save your time and trouble, brother
Save your railroad fare
Cause when you leave New York
Let me say, you ain't going nowhere
The lyrics of Ray Charles's song New York's My Home describes the love and attachment the singer has with his city, New York, urging others not to leave the city. The song begins by addressing a rumor that some individuals may be thinking of leaving New York. The singer expresses his knowledge of other cities in the country, having visited them all, and believes that New York is still the best place of all. The song then goes on to compare and contrast New York with other popular American cities such as Chicago, Hollywood, St. Louis, and San Francisco, highlighting what these cities have to offer but how they cannot compare to New York.
In the first comparison, the singer admits that Chicago is a great city with many attractions such as Wrigley Field, Soldier's Field, and Marshall Field. However, it lacks some of the things that make New York a unique and special place, such as the horse-drawn carriages in the park or the city skyline at night. Similarly, Hollywood is a glamorous city with its movie stars, cocktail bars, and a great climate, but it cannot compare to New York's subway system that can take you anywhere at any time.
The comparisons continue with St. Louis, which is known for its shoes and the St. Louis Blues genre of music. However, it lacks the famous Metropolitan Opera and string quartets that New York has. Lastly, San Francisco with its beautiful hills, ocean, and thrills falls short without the Bowery or the Bronx or the Harlem honky-tonks. The singer encourages his listeners to save their time and money by not trying to find a better city as they will not find any place as good as New York. The song ends with the assertion that leaving New York means not going anywhere.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a rumor going around
There are whispers that some people want to leave this town.
But you better consult me before you go
Consult with me before you make your decision about leaving town.
'Cause I've been in all these places
I have traveled far and wide and have seen all these places.
And I know
I know the best features of each place.
(Chicago) Chicago's all right
Chicago is decent and tolerable.
It's got the Wrigley Field and
The city boasts an iconic baseball stadium, Wrigley Field.
Soldier's Field and Marshall Field
It also has a stadium and a famous department store.
And it's on a nice lake
Lastly, Chicago has a beautiful lake surrounding the city.
But it hasn't got
However, it lacks some of the essential features that make a home.
The hansoms in the park
It doesn't have horses and carriages in the park.
It hasn't got a skyline after dark
It also lacks the distinct and dazzling skyline that comes alive at night.
That's why New York's my home
For these reasons, New York City is my true home.
Never let me leave it
Being away from New York City is not an option for me.
New York's my home, sweet home
New York City is where my heart is.
(What about Hollywood)
So, what about Hollywood?
Hollywood's got movie stars and
Hollywood has all the glitz, glamour, and celebrity culture one could want.
Movie czars and cocktail bars and
It also has powerful people and stylish drinking establishments.
Shiny cars and a wonderful climate, they say
Hollywood is known for its warm and sunny climate, as well as famous automobiles.
But it hasn't got
However, it is sorely lacking in some areas.
The handy subway train
It doesn't have an efficient and convenient subway system like New York City.
You seldom find a taxi
It's difficult to find taxis in Hollywood during rainy weather.
When it rains
During a period of rainfall.
That's why New York's my home
Once again, New York City stands out as the best in comparison to Hollywood.
Keep your California
I prefer not to live in California.
New York's my home, sweet home
New York City is where I belong.
(Geez, what's happening in St.Louis)
What's the story with St. Louis?
Lots of people like St.Louis
St. Louis seems to be a popular destination for many individuals.
It's got lots of shoes
St. Louis is known for its abundance of footwear factories.
And the St.Louis blues and
The Blues, a famous music genre, originated in St. Louis.
One of our larger rivers runs by
A significant river flows in close proximity to the city.
But it hasn't got the opera in The Met
St. Louis lacks the distinguished Metropolitan Opera that New York City has.
It hasn't got a famous string quartet
It also doesn't have a noteworthy string quartet ensemble.
That's why New York's my home
Once again, New York City is the superior place to St. Louis.
No, not a place to visit
It's not just a tourist destination; it's truly my home.
New York's my home, sweet home
New York City is where I want to stay for the long haul.
(San Francisco)
Okay, what about San Francisco?
San Francisco is a lovely place
San Francisco is quite attractive in many ways.
It's got lots of hills
The city is known for its many hills.
And lots of thrills and it's
It is also an exciting place to be with many experiences.
On an ocean of some size
It is situated on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.
But it hasn't got
It still falls short in some areas.
The Bowery or The Bronx
San Francisco lacks districts with unique and diverse cultures.
It hasn't got the Harlem honkytonks
It also lacks the vibrant nightlife found in Harlem.
That's why New York's my home
In conclusion, New York City remains the best place for me.
Yeah, it's my favorite city
New York City is my number one choice.
New York's my home, sweet home
It is, was, and forever will be my true home.
So, save your time and trouble
Save yourself the hassle and bother.
I say save your railroad fare
Save your money on train tickets.
I said save your time and trouble, brother
Reiterating, you don't need to go through all that trouble.
Cause when you leave New York
Once you leave New York City behind.
Let me say, you ain't going nowhere
To put it plainly, you're not going to a better place.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GORDON JENKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RandallGoya
I just heard this on WBGO's Singers Unlimited show - and I had to share.
There's a rumour going around
That some of you good people
Want to leave this town
But you better consult me before you go
(Why?)
Cos I've been in all these places
And I know
(Chicago) Chicago's all right
It's got the Wrigley Field and
Soldier's Field and Marshall Field
And it's on a nice lake
But it hasn't got
The hansoms in the park
It hasn't got a skyline after dark
That's why New York's my home
Never let me leave it
New York's my home, sweet home
(What about Hollywood)
Hollywood's got movie stars and
Movie czars and cocktail bars and
Shiny cars and a wonderful climate, they say
But it hasn't got
The handy subway train
You seldom find a taxi
When it rains
That's why New York's my home
Keep your California
New York's my home, sweet home
(Geez, what's happening in St.Louis)
Lots of people like St.Louis
It's got lots of shoes
And the St.Louis blues and
One of our larger rivers runs by
But it hasn't got the opera in The Met
It hasn't got a famous string quartet
That's why New York's my home
No, not a place to visit
New York's my home, sweet home
(San Francisco)
San Francisco is a lovely place
It's got lots of hills
And lots of thrills and it's
On an ocean of some size
But it hasn't got
The Bowery or The Bronx
It hasn't got the Harlem honkytonks
That's why New York's my home
Yeah, it's my favorite city
New York's my home, sweet home
So, save your time and trouble
I say save your railroad fare
I said save your time and trouble, brother
Save your railroad fare
Cause when you leave New York
Let me say, you ain't going nowhere
@sue7159
Anybody who found this song from “pretend it’s a city”?
@bongofury5924
Yep....
@carolaika
yup
@joeschianodicola1810
LOL yupp, immediately came here after I saw it on that episode
@jiyeonkim8291
Yepp.... exactly...
@arlenemartinhair4082
yep
@stugots3446
Keep your cali, GIMME NEW YORK!!!! 💪💪
NEW YORK WILK ONE DAY BE MY HOME, BETTER BELIEVE IT.
@ALBARO9147
Extraordinaire , peu connue du grand public , cette chanson est remarquable. RAY CHARLES n' a jamais fait quelque chosed' ordinaire. L' orchestration de première qualité sonne et éclate avec la voix incomparable du grand artiste.Admirable !
@RandallGoya
I just heard this on WBGO's Singers Unlimited show - and I had to share.
There's a rumour going around
That some of you good people
Want to leave this town
But you better consult me before you go
(Why?)
Cos I've been in all these places
And I know
(Chicago) Chicago's all right
It's got the Wrigley Field and
Soldier's Field and Marshall Field
And it's on a nice lake
But it hasn't got
The hansoms in the park
It hasn't got a skyline after dark
That's why New York's my home
Never let me leave it
New York's my home, sweet home
(What about Hollywood)
Hollywood's got movie stars and
Movie czars and cocktail bars and
Shiny cars and a wonderful climate, they say
But it hasn't got
The handy subway train
You seldom find a taxi
When it rains
That's why New York's my home
Keep your California
New York's my home, sweet home
(Geez, what's happening in St.Louis)
Lots of people like St.Louis
It's got lots of shoes
And the St.Louis blues and
One of our larger rivers runs by
But it hasn't got the opera in The Met
It hasn't got a famous string quartet
That's why New York's my home
No, not a place to visit
New York's my home, sweet home
(San Francisco)
San Francisco is a lovely place
It's got lots of hills
And lots of thrills and it's
On an ocean of some size
But it hasn't got
The Bowery or The Bronx
It hasn't got the Harlem honkytonks
That's why New York's my home
Yeah, it's my favorite city
New York's my home, sweet home
So, save your time and trouble
I say save your railroad fare
I said save your time and trouble, brother
Save your railroad fare
Cause when you leave New York
Let me say, you ain't going nowhere
@lamper2
best version by far-buster pointdexter