September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004
Ray Charles Robinson’s beginnings in Georgia and Florida were tough. Already dealing with the realities of extreme poverty, Ray witnessed his brother drown in a wash tub at the age of 5. He also began to lose his sight around the same time and, by the time he was 7 years-old, was completely blind.
Fast forward a little bit and things went alright for Ray. Despite struggles with legal issues and substance abuse, Charles had a meteoric career in music using jazz, blues, rock and gospel influences to become one of the best-selling artists of all time. His impact on music was staggering. He successfully crossed over into the pop and country mainstream, becoming one of the first African-American artists to do so. He consistently ranks in the Top 10 on lists of the top singers/entertainers/performers of all time.
Celebrity Graveland 