The dance of notes with darkness: Who is Ray Charles?

Born to a poor farming family, Ray Charles was fascinated by the sounds of a piano from the neighboring house when he was three years old. Upon realizing this, his neighbor started teaching him piano. Ray Charles was so talented that at the age of five, he could play most songs on the piano. Colors had not yet disappeared from his world. The death of his brother by drowning in a basin of water before his eyes devastated him for a lifetime. He always blamed himself for not being able to save his brother.

Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 - June 10, 2004), better known as Ray Charles, was an American pianist, musician, and rhythm and blues master. He was born in Albany, Georgia. He is the son of Bailey and Aretha. When he was five years old, his younger brother George fell headlong into the bathtub and drowned. A few years later, Ray went blind at the age of seven. (The reason for his blindness is an eye disease called glaucoma) But the real reason is that he blames himself for his brother's death.

Disappearance of colors

Ray Robinson developed stinging, burning, and loss of vision in his eyes a few months after he lost his brother. Ray's eye pressure was very high and it was slowly blinding him. His mother, who learned that her son would eventually become completely blind, began to teach him how to walk in the dark and what he could do to adapt to life when he was blind. Even if Ray fell to the ground, his mother wouldn't lend a helping hand.

Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Genius". Among friends and fellow musicians, he preferred being called "Brother Ray". Charles was blinded during childhood, possibly due to glaucoma.

But Ray felt that his mother was punishing him with the tenderness of childhood. When he completely lost his sight, he gave all his focus to the sounds around him. Noticing even the hardest-to-hear frequencies, Ray was now keeping an eye on him. Soon after, his mother sent him to the School for the Blind in St Augustine. There he learned to play other instruments as well. He lost his father when he was ten years old and his mother when he was fifteen. After his mother died, he left school and started playing in bars.

When a Turk's hand reaches out

His name, originally Ray Robinson, was changed to Ray Charles, as it was similar to the name of the then-famous boxer Sugar Ray Robinson. It was exploited by the business owners while making the places where it worked to earn more. So much so that even the people he thought were his friends took advantage of his blindness and made a fool of him. Even though he changed places when he realized this, the same things happened to him again. He was introduced to drugs when he started working in Lowell Fulson's orchestra.

Although he overshadowed everyone who played in the orchestra, he could not earn decent money. Because the person who was managing him was doing nothing but using him. The artist, who was exposed to these until his path crossed with music producer Ahmet Ertegün, was touched by a Turk and the best period of his life began.

But for that, Ray needed to find his original interpretation. Because he could imitate all the sounds he heard, he was under the influence of other musicians.

When Ertegun asked him to throw off all external influences and just be himself, Ray agreed unconditionally. So he found his interpretation that made him a legend. He started to make his voice heard with his record called Ray Charles, which he released from Atlantic Records. Meanwhile, he met one of his fans, Della Bea, and fell in love with her. They got married soon after, but Ray's drug addiction took a toll on their relationship.

Attempts to introduce a new interpretation

The artist, who topped the music charts with his song Hit the Road Jack, solidified his position with What I'd Say, The Things That I Used To, Georgia on My Mind. He broke new ground in music with the album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. He now had a serious fan base and was also influencing contemporary musicians.

His integration of the gospel song I Got a Woman with jazz rhythms excited the producers and caused some reactions from the audience. So much so that even his wife was offended when he first heard this comment. But Ray didn't give up on what he knew.

Besides the songs he made himself, his covers were also impressive. So much so that he left behind the artists who performed the songs he covered.

Addiction, cure, the color of the world

Over time, his name became addicted to the music market. When the drug started to show its effects on his body, he stubbornly said that he would not quit, even if his loved ones warned him. During this period, his music went into decline. He got into trouble with the police many times. In the last of these, he realized that he would lose his music if he continued like this and settled in a rehabilitation center.

During the treatment process, he tried to escape many times and had severe withdrawal attacks. But in the end, he gave up drugs completely. Although he was banned for life by the state of Georgia for opposing racism and canceling the concert during a concert he was going to give in Georgia, he was amnesty eighteen years later. In fact, the song Georgia On My Mind was accepted as the official song of the state. Ray Charles, who died of liver failure two months before his last album Genius Love Company was released, was one of those who taught the world how music and passion for art keep people alive. For him, the most beautiful color was music.