Ray Charles in 1960

Ray Charles - Bio, Age, Chinese Zodiac Sign & Timeline

BornSeptember 24, 1930
DiedApril 06, 2015 (age 84)
BirthplaceAlbany, Georgia, United States
Zodiac SignLibra
Chinese ZodiacHorse
GenerationSilent Generation
Known ForPioneering soul music by combining gospel, blues, and jazz; classic hits like 'Georgia On My Mind,' 'Hit the Road Jack,' and 'What’d I Say'; overcoming blindness to become one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.

Intro

Ray Charles was a legendary American singer-songwriter, pianist, and composer. He is widely regarded as a pioneer in the soul genre, blending elements of gospel, blues, jazz, and R&B. Charles's innovative style and emotional vocal performances had a major influence on the development of popular music.

Early Life & Background

Ray Charles Robinson was born in Albany, Georgia. He became blind at the age of seven due to glaucoma. After his mother's encouragement, he attended the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine, Florida, where he learned to read, write, and arrange music in Braille and mastered several instruments.

Career Highlights

  • Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 [1][2]
  • Awarded 17 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award [1][3]
  • 'Georgia On My Mind' became the official state song of Georgia in 1979 [1][4]
  • His landmark album 'Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music' (1962) broke new musical ground [1][2]
  • Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004 [2][4]

Trivia

  • Nicknamed 'The Genius' by fellow musicians [1]
  • Was childhood friends with Quincy Jones, another music legend [1][2]
  • Appeared in several films and TV shows, including 'The Blues Brothers' (1980) [5]
  • Was a passionate chess player despite his blindness [1]
  • Refused to play to segregated audiences, notably in Augusta, Georgia, in 1961 [1][2]

FAQs

People also ask

When was Ray Charles born?

Ray Charles was born the 24 September 1930.

Where is Ray Charles from?

Albany, Georgia, United States.

On His Birth-Day

About September 24th, 1930, in brief:

  • Historical events: In a stark demonstration of Stalinist repression, the Soviet government executed 48 government officials, accusing them of being 'counter-revolutionists' and plotting to create a food crisis to destabilize the regime. This event exemplifies the brutal political purges characteristic of Stalin's early governance, where perceived political threats were systematically eliminated.
  • Day of the week: September 24th, 1930 was a Wednesday
  • Zodiac Sign: Libra (in western zodiac), Horse (in Chinese zodiac)
  • Moon Phase: Waxing crescent
  • Popular movie: Up the River directed by John Ford

Check the link for more news and curiosities on September 24th, 1930.

Sources

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Charles
  2. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ray-Charles
  3. https://www.grammy.com/artists/ray-charles/15407
  4. https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/ray-charles
  5. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0153366/