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."
Say No More
Ray Charles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think you'll never understand
I have refused the same demand
All my life
Say no more
In my book there can be no blame
When you pretend I have no shame
All along
You kept trying to pin me down
Turn me into your house clown
If I don't fit the bill
All the same
I loved you then
I love you still
[Chorus: ]
Want to know the truth?
I caught a nasty bug
And when it got a hold of me
I could not shake it free
A lasting blue note
Has been haunting me
It's like an old mistress
Forever chasing me...
But say no more
I may not be an easy man
But the way you played your hand
I couldn't stand
It's too bad
There is much more we could have done
But now those days are dead and gone
Nothing lasts
All along
You made me feel this useless guilt
Can you look back on what we built?
I wonder what you saw in me
Tell me, was it real?
Was it love?
You tell me...
[Chorus: ]
And though you think of it
As the cause of my fall
Never mind, I'm blessed, I'm here, at all
In Ray Charles's song Say No More, the lyrics showcase the frustration and sadness of the singer towards an individual who has constantly tried to change and manipulate him. The lyrics "Say no more, I think you'll never understand" highlight the disconnect between the two individuals, with the singer acknowledging that they will never fully understand each other. The singer has refused to change for the demands of the other person, and feels no guilt or shame in doing so. The line "You kept trying to pin me down, turn me into your house clown" showcases the singer's feeling of being trapped by the other person's attempts to control him.
Despite the frustration and sadness in the lyrics, the singer still has love for the individual. The lines "All the same, I loved you then, I love you still" showcase the complex emotions present in the relationship. The chorus describes a "lasting blue note" that has been haunting the singer, representing a metaphorical illness that he cannot shake. The lyrics "And though you think of it as the cause of my fall, never mind, I'm blessed, I'm here, at all" highlight the singer's resilience and gratitude for still being alive, despite the hardships he has faced.
Line by Line Meaning
Say no more
There is no need to say anything more.
I think you'll never understand
I believe you won't ever comprehend what I'm going through.
I have refused the same demand
I have declined the same request time after time.
All my life
Throughout my existence.
In my book there can be no blame
To me, there's no fault to find.
When you pretend I have no shame
When you act as if I am without disgrace.
You're half right
Your assertion is partially correct.
All along
From the very beginning.
You kept trying to pin me down
You consistently attempted to constrain me.
Turn me into your house clown
Transform me into a buffoon for your amusement.
If I don't fit the bill
If I'm not what you're looking for.
All the same
Despite that.
I loved you then
I had affection for you in the past.
I love you still
I still have feelings for you.
[Chorus]
Refrain of the song.
Want to know the truth?
Do you want to find out what really happened?
I caught a nasty bug
I was infected with something terrible.
And when it got a hold of me
And when it took ahold of my body.
I could not shake it free
I couldn't get rid of it.
A lasting blue note
A persistent feeling of sadness.
Has been haunting me
Has been troubling me for some time.
It's like an old mistress
It's similar to a former lover.
Forever chasing me...
It always seems to be following me.
But say no more
Again, there's no need to say anything else.
I may not be an easy man
I may not be simple to deal with.
But the way you played your hand
But the way you handled the situation.
I couldn't stand
I couldn't tolerate.
It's too bad
It's unfortunate.
There is much more we could have done
We could have accomplished much more together.
But now those days are dead and gone
But now that time has passed.
Nothing lasts
Nothing endures forever.
You made me feel this useless guilt
You caused me to feel this unnecessary remorse.
Can you look back on what we built?
Can you reflect on what we created together?
I wonder what you saw in me
I am curious about what you found attractive in me.
Tell me, was it real?
Inform me, was it authentic?
Was it love?
Was it genuine affection?
And though you think of it
However, you perceive it.
As the cause of my fall
As the reason for my downfall.
Never mind, I'm blessed, I'm here, at all
It doesn't matter, I am fortunate to still be alive.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PIERRE PAPADIAMANDIS, RONNIE BIRD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gamezone8071
Больше ни слова
Я думаю, ты никогда не поймешь
Я отказался от такого же требования
Вся моя жизнь!
Больше ни слова
В моей книге не может быть вины
Когда ты притворяешься, что я не стыжусь
Вы наполовину правы!
Все это время
Вы все пытались зацепить меня
Поверните меня в клоун вашего дома ...
Если я не подгоню счет ...
Все так же
Я любил тебя тогда
Я все еще люблю тебя!
Припев:
Хотите узнать правду?
Я поймал неприятную ошибку
И когда он получил меня
Я не мог избавиться от этого!
Прочная синяя записка
Меня преследовали!
Это как старая любовница
Навсегда преследую меня ...
Но не говорите больше
Я не могу быть легким человеком
Но то, как ты сыграл свою руку
Я терпеть не мог!
Это очень плохо
Мы можем многое сделать!
Но теперь эти дни мертвы и ушли
Ничто не вечно!
Все это время
Вы заставили меня почувствовать эту бесполезную вину
Можете ли вы оглянуться назад на то, что мы построили?
Интересно, что вы видели во мне ...
Скажи мне, было ли это реально?
Это была любовь?
Кому ты рассказываешь...
хор
И хотя вы думаете об этом
Как причина моего падения!
Ничего, я благословен ... Я здесь ... Совсем!
@renzogordillo2380
Say no more
I think you'll never understand
I have refused the same demand
All my life
Say no more
In my book there can be no blame
When you pretend I have no shame
You're half right
All along
You kept trying to pin me down
Turn me into your house clown
If I don't fit the bill
All the same
I loved you then
I love you still
Wanna know the truth?
I caught a nasty bug
And when it got a hold of me
I could not shake it free
A lasting blue note
Has been haunting me
It's like an old mistress
Forever chasing me...
But say no more
I may not be an easy man
But the way you played your hand
I couldn't stand
It's too bad
There is much more we could have done
But now those days are dead and gone
Nothing lasts
All along
You made me feel this useless guilt
Can you look back on what we built?
I wonder what you saw in me
Tell me, was it real?
Was it love?
You tell me...
Wanna know the truth?...
And though you think of it
As the cause of my fall
Never mind, I'm blessed, I'm here at all
@timfullman67
Say no more
I think you'll never understand
I have refused the same demand
All my life!
Say no more
In my book there can be no blame
When you pretend I have no shame
You're half right!
All along
You kept trying to pin me down
Turn me into your house clown...
If I don't fit the bill...
All the same
I loved you then
I love you still!
Chorus:
Want to know the truth?
I caught a nasty bug
And when it got ahold of me
I could not shake it free!
A lasting blue note
Has been haunting me!
It's like an old mistress
Forever chasing me...
But say no more
I may not be an easy man
But the way you played your hand
I couldn't stand!
It's too bad
There is much more we could have done!
But now those days are dead and gone
Nothing lasts!
All along
You made me feel this useless guilt
Can you look back on what we built?
I wonder what you saw in me...
Tell me was it real?
Was it love?
You tell me...
Chorus
And though you think of it
As the cause of my fall!
Never mind, I'm blessed... I'm here... At all!
awesome!
@airelahayk9722
Я восхищаюсь, что же ты во мне нашла,
Неужели это реально? Была ли это любовь?
Скажи мне...
Хочешь узнать правду?
Постоянные унылые нотки
Преследовали меня,
Как-будто давняя моя любовь
Всплывала в памяти вновь и вновь
Ведь мы могли столько сделать!
Но теперь эти дни в прошлом,
И ничего не осталось.
Постоянно ты заставляла меня чувствовать это бесполезное чувство вины,
@marattokhov8239
Этому шедевру место в сокровищнице мировой культуры.❤❤❤❤❤
@user-vv7te9rz1w
Столько боли в его голосе. Несомненно , эта песня ,для меня лучшая из репертуара Рея Чарльза.
@rebeccapithion
❤
@DanielSanchez-pz9cg
Sublime interpretación, que voz tan prodigiosa, que música tan bella y hermosa, atraviesa mi alma
@christineterry3079
In love with this song! His voice is amazing ... ❤
@aramshekikyanofficialchannel
This song goes so deep into my heart!!!
@ChillingInAFire
What a cool song, love the chords. Really sets a mood.
@PVM770
Лично для меня это лучший его шедевр ♥️♥️Такая музыка лечит душу и на сердце умеротаорение...
@a.s.944
Ти прав 👍
@user-sv7yn6mc5u
Это действительно лучшее👍