Ray Charles

The Genius
Of Soul

By: Tim Hamza

 Ray Charles Origins and Family

Ray Charles was born and raised in Albany, Georgia. He was

the first child of Aretha and Bailey Robinson. His family
started out poor and stayed that way throughout the hard
years of the great depression. Eventually, he and his family
moved to Greenville, Florida. His music career started there in
a neighborhood café. He attended the Florida School for the
Blind and Deaf in St. Augustine. He focused mostly on musical
studies, but dropped out at 15 to play piano professionally.
The Story of Ray Charles
African American artist Ray Charles was a trailblazer who overcame several
challenges. He did not fit into one genre and frequently combined pop, R&B,
gospel, and country music in creative ways. Charles backed the civil rights
struggle by giving Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. financial assistance and by
declining to play at segregated concerts in 1961 in response to a letter from
the student president of Paine College. Charles has supported the
handicapped community, but not much about it has been made public. His
steadfast reluctance to allow his own infirmity hold him back may be
somewhat to blame for this.
Ray Charles was commonly known as “The Genius
of Soul” even though he couldn't see.
Ray Charles lost his eyesight at around seven
years old. Years later, medical professionals
proposed that his blindness was caused by
juvenile glaucoma. However, Charles insisted
that his vision impairment had no negative
impact on his profession.
Ray Charles Full Life Story
Ray Charles was a legendary musician who had an incredible impact on the world of
music. His life was filled with challenges, but he overcame them all to become one of
the most celebrated artists of his time. Born in Georgia in 1930, Ray Charles lost his
sight at the age of seven due to glaucoma. However, his mother encouraged him to
pursue his passion for music, and he began to learn the piano and other instruments by
ear. As a young man, Ray Charles faced many obstacles and discrimination because of
his race, but he refused to be held back. He moved to Seattle and formed his own band,
which quickly gained a following. Throughout his career, Ray Charles was known for his
innovative style, blending different genres of music to create something entirely new
and unique. He released countless hit songs, including "Georgia on My Mind," "Hit the
Road Jack," and "What'd I Say." In addition to his musical achievements, Ray Charles
was also a passionate advocate for civil rights. He supported the work of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. and refused to perform at segregated concerts. He used his platform to
raise awareness about the injustices faced by African Americans and worked to
promote equality for all. Despite facing many challenges over the course of his life, Ray
Charles never gave up. He continued to perform and create music until his death in
2004, leaving behind a legacy that has inspired countless musicians and fans around the
world.
 10 of Ray Charles greatest hits

1. Can’t Stop Loving You

2. Hit the Road Jack on Saturday
3. Hallelujah I Love her so
4. A Song for You
5. Georgia on my Mind
6. America the Beautiful
7. Living for the City
8. What’d I say
9. Let it be
10. Somewhere Over the Rainbow
My favorite hit
In my opinion, his greatest song was Let it
be, which he released in 1977. I liked how
the music sounded uplifting but at the
same time felt like there was pain and
sadness in the words.
Works Cited:

Charles, Ray (1930-2004). https://www.historylink.org/file/5707. Accessed 8 Mar. 2024.

cofresi, diana. “Ray Charles ~ About Ray Charles | American Masters | PBS.” American
Masters, 17 May 2006,
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/ray-charles-about-ray-charles/554/.
“Five Things to Know About Ray Charles.” Smithsonian Music, 11 Feb. 2016,
https://music.si.edu/story/five-things-know-about-ray-charles.
Ray Charles - The Genius of Soul (Documentary). www.youtube.com,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl_dsK_hqUM. Accessed 8 Mar. 2024.
“Ray Charles and Disability.” Smithsonian Music, 23 Feb. 2016,
https://music.si.edu/story/ray-charles-and-disability.
Ray Charles Greatest Hits - The Very Best Of Ray Charles - Ray Charles Collection.
www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YZzZIt6Tmg. Accessed 8 Mar.
2024.