Re: Tribute to Afro-American singers
Ray Charles - nicknamed "The Genius" - 1930-2004 R.I.P
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Ray Charles and Quincy Jones had been friends for 55 years since the day they both met in Seattle when Ray was 16 and Quincy was 14. Their musical careers started together and stayed almost parallel.
Ray is an American treasure and a true example of American Dream and tale of rags to riches. He learned to play piano at a very young age growing up in poverty in a segregated state of Georgia. The very same state of Georgia that banned him from performing there later honored him and in 1979 made one of his hits "Georgia on my mind" as the state song. After his mothers death he moved out of the South and started his musical journey. He encompassed a myriad of musical styles including Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Gospel, Country and Western. He blended them all together to create his own sound. Ray's impact on American music is far-reaching.
He won 12 Grammys and was inducted in Hall Of Fame for: Rhythm and Blues, Jazz and Rock and Roll.
RAY CHARLES TIMELINE
September 23, 1930 - Ray Charles Robinson is born in Albany, Georgia.
1937 - A year after his brother drowns, Ray Charles loses his sight.
1948 - Ray leaves the South and heads to the jumping Seattle scene.
1949 - Makes his chart debut with "Confession Blues" on Swingtime Records.
1952 - Atlantic Records signs Ray Charles.
1955 - "I Got a Woman" hits No. 2 on the R&B charts.
1956 - Ray has his first #1 R&B hit with "Drown In My Own Tears."
1959 - Leaves Atlantic Records for ABC Paramount.
1960 - "Georgia on My Mind" becomes Ray's first crossover #1 pop hit, and garners him his first Grammy Award.
1960 - Ray's debut ABC record, The Genius Hits the Road, goes Top Ten.
1962 - Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music becomes #1 album.
1966 - Convicted of heroin possession and subsequently goes into rehab.
1979 - "Georgia on My Mind" becomes Georgia's state song.
1986 - Ray Charles inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1987 - Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammy Awards.
1994 - Wins the 12th Grammy of his career (for "A Song for You").
2003 - Library of Congress picks "What'd I Say" as one of America's most significant recordings.
June 11, 2004 - Ray Charles dies at age 73.
He gave birth to Soul music which nowadays is usually referred to as Rhythm and Blues (R&B).
Ill stop here and upload his music which speaks for itself.
These are his groundbreaking hits.
I Got A Woman
.891321649
Drown In My Own Tears
.841523649
What I'd Say
.2006001045
Georgia on my mind
.842951721
Hard Times
.606224563
Hit The Road Jack
.1713067780
Unchain My Heart
.761347525
they got all da galz mate.
