Ray Charles, Vocal jazz Artist

The name “Ray Charles” designates a superstar worldwide. His bronze bust is enshrined in the Playboy Hall of Fame, and there is the bronze medallion that was cast and presented to him by the French Republic on behalf of the French people.  In just about every Hall of Fame that has anything to do with music, be it Rhythm & Blues, Jazz, Rock & Roll, Gospel or Country & Western, Ray’s name is very prominently displayed. There are many awards given to him in the foregoing categories as proof.

Born in Albany, Georgia, USA

Genre: Jazz, Rock and Roll, Pop, Gospel

Probably the strongest element in Ray Charles’ life, and the most concentrated driving force, is music. Ray often says, “I was born with music inside me. That’s the only explanation I know.”

Ray Charles was not born blind. In fact, it took almost seven years for him to lose his sight in its entirety. He had seven years to see the joy and sadness of this big wonderful world — a world he would never see again. As a seven-year-old child, in searching for light, he stared at the sun continuously, thereby eliminating all chances of the modern-day miracle, cornea transplants — a miracle of surgery unheard of in 1937.

Biographical information courtesy of Ray Charles; for more reading see link below.

http://www.raycharles.com/RC/RC-WhoWasRayCharles.html