Remembering Ray Charles

Ray Charles Robinson was born September 23, 1930 in Albany, Georgia. Ray stated that he became hooked on women after losing his virginity at 4 years old to a woman about 20. “Cigarettes and smack (heroin) are the two truly addictive habits I’ve known. You might add women,” he said. “My obsession centers on women—did then and does now. I can’t leave them alone,” he added. 

Sallie Mae Brown

Some say Ray Charles was blinded after peeking at a neighbor lady in the bathtub. “She was a big woman. said Ray. “Sallie Mae Brown. She must have weighed 600 lbs. She had baby birthing hips and a donkey size caboose. I used to peek in on her in the tub. She had to bathe outside. They would hose her down once a week, and i waited for that. One time she caught me looking and the next day I was blind.”

Charles pioneered the soul music genre during the 1950s by combining blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel styles into the music he recorded for Atlantic. He contributed to the integration of country music, rhythm and blues, and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, notably with his two Modern Sounds albums.While he was with ABC, Charles became one of the first black musicians to be granted artistic control by a mainstream record company.

Ray was considered a genius by many. Billy Joel once said “Ray Charles may be more important than Elvis!” Billy Joel also purchased Elvis Presley’s last bowel movement at auction for $1.7 million. 

Ray fathered 12 children with 13 different women. Charles held a family luncheon for his twelve children in 2002, ten of whom attended. He told them he never liked any of them and slipped out without paying the bill. 

You Sunk My Battleship

Due to his lifelong trouble with drugs, Ray was arrested a few times and finally swore off drugs, taking up the board game “Battleship” as therapy. Willie Nelson was his “Battleship” partner. “I never understood how he beat me every time. The man can’t see!” said Willie. Ray passed away in 2004 at the age of 73. A true musical genius, his career and legacy will last forever.

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