Ray Charles was the musician most responsible for the development of soul music. Performers such as Sam Cook и Jackie Wilson, also contributed greatly to the creation of the soul sound. But Charles did more. He combined 50s R&B with biblical chant-based vocals. Added a lot of details from modern jazz and blues.
Then it is worth noting its sound production. His style was one of the most emotional and easily recognizable among 20th century performers such as Elvis Presley and Billie Holiday. He was also an excellent keyboardist, arranger and bandleader.
First attempts at making music
Blind since the age of six (from glaucoma), Charles studied composition and many musical instruments at St. Augustine's School for the Deaf and Blind. His parents died at an early age and he briefly worked as a musician in Florida before using his savings to move to Seattle in 1947. By the late '40s, he was recording pop/R&B music, a derivative genre from Nat "King" Cole.
In 1951, Charles had his first top ten R&B hit with "Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand". Charles' first recordings drew considerable criticism as they were much softer and less original than his "classics" that would follow. Although the songs are actually quite pleasant, they show good skills as a musician.
Finding Your Own Sound
In the early 50s, Charles's sound began to harden when he toured with Lowell Fulson. Charles later moved to New Orleans to work with Guitar Slim. Played keyboards and arranged the hugely popular R&B hit Guitar Slim The Things That I Used to Do.” There, the musician assembled a band for R&B star Ruth Brown.
It was on Atlantic Records that Ray Charles really found his voice. Combined the achievements of recent years. The result was the R&B hit "I Got a Woman" in 1955. This song is most often singled out as his main sound. Charles was the first to truly use the style of gospel singing.
Throughout the 50s, Charles recorded a string of R&B hits. Although they were not called the main ones for Ray Charles, they earned respect from the musicians.
“This Little Girl of Mine”, “Drown in My Own Tears”, “Hallelujah I Love Her So”, “Lonely Avenue” and “The Right Time”. All these are unsurpassed hits of the time, written by Charles.
However, the musician really couldn't attract a pop audience. Until the single "What'd I Say" took over with its original vocals. Also the spirit of rock and roll with his classic electric piano playing. It was his first Top 10 pop hit and one of his last Atlantic singles. Charles left the label in the late 50s to sign with ABC.
New contract - new works by Ray Charles
One of the main features of the ABC agreement for Charles was a greater degree of artistic control over his recordings. He used it well for the hits of the early 60s. Among them are "Unchain My Heart" and "Hit the Road Jack". These hits solidified the popularity of the R&B genre. He perfected his R&B sound during his time at Atlantic.
In 1962, he surprised the world of pop music. The artist turned his attention to country and western music. Topped the charts with the single "I Can't Stop Loving You". Released a hugely popular album in an era when R&B/soul albums rarely charted. The album was called Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.
Charles has always been eclectic. Recorded quite a lot of jazz compositions on Atlantic with such famous jazz musicians as David "Fathead" Newman and Milt Jackson.
Drug addiction artist Ray Charles
Charles remained extremely popular in the mid-60s. Released quite successful hits. Such as: "Busted", "You My My Sunshine", "Take the Chains From My Heart" and "Crying Time". Although his productive work was put on hold due to heroin addiction in 1965. This led to a year-long absence of the musician from performances. But he continued his musical career in 1966.
And yet, by this time, Charles paid less and less attention to rock music. Often with string arrangements that seemed to be aimed more at a younger audience.
Charles' influence on the rock mainstream was as clear as ever; In particular, Joe Cocker and Steve Winwood owe much of their style to him, and echoes of his phrases can be heard more subtly in the works of such greats as Van Morrison.
Ray Charles influence
It is quite difficult to evaluate the contribution of Ray Charles to the development of music. After all, he was an American performer. As you know, what is popular in America is popular all over the world. In addition, his vocal data for half a century of career has not changed much.
However, the fact remains. His work after the 60s was very disappointing. Millions of listeners longed for a return to the standard sound of his classic compositions from 1955-1965. But Charles was never committed to one genre.
Like Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley, his focus was more on pop culture. His love for jazz, country and pop was evident. He occasionally charted with his hits. He skillfully interacted with a dedicated international concert audience whenever he liked and wanted to.
Whether that's good or bad, it's hard to say. But he left his imprint on the American mass consciousness in the 1990s. Wrote several commercials for Diet Pepsi. He also recorded three albums during the 90s for Warner Bros. But he remained the most popular concert performer.
In 2002, he released the album Thanks for Bringing Love Around Again. The following year, he began recording an album of duets featuring B. King, Willie Nelson, Michael McDonald and James Taylor.
The last years of the life of the artist Ray Charles
Following hip replacement surgery in 2003, he planned a tour for the following summer, but was forced to cancel the show in March 2004. Three months later, on June 10, 2004, Ray Charles died of liver disease at his home in Beverly Hills, USA.
The duet album Genius Loves Company was released two months after his death. The biopic "Ray" was released in the fall of 2010 and was a critical and commercial success. The actor who played Charles in the film, Jamie Foxx, won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2005.
Two more posthumous albums, "Genius & Friends" and "Ray Sings, Basie Swings", appeared in 2005 and 2006 respectively. Charles' recordings began to appear in various modern editions, reissues, remasters and box sets as his entire recorded legacy caught the attention of contemporary American artists.
