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Ray Charles was an American singer, songwriter and pianist who was born on September 28, 1930. He is one of the most iconic and influential singers in history. Ray Charles was most of the time referred to as ‘The Genuis’ even though he preferred to be called Brother Ray.
Due to glaucoma, Ray Charles got blind when he was a child. Regardless, he was the pioneer of the soul music genre during the 1950s. He was able to blend blues, jazz, rhythms and blues and gospel styles into the music he recorded.
He recorded the music for Atlantic Records. Ray Charles also contributed his quota to the integration of country music, rhythms and blues and pop music. This was during the 1960s with his success on ABC Records. He recorded two Modern Sounds albums. While at ABC Records, Ray Charles was the first black musician to be given control over his works by a mainstream record company.
Ray Charles Cause of Death
He had hip replacement surgery in 2003 and had planned to go on a tour. However, he died in his home in Beverly Hills.
The cause of death was complications resulting from liver cancer. He died on June 10, 2004, at the age of 73.
His funeral took place on June 18, 2004, and he was buried at the Inglewood Park Cemetery
Marriage
Ray Charles was married twice. The first marriage did not last up to a year but the second marriage lasted for 22 years. It is important to note that when Ray Charles was alive, he was involved with a lot of women and gave birth to a lot of children.
He was first married to Eileen Williams and the marriage lasted from July 31, 1951, to 1952. His second wife was Della Beatrice and they met in 1954. They got married on April 5, 1955. Their first son was Ray Charles Robinson Jr. and he was born in 1955. They had two more sons; David and Robert.
Their marriage did not last due to heroin addiction on the part of Ray Charles, as well as extramarital affairs and his violent attitude.
Ray Charles also had affairs with Margie Hendrix, Mae Mosley Lyles, Sandra Jean Betts and Arlette Kotchounian. Ray Chares fathered a total of 12 children with 10 different women. His children are Evelyn Robinson, born in 1949 (daughter with Louise Flowers), Ray Charles Robinson Jr., born May 25, 1955 (son with wife Della Bea Robinson), David Robinson, born in 1958 (son with wife Della Bea Robinson), Charles Wayne Hendricks, born on October 1, 1959 (son with Margie Hendricks, one of the Raelettes)[95], Robert Robinson, born in 1960 (son with wife Della Bea Robinson) and Renee Robinson, born in 1961 (daughter with Mae Mosely Lyles).
The rest are Sheila Robinson, born in 1963 (daughter with Sandra Jean Betts), Reatha Butler, born in 1966, Alexandra Bertrand, born in 1968 (daughter with Mary-Chantal Bertrand), Vincent Kotchounian, born in 1977 (son of Arlette Kotchounian), Robyn Moffett, born in 1978 (daughter with Gloria Moffett) and Ryan Corey Robinson den Bok, born in 1987 (son with Mary Anne den Bok).
Ray Charles held a family luncheon for his 12 children in 2002, ten of whom attended. He told them he was mortally ill and $500,000 had been placed in trusts for each of the children to be paid out over the next five years
Reference :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Charles
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