What is the soul? Philosophers have been struggling with this question for thousands of years… We can hardly solve this mystery, but one thing is sure: soul music comes from Ray Charles, a blind pianist whose pioneering fusion of gospel, blues, and jazz gave the word a whole new meaning.
Ray Charles was born on 23 September 1930 in Albany, Georgia. He didn’t just become “the one true genius in show business,” as Frank Sinatra called him. He was a genius. This nickname about Ray was not shy about using representatives of different generations of musicians. And not for nothing, it is repeated in the titles of his albums: “Ray Charles’ Genius” (1959), “Genius Sings the Blues” (1960), “Genius After Work” (1961), “Genius Loves Company” (2004).
Soul music as we know it would not exist without Ray Charles. One of the first influences that helped shape the new style was jazz. Since the mid-1940s, Ray Charles had been pursuing a career as a jazz singer and pianist. However, his style was too diverse to be limited to one style. As a teenager, the musician led an itinerant lifestyle, traveling around the US and quickly absorbing different music.
Eventually Ray Charles recorded the hit song “Confession Blues”, which reached number 2 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1949. A few years later, the musician caught the attention of legendary producer Jerry Wexler, who introduced Ray to the equally legendary Ahmet Ertegün, head of Atlantic Records. Here, Ray Charles honed his sound and opened the doors to the future of music.
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The Birth of Soul
Ray Charles’ first single for Atlantic is the stunning “Mess Around.” The pianist’s hands run freely back and forth on the piano; there’s a night party atmosphere after curfew, fiery vocals, and a roll call with the saxophonist – pure energy of unadulterated, classic rhythm and blues. “Mess Around” launched a series of songs that defined Ray Charles’ signature sound.
“I Got A Woman,” “Hallelujah I Love Her So”… Hit after hit; these songs show how Ray Charles added gospel to his cocktail of rhythm and blues and jazz that he had invented:
That’s how the path was opened to the landmark single “What’d I Say,” an explosive combination of Latin-tinged percussion, electric piano, and sensual vocals backed by a trio of female backup singers from The Raelettes. The song was born from a concert improvisation.
Catching the same energy in the studio, Ray recorded “What’d I Say” in a 6-minute version, overdubbed for a single. The song had to be split on both sides of the forty-spot. All Ray had to do was watch as it soared to the top of the R&B charts and reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 mainstream charts.
“The Whitest Music in the Blackest Way Possible”
Ray Charles began losing his sight at the age of five. Two years later, he went completely blind. The medical diagnosis was glaucoma. But the fading vision could also have psychological causes based on family tragedies. He watched his younger brother drown. The trauma of his mother’s early death haunted the musician all his life.
But Ray Charles’s blindness did not prevent him from creating. He remained intentionally blind to genre boundaries and stereotypes about the types of music supposedly given to African-American performers. Not surprisingly, “What’d I Say” charmed rock ‘n’ rollers.
Ray Charles saw no reason not to perform music that, in an era of strict segregation, was considered “belonging” to white audiences. 1960 Ray performed the country ballad “Georgia On My Mind.” His version eventually became canonical. It was even recognized as the official anthem of the state of Georgia.
Two years later, Ray Charles released two albums, Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music, further attracting white audiences and paving the way for black artists.
The struggle for civil rights was breaking out in the US then. Ray Charles’ turn to country music was a musical statement and a political one. Billy Joel said, “A dark-skinned man plays the whitest music in the blackest possible way.” Almost a decade later, in 1968, Ray Charles became one of the first artists to perform the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby.” Proving he could do the same with baroque pop.
“It’s Like Electricity!”
Ray Charles recorded his most significant works in the 1950s and early 1960s, but his influence persisted for decades. Irishman Van Morrison, who took a mix of jazz, R&B, and soul into new territory in the late 1960s, treated Ray like an idol. In 2004, they performed a duet of “Crazy Love,” a song Morrison wrote for the last Ray Charles album released during his lifetime.
Roger Waters of Pink Floyd was among the countless British teenagers mesmerized by Ray Charles’s voice. Upon hearing “Georgia On My Mind,” Waters said, “If I can make people feel just a twentieth of what I feel now, that will be quite enough.“
When comedians Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi decided to profess their love of music through the 1980 comedy The Blues Brothers, they also enlisted the help of Brother Ray. The maestro, as a blind musical instrument shop owner, showcased his virtuosity in “Shake A Tailfeather.”
Ray Charles’ legacy was celebrated on the big screen in a 2004 biographical film titled Ray. It’s a great film, one of their best biopics about musicians! Jamie Foxx, who played Ray Charles, won numerous Best Actor awards, including an Oscar, BAFTA, and Golden Globe. The film’s soundtrack won a Grammy.
What is a soul? The man who invented soul music had his answer, “It’s like electricity – we don’t know what it is, but it’s a force that can light up a room.” Ray Charles made the world a brighter place and completely changed how we think about music. You don’t have to be a philosopher to solve this problem. You have to be a genius.
Overcoming Adversity
Significant personal and professional challenges marked Ray Charles‘ journey to becoming a music legend. His blindness, which began in early childhood, was a hurdle that would have deterred many. However, Ray’s indomitable spirit and his mother’s unwavering support turned this potential limitation into a source of unique strength. His ability to read and write music in Braille and mastery of multiple instruments demonstrated remarkable adaptability and resilience.
Ray’s early life was also marked by profound personal loss. The traumatic experience of witnessing his younger brother’s drowning and the subsequent death of his mother were events that deeply affected him. These tragedies, however, seemed to fuel his music, imbuing it with an emotional depth and authenticity that resonated with audiences worldwide.
Collaborations and Innovations
Ray Charles was not just a solo genius but also a master of collaboration. He worked with numerous other musicians and producers throughout his career, blending his style with theirs to create something new. His pivotal collaborations with legendary producer Jerry Wexler and Atlantic Records’ head Ahmet Ertegün allowed Ray to refine his sound and push the boundaries of what was considered possible in popular music.
One of Ray’s most significant contributions to music was his ability to innovate within and across genres. His work in the late 1950s and early 1960s, particularly the song “What’d I Say,” showcased his genius for merging gospel’s spiritual hunger, the blues’ raw emotion, and jazz’s improvisational freedom. This blend defined soul music and influenced the development of rock and roll and other musical genres.
Cultural and Political Impact
Ray Charles’ music did more than entertain; it made profound cultural and political statements. At a time when America was deeply divided by racial segregation, Ray’s music crossed these boundaries, appealing to both black and white audiences. His rendition of “Georgia On My Mind” became the official state song of Georgia and was a symbolic moment, demonstrating the power of music to bridge racial divides.
His albums “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music” volumes one and two, released in the early 1960s, were groundbreaking. By performing country music, which was predominantly associated with white artists, Ray challenged the racial stereotypes and barriers within the music industry. This bold move broadened his audience and paved the way for future black artists to explore and succeed in genres outside of R&B and soul.
Conclusion
Ray Charles’ impact on music is immeasurable. By merging gospel, blues, and jazz, he invented soul music and transformed the musical landscape. His fearless approach to genre boundaries and ability to channel deep personal pain into his art created a powerful and enduring legacy. Despite his blindness and personal tragedies, Ray’s genius influenced countless musicians across generations and genres. His work broke down racial barriers in music, bringing diverse audiences together and paving the way for future artists. Ray Charles didn’t just change music; he electrified it, leaving a legacy that continues to light up the world of music. His story is a testament to the transformative power of talent, perseverance, and a boundless creative spirit.