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Ray Charles has the distinction of being both a national treasure and an international phenomenon. ... The Ray Charles story is full of paradoxes, part and parcel of the American dream, “rags to riches”. ... The name Ray Charles is on a Star on Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame. ... It is music, Ray Charles’ single driving force, that catapulted a poor, black, blind, teenager from there to here. ...
Blind since the age of seven (from glaucoma), Charles studied composition and learned many instruments at the St. ... Charles was accepted as a charity student. ... By the late 1940’s, he was recording in a smooth pop/R&B style derivative of Nat “King” Cole and Charles Brown. ...
It was on the road in the 1950’s that the realities of segregation, its evils, its injustices, even its ludicrous moments, became apparent to Charles and his troupe of traveling musicians. Though during this time period Charles ran off a series of R&B hits that, although they weren’t called “soul” at the time, did a lot to pave the way for soul by presenting a form of R&B that was sophisticated without sacrificing any emotional grit. ... But Charles didn’t really capture the pop audience until “Whatd I Say,” which caught the favor of the church with its pleading vocals, as well as the spirit of rock & roll with its classic electric piano line.
Approximate Word count = 1014
Approximate Pages = 4.1
(250 words per page double spaced)
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