Ray Charles by: Melissa Pate Stacy Johnson Vicki Steele

Family Background  Born Ray Charles Robinson September 23, 1930, in Albany, GA  Firstborn of Aretha and Baily Robinson  Born into a very poor family  Moved to Greenville, FL  Death of Brother

Musical Influences During Childhood Wylie Pittman Wylie Pittman  Owned the Red Wing Café Artie Shaw Artie Shaw  A great clarinet player  The Grand Old Opry The Grand Old Opry Music of his community Music of his community  Church gospel  Country and Western  Blues  Muddy Waters  Blind Boy Fuller –  Tampa Red Artie Shaw Blind Boy Fuller

Education St. Augustine’s School for the Blind St. Augustine’s School for the Blind  Began attending at age 7  Learned the correlation between mathematics and music.  Learned to read Braille  Learned to compose and arrange music  Left the school at age 15 after his mother’s death

First Jobs Musicians he played with Musicians he played with –Henry Washington –Joe Anderson –The Florida Playboys  Learned to yodel Played dance halls Played dance halls Thompson sisters Thompson sisters

The Turning Point The move to Seattle The move to Seattle –Recognized at talent show by Elks Club Elks Club Elks Club –Made the McSon Trio  Gossady McGee, Milt Jarret –1 st black group with T.V. show in Pacific Northwest Rocking Chair Rocking Chair –Left Elk’s Club and played at this club –Recognized by Jack Lauderdale of Swing Time Records

Musical Influences Charles Brown incredible piano skills laid-back voice Nat King Cole Guitar Slim pop singer blues guitar player throaty singer throaty singer Art Tatum Louis Jordan pianist saxophonist pianist saxophonist jazz musician jazz musician

Early Recording Career Recorded with Swingtime Recorded with Swingtime –Recorded in L.A. 1 st radio hit  Baby, Let me hold your hand  I Love You, I Love You  Confession Blues Recorded with Atlantic Recorded with Atlantic –Stopped imitating Nat King Cole  I Got a Woman –Transforms the Cookies into the Raelettes  Margie Hendrix, Ethel (Darlene) McCrae and Pat Lyles Signed with ABC in 1959 Signed with ABC in EAN= &ITM=7 EAN= &ITM=7 EAN= &ITM=7 EAN= &ITM=7

GRAMMYS Twelve throughout career Twelve throughout career Ranging from the year Ranging from the year asp?userid=Xz67zd9AcA&EAN= &ITM =7 asp?userid=Xz67zd9AcA&EAN= &ITM =7 Most were for Best Rhythm and Blues Performance Most were for Best Rhythm and Blues Performance

Three Number One Hits Georgia On My Mind Georgia On My Mind d9AcA&EAN= &ITM=7 d9AcA&EAN= &ITM=7 d9AcA&EAN= &ITM=7 d9AcA&EAN= &ITM=7 Hit the Road Jack Hit the Road Jack I Can’t Stop Loving You I Can’t Stop Loving You

Influenced Many Great Artists Marvin Gaye Marvin Gaye Aretha Franklin Aretha Franklin James Brown James Brown Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder Norah Jones Norah Jones

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Our Questions 1.Who taught Ray Charles to play the piano? 2.What was the name of the trio that Ray Charles belonged to in Seattle? 3. What year did Ray Charles win the most grammys?