Who Is Ray Charles Robinson?

Ray Charles, whose full name is Ray Charles Robinson is widely known for his inspirational life story, transformation of jazz and his influence on nearly every genre during his active years. With his distinct vocals and passionate piano playing skills, Ray Charles knew how to entertain a crowd along with bring people together. During Ray’s primary active years there was still much racism going on towards colored people. Ray’s music helped the current white and black generations come together during these times with their similar likings to his music.
Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23rd, 1930 in Albany Georgia. His parents, Aretha and Bailey Robinson were never formally married and he was born into a poor family. Ray's’ mother Aretha
Ray’s father Bailey made a living as a railroad worker and spent most of his time working between Perry, Florida and Adele, Georgia. Bailey Robinson was hardly present during his life but he would occasionally stop by to spend some time with Ray and his brother George. At the age of five, Ray’s family decided to move to a small village called Greenville which resides on the border of Florida and Georgia. Soon after getting settled in their new home, Ray witnessed his little brother George drowning in a bathtub. When Ray returned from alarming his mother, it was too late and his brother had already drowned. Within the same year, Ray started having issues with his eyesight and was officially declared legally blind due to glaucoma.
At the age of seven Rays mother enrolled him in the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine where he attended from 1937 to 1945. It was during this time in school that he learned to play the piano, organ, saxophone, trumpet, clarinet and read and write music in braille. Shortly after his mother died, Ray relocated to tampa Florida at the age of fifteen in hopes of igniting his musical career.
He received many achievements and awards and because of that, he is considered a legend and a musical pioneer. In 1960 alone, Ray received eight awards which included Record of the Year, Best Solo Vocal Performance Male, Best Rhythm and Blues Recording, Album of the Year, Best Rhythm and Blues Performance, Best Vocal Performance Male, Best Vocal Performance Single Record or Track Male and Best Performance By a Pop/Rock Contemporary Single Artist. Ray became the first black male to win a Grammy and a number one Billboard Pop Chart Hit with a western and country song. In 1964, one of Ray's biggest achievements was that he became the first major recording artist to start his own recording studio called the RPM International Incorporate. In 1964, Ray was inducted into the Playboy Hall of fame and later on went to perform “America the Beautiful” in the white house with current president Nixon present. Even after the year he passed away in 2005, a post station was named after Ray by the United States Congress and within the same year the Grammy awards were dedicated to his