Ray Charles was born on September 23, 1930, and died on June 10, 2004. He was an American pianist, singer, and composer and was given the title of “Founder of Soul” after his achievement in creating the “Soul Music,” a new music style created by combining the gospel, rhythm, blues, and jazz. Ray Charles’s parents first discovered his musical talent at the age of five as his parents moved to Greenville, Florida, and he played piano in a cafe near his neighborhood. At the age of six, Ray Charle experience a receding of vision before becoming officially blind at seven. The doctors diagnosed his symptom and believed it was caused by glaucoma. He attends the Flordia School of Death and Blind, learning the skills in playing several instruments such as the saxophones and organ. At the age of fifteen, he begins his professional music career after his mom’s death because of cancer. Later. he made a music piece with his new soul style called “I’ve Got a Woman.” It was able to obtain a number one popularity on the R&B listing. Later in his life, Ray Charles experience a tough battle with his heroin addictions. He was put into jail once for possession of heroin after release; he still maintains as one of the famous music artists of his time.

A list of Hip Hop music influenced by the soul music style. 

His contributions towards humanities involved his soul music. a music style that became extremely popular in the 20th century. In the 20th century, popular music styles such as hip pop, disco, jazz, and house were all heavily influenced by the soul music style. Music was also just beginning to gain popularity in people’s hearts, it played a big role in the African American and Women’s human rights movement. Ray Charles being able to perform on stages gave hope to others African Americans striving for equality of rights with the White Americans. 

The reason I chose him was that I always admire individuals great at playing the piano. Ray Charles inspired me to work hard no matter the circumstances, for he was blinded at the age of seven due to glaucoma. It is honestly amazing to see him be on stages performing to a crowd of thousands. He put a tremendous amount of training and effort into memorizing the places of the note’s key of a piano. He was also able to create multiple music pieces of his own while blind, with one of those pieces being “I’ve Got a Woman,” which is an incredible feat of accomplishment. The most interesting thing I have learned about him is that he was titled “The Genious” in creating the soul music style. He won thirteen awards  I had learned something weird about him because he witnessed his brother die when he drowned in a laundry tub at the age of four.

This is a youtube video of Ray Charles’s music piece “I’ve Got a Woman”. 

Another music piece created by Ray Charle is called “Song for You”. 

An African American protest event over African American rights with their children not being to attend White American schools.