Ray Charles Robinson, full name Ray Charles Robinson, American blind pianist, author, performer, was born on September 23, 1930. He died on June 10, 2004. When Ray is five years old, his younger brother dies before his eyes, and as a result of the shock, the boy begins to lose his sight and by the age of seven he will completely go blind. But despite the illness, he grows up a very lively and inquisitive child, studies at a school for the blind in Braille, at the same time begins to play musical
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Ray Charles Robinson, full name Ray Charles Robinson, American blind pianist, author, performer, was born on September 23, 1930. He died on June 10, 2004.
When Ray is five years old, his younger brother dies before his eyes, and as a result of the shock, the boy begins to lose his sight and by the age of seven he will completely go blind. But despite the illness, he grows up a very lively and inquisitive child, studies at a school for the blind in Braille, at the same time begins to play musical instruments - piano, saxophone, clarinet and organ.
After graduating from school, Ray participates in musical projects of jazz and country style direction. The spiritual inspirers of the young man are Art Tatum, Count Basie.
In 1947, at the age of 17, Ray Charles, with a “whole fortune” of $ 600, went to Seattle, where, together with guitarist Gossady McGee, he organized the MacSon Trio. Ray released his first tracks, "Guitar Blues", "Wonderin' and Wonderin'", and "Walkin' and Talkin'". Ray collaborates with an R& B artist named Lowell Fulson.
In 1953, Ray Charles released the song "Mess Around", which immediately became very popular among listeners of radio stations around the world. Later that year, he arranged with Guitar Slim, and their single "The Things That I Used To Do" was sold.
The 1956 album is recorded by Ray Charles not in studio, but in live performance, in front of the audience, fully demonstrates the skill of the musician. The song "What I'd Say" is considered to be the most significant jazz composition to date, and most notably, it was written by Ray right at the concert, during the recording.
Black musician, author of many songs, his work inspires a huge number of performers, and the basics of rock and roll, represented by the music of Ray Charles, do not cease to have a huge influence on composers and musicians of our time.
Ray Charles visited many countries, including Russia, in 1994 and 2000. In 1996 he participated in the opening of the Olympic Games in Atlanta, and later performed at the inauguration.