Ray Charles Net Worth,Wiki, Songs, Movies, Age and Death

The prominent American singer-songwriter, musician, and composer, Ray Charles was known best for his blues, rhythm and blues, and gospel music. Ray Charles net worth had been sourced from his remarkable work as one of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” as dubbed by Rolling Stones. Ray Charles songs like I Can’t Stop Loving You, Hit the Road Jack, and more have been highly popular in the 1950s.

Synopsis

Ray Charles is a well-known American singer and songwriter who is known best for his work as one of the best gospel, soul and R& B singers of all time. Ray Charles net worth is known to have been high and amassed from his various hit songs. Ray Charles movies have also been quite popular since the 1980s. Ray Charles has been named one of the most important people in the music industry for his remarkable contributions.

Early Life

Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23, 1930 in Albany, Georgia, U.S. Charles was born to his parents Bailey Robinson and Aretha Williams. Ray Charles’ father was a laborer while his mother was a sharecropper. He spent most of his childhood days in Greenville, Florida. Ray’s mother worked for Bailey and his wife Mary Jane Robinson. Ray’s father later abandoned the family. Ray Charles age was only three hen he got addicted to music when he as taught how to play piano at the Red Wing Café. At the tender age of 4, Ray lost his eyesight due to glaucoma.

Education

Ray Charles went on to attend Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine in 1937. He learned to play Mozart and Beethoven while in school through braille music. Charles’ mother died in 1945 then he as 14 years old.

Ray Charles then moved to Jacksonville an played for the Ritz Theatre. He then moved to Orlando at the age of 16 and then to Tampa in 1947 to work as a band member for Hneydippers.

Discography

Ray Charles began dubbing himself as Nat King Cole and began recording in Miami and Tampa in 1951. Charles went on to sign a contract with Atlantic Records in 1952. In the 1950s Ray Charles songs like I Got a Woman and what’d I Say reached the top in the US charts. He released a dozen albums with Atlantic including The Great Ray Charles, Soul Brothers, The Genius of Ray Charles, and more. Ray Charles then signed with ABC Records and released more than a dozen albums including Ray Charles Greatest Hits, Sweet & Sour Tears, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Crying Time, The Genius Hits the Road, some of which peaked at number one in the US charts. Charles had some popular hits like Georgia on My Mind, Hit the Road Jack, One Mint Julep, Unchain My Heart, and I Can’t Stop Loving You, and more in the 1960s. From the 1973’s Ray Charles has released various albums like True to Life, Friendship, Genius Loves Company and more which have charted in the top 100 albums list in the US. After Ray Charles’s death, three albums were released. His Genius & Friends album was released in 2005, Ray Sings, Basie Swings in 2006 and Rare Genius: The Undiscovered asters in 2010.

Filmography

Ray Charles had also appeared in various movies and documentaries. Charles has appeared as himself in Swingin’ Along, Ballad in Blue, The Big T.N.T. Show, Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones, The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave, Love Affair, and more. Ray Charles had also appeared in many TV series like Who’s the Boss, St. Elsewhere Moonlighting, Wings, The Nanny, and more. He has also been seen in the third season of SNL as a host.

Philanthropy

The Ray Charles Foundation was founded in 1986 which financially helps in the research of heading disorders. Over the years it has also provided funds and donations to institutions and organizations that support the educational field and research and development. Ray Charles has also helped in the cochlear implant donations. Some of the recipients o the donations are Benedict College, Albany State University, Morehouse College, and more. He had also been a part of many civil rights movements associated with the blacks back in 1963.

Net Worth & Salary

Ray Charles net worth as estimated to be somewhat $ 100 million when he died. Ray Charles net worth is known to have been amassed from his work with the Atlantic Records. Ray Charles net worth rose when he signed a contract of $ 2500 back in 1952 with Atlantic Records. Ray Charles net worth is also known to have been rising from his work in movies and TV series. Ray Charles net worth is known to have been at its peak in the 1960s and the 1970s.

Personal Life

Ray Charles was also known for his various affairs and marriages. He was in a relationship with his partner Louise Flowers with whom he had his first child named Evelyn. Ray then got married to his first wife Eileen Williams Robinson on 31^st July 1951. The marriage only lasted a year. He then got married to Della Beatrice Howard Robinson in 1955. Together the couple had three children named Ray Jr., David, and Robert.

During his marriage with his second wife, Ray had an affair with Margie Hendricks. Together the couple had a son named Charles Wayne. He had an affair with Mae Mosley Lyles. The couple had a daughter named Raenee in 1961. Two years later, then went on to have a daughter named Sheila with his mistress Sandra Jean Betts. His daughter Sheila was a singer who died in 2017 of breast cancer. Charles also has a daughter named Aretha born to an unidentified woman. From his affair with Chantal Bertrand, Charles had a daughter named Alexandra. Charles then divorced his second wife in 1977. In the same year from his affair with Arlette Kotchounian, Ray Charles had a son named Vincent. From his affair with Gloria Moffett, he had a daughter named Robyn. He then had an affair with Mary Anne Den Bok in the 1980s and had a son named Ryan Corey den Bok.

Ray Charles was also known for his notorious use of recreational drugs to enhance his musical abilities. Ray was first arrested for possession of drugs in the 1950s. And in the 60s he was arrested for the possession of narcotics, marijuana, and heroin.

Awards and Recognition

Ray Charles had won numerous awards for his contributions made in the music arena. Charles was the recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987. Also, he won awards like the George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement, Polar Music Prize, National Medal of Arts, and more. Ray Charles was inducted into the Georgia State Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Ray Charles has also been inducted into the National Black Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2004. He was awarded the honorary degree by Dillard University and received the Kennedy Center Honors. Ray Charles bio can be found on numerous social media sites like Wikipedia, and IMDB.

Death

Ray Charles age was 73 when he died of acute liver disease on June 10, 2004. Ray Charles died at Beverly Hills home and his funeral took place at the first AME Church based in Los Angeles.