Ray Charles

Ray Charles Robinson was an American singer-songwriter, musician and composer who departed this life at the age of 73 of acute liver disease. Most know him for his song “Georgia on My Mind.” He was one of the greatest musicians and composers of all time. Born 1930 in Albany, Georgia, Charles attended school at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine from 1937 to 1945, where he developed his musical talent. In 1951, he joined Swing Time Records and under his own name "Ray Charles" recorded R&B hits including, "Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand." In 1954, he recorded his own piece, "I Got a Woman," and the song became his first number-one R&B hit in 1955. Charles had a national acclaim and a Grammy Award for the Sid Feller-produced, "Georgia on My Mind" which eventually became the state song of Georgia. In 1962, his version of the Don Gibson song, "I Can't Stop Loving You," topped the Pop chart for five weeks and stayed at No. 1 R&B charts. In 1966, his single, "Crying Time," reached No. 6 on