True Stories: The Ray Charles Story

Ray Charles Robinson , more popularly known as Ray Charles, was an icon in the American Music Industry. He was a 12 time Grammy Award winner whose musical genius popularized soul music, a fusion of gospel music, and rhythm and blues. He elevated jazz, country music and rhythm and blues to a higher level in his more than four-decade long career. An epitome of success despite his disability, he was famous for playing the piano despite being blind.

He came from a poor family in Georgia, USA, he lost his eyesight at the age of 6. At the age of 7 he went to a school for the blind in Florida where he studied Braille and took up some lessons in music. He counterbalanced his blindness with his keen sense of music. He left school at the age of 15 after her mother died, to hone his gift for music.

He made his debut album in 1947 but it was not until the early 60's that he made a name for himself and was later recognized for his great musical genius through a series of album hits. Despite his physical handicaps and a lengthy addiction to heroin that ended only after a 1965 arrest in Boston, he is a very accomplished performer. He received various awards, commendations and honorary college degrees. He performed for heads of States and royalties in various occasions.

He passed away in June of 2004 at the age of 73 due to a liver disease. Ray Charles is survived by 11 children, 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.