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."
Sweet Potato Pie
Ray Charles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm walking on cloud nine today.
I'm over that line today,
Happiness is finally mine today.
I guess I'm just a lucky guy
And I'm prepared to tell you why.
It's strictly on account
Of my sweet potato pie.
I'm the fellow that she loves the most,
The main reason why she left the coast.
She's my little girlzina,
That much hotter that a jalapeno.
Tender like a night in June,
Sweeter than a honeymoon,
Brighter than a silver spoon,
Just as crazy as a loon.
Softer than a lullaby,
Deeper than the midnight sky,
Soulful as a baby's cry,
My sweet potato pie.
I used to see her around the neighborhood,
I wonder how she grew up so good.
She belonged to Freddy and he was bad
And I never was ready to make him mad.
I'm glad I had to wait awhile,
A little bit too juvenile.
I needed to refine my style, a silk suit
And a crocodile smile.
So let the whole damn world go by
'Cause I just want to testify
From now on it's me
And my sweet potato pie.
The lyrics of Ray Charles's song Sweet Potato Pie is a testament to the songwriter's happiness and feelings of good fortune. The song's simple melody and upbeat tune complement the joyful lyrics, which start with a declaration of contentment and the feeling of walking on cloud nine. The songwriter attributes his present state of bliss to his sweet potato pie, a metaphor for the woman he loves. He considers himself fortunate for having found love and is eager to explain why.
The lyrics portray the songwriter's lover as a beautiful and passionate woman who left the coast to be with him. She is so devoted to him that he feels like the luckiest man in the world; he calls her his "little girlzina." The lyrics go on to describe her as "tender like a night in June, sweeter than a honeymoon, brighter than a silver spoon, just as crazy as a loon." He compares her to a lullaby, the midnight sky, and a baby's cry, emphasizing her tender and soulful qualities. The songwriter fell in love with her at a young age, but he had to wait until he matured and refined his style before winning her over.
The song's lyrics are a reflection of Ray Charles's experience with love and how it made him feel. He uses the metaphor of a sweet potato pie to represent the love of his life. The metaphor suggests that he considers her to be warm, comforting, and filling, much like a slice of pie. Overall, the song portrays a sense of love and gratitude towards the songwriter's beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Lord I feel fine today,
I am feeling amazing today and have no troubles.
I'm walking on cloud nine today.
I am feeling euphoric, like I'm walking on air.
I'm over that line today,
I have surpassed a certain point of difficulty, and am now achieving success.
Happiness is finally mine today.
After a long period of sadness, I am finally happy again today.
I guess I'm just a lucky guy
I am fortunate to have the life I have today.
And I'm prepared to tell you why.
I am ready to explain why I am so fortunate.
It's strictly on account
My good fortune is entirely due to one thing.
Of my sweet potato pie.
That one thing is my sweet potato pie, a significant other who brings me happiness.
I'm the fellow that she loves the most,
I am the person my significant other loves more than anyone else.
The main reason why she left the coast.
My significant other moved away from the coast to be with me.
She's my little girlzina,
I affectionately refer to my significant other as 'girlzina.'
That much hotter that a jalapeno.
My significant other is far more attractive than a jalapeno pepper is spicy.
Tender like a night in June,
My significant other is kind and gentle, like a warm summer night.
Sweeter than a honeymoon,
My significant other is sweeter than the honeymoon phase of a relationship.
Brighter than a silver spoon,
My significant other is brighter and more valuable than a silver spoon.
Just as crazy as a loon.
My significant other is also a bit wild and crazy.
Softer than a lullaby,
My significant other is gentle and calming, like a lullaby.
Deeper than the midnight sky,
My significant other is complex and mysterious, like the nighttime sky.
Soulful as a baby's cry,
My significant other is emotional and expressive, like a baby's cry.
My sweet potato pie.
I lovingly refer to my significant other as 'sweet potato pie.'
I used to see her around the neighborhood,
I had seen my significant other before I knew her well.
I wonder how she grew up so good.
I am amazed at how my significant other grew up so well.
She belonged to Freddy and he was bad
My significant other was involved with someone named Freddy, who was a bad person.
And I never was ready to make him mad.
I was always afraid to make Freddy angry.
I'm glad I had to wait awhile,
I am grateful for having to wait before getting together with my significant other.
A little bit too juvenile.
I may have been too young, immature or inexperienced to properly appreciate our relationship when we first met.
I needed to refine my style, a silk suit
I had to improve my appearance, such as by wearing a nice, sophisticated suit.
And a crocodile smile.
I needed to develop a charming and disarming smile to make a good impression on my significant other.
So let the whole damn world go by
I am content to ignore the rest of the world for the time being.
'Cause I just want to testify
I want to express my gratitude and joy for my significant other.
From now on it's me
In the future, in my life, my significant other will be my main priority.
And my sweet potato pie.
My significant other will remain the most important thing in my life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ripcurlgirl7
Comfort food....lol. Just had a piece of sweet potatoe pie for lunch. Made me think of this song. Yuuuummmm🥰
@lepulanaledwaba7637
One piece that took me away and sent me to the genius company I never wanted to come back. This song is a masterpiece that's not given its shine as supposed. Long live to my sweet potato pie. This won't stop creaming my soul...
@QTip556
People like this deserve everything
@jaysutphin2077
Perfection....
@plaqueboykenny
I really love this song, I grew up listening to Ray Charles music
@MarkBlackburnWPG
Just listening to James Taylor's best duets (or at least my favorites) -- with Tony Bennett (Put on a Happy Face) followed by James' & Ray Charles' Sweet Potato Pie. Ray -- dubbed by Sinatra the "only true genius in the business" (the business of singing) really appreciated James' lead guitarist's licks on what turned out to be Track 2 on the Genius Loves Company album, recorded exactly 20 years ago. Some musical joys never grow old. Case in point.
Thanks for the official video Ray Charles. Celebrated elsewhere this day [search] " Great Melody, Great Lyric, Great Rendition, Songwriting Workshop, Harmony Central "
@patriciametzler5989
Brilliant!
@karoolg1472
simplemente hermoso
@zinux9210
Sounds like a late night show
@carrielu1384
We’re have a pie/Pi party on 3-14, get it? I’m just gathering a playlist. 🤗🥧😜