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Ray Charles
has the distinction of being both a national treasure
and an international phenomenon. One of the most influential
artists of the past 50 years, Ray's writing, singing
and playing skills have earned him entry into three
Halls of Fame - Rhythm & Blues, Jazz and Rock &
Roll. He has sold millions of albums and has received
12 Grammys. Ray was born into a life of poverty and,
by age seven, a childhood affliction had rendered him
completely blind. Then music turned his life around.
"I was born with music inside me. That's the only
explanation I know of..." he remarks in his autobiography.
"Music was one of my parts... like my blood."
Ray followed
the irresistible pull and began to carve out his legend.
He began to build a solo act, imitating Nat "King"
Cole. Shortly after, Ray formed a band of his own, his
first big hit record, "I Got A Woman," quickly
followed. By the early 1960s Ray had come of age musically.
He had become a great musician, posting musical milestones
along his route finally making it to Carnegie Hall.
The hit records ("Georgia," "Born to
Lose") successively kept climbing to the top of
the charts. His rendition of "America" has
become the definitive musical statement of national
patriotism. Four decades later, the imprint that Ray
has made upon the musical landscape is unmistakable.
Having achieved more than even he could have dreamed,
Ray continues to follow the music inside him - to the
delight of audiences worldwide.
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