Ray Charles Research Paper 303A PDF

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Ray Charles and his ability to use his loss of eyesight and his recent disability to enhance his career, craft and navigate as a black man through the music industry and be successful....

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Ray Charles: Integration of Genres and Influences On Future Music Alwayne Spencer

Integration of Genres and Influences Ray Charles Robinson is known for his impeccable taste and incredible piquancy in the genre of Blues. Through his upbringing and experiences in life, Ray Charles found a creative medium in expressing himself through the blending of different musical styles such as R&B and Gospel. Although the mixture of these two specific genres were questionable to both audiences, he continued to trail blaze his path by creating and fortifying a unique sound specific to his taste in hopes to bridge gaps between audiences and unify humanity. This type of permutation of genres (specifically Gospel and R&B,) wouldn’t have otherwise been originated by anyone else during this time. Ray Charles mastered the art of genre-fusion that would eventually open the door to a new path of music for future generation of artists and musicians. Although Ray Charles was blind most of his life and identified as a dark-skinned African American in the society of America, he did not allow these differences to stop him from making an impact in the lives of those around him through his music as American singer. He used his ethnic identity and his sensory challenge of sight to counteract any opposition he faced all while being intentional with integrating R&B and Gospel amongst other genres during the mid 1950s. Ray Charles was from the country parts of Georgia. He was born in Albany, Georgia on September 23rd, 1930, according to the foreword penned by Ray Charles in the book “Brother Ray: Ray Charles’ Own Story (2004).” Shortly after he was born, his family moved to a place called Greenville in Florida which was located several miles away from the Georgia border. Ray Charles often called this village “Greensville” while comparing but drawing some similarities to it being likened unto “Plains, Georgia.” The life he grew up living was one that was impoverished. Even in those conditions, Ray Charles said something that demystified the stigma of poverty in his life, “We ate everything on the hog except the oink. Neck bones, chitlins, collard greens, rice smothered with onion gravy…. sweet watermelon. . .. Man, we might be poor, but we ate good.”(Brother Ray, 2004) As Ray continued to write in the foreword, he talked about the birthing of his musical interest and upbringing. Ray Charles loved the church that he attended in Florida called the Shiloh Baptist Church. He loved it most for the singing. It was there that he described that he got his first religion and first music. He described music to be “the only thing I was really anxious to get out of bed for” and something he was “born with.” His biggest musical influence as a child was Mr. Wylie Pitman also known as “Mr. Pit.” Mr. Pit is described as someone who may not be mentioned in the “Down Beat Hall of Fame,” but is a musician who could “play some sure-enough boogie-woogie piano.” Obtaining a musical career wasn’t really even in Ray Charles’ mind. He wanted to remain in Greensville and lead a simple life. However, Mr. Pit was one who treated Ray Charles like a son and took him under his wings as he grew a special and uncanny love for the piano. This encounter would be the essence in which Ray Charles would grow and mature into the well-known musician and singer ‘til this day. p.1/4 MUS 303A – Research Paper “Ray Charles is known for his impeccable taste and incredible piquancy in the genre of Blues.”

Ray Charles: Integration of Genres and Influences On Future Music Alwayne Spencer As he got older, Ray Charles eventually went blind when he was about five years old. This presented a new challenge for him because it caused him to think about new ways to express himself through music. In 1937, Ray Charles attended the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind which was approved by the Florida Legislature in 1882 according to the book, “Man and Music.” This would be the state’s first school for the deaf and blind. As a colored student, Ray Charles learned what he could and could not do due to the severe levels of racial segregation. Majority of his classes were located in the South Campus. It was only two times a year that the ‘Colored Department’ had social events that the school sponsored which gave a small avenue for Ray Charles to perform and get acquainted with the lifestyle of performance. The staff at the school made it possible for Ray Charles to go back home to Greensville every summer. It was his mother’s fierce encouragement of “learning to work hard for what you want in life”, that sank deep in Ray Charles’ character and his life started to follow suit. Astonishingly, Ray Charles went from playing at small gigs at his school events twice a year to moving to Tallahassee to be given the chance to play gigs with Lawyer Smith and his Band. As often as he could, Lawyer placed Ray Charles on as many gigs as he could. From there, Ray Charles continued to blossom as he continued to travel. He went from Jacksonville to Orlando and Tampa. From Tampa and Orlando, he moved to Seattle and from Seattle to Los Angeles, CA. As time progressed, more people started to believe in what he had to offer. Thirteen years later, Ray Charles was singing at the Universal Recording studio on Hollywood Boulevard and was accompanied by an eight-piece band. In this performance, Ray sang two blues songs that uncovered and spoke to the difficult times that he endured as a human being. These songs included “Everyone’s against me, I don’t care where I go” and “Th’ Ego Song.” “Every line that Ray Charles sang we could share his laugh out loud in his natural voice,” (Man and Music.) When Ray Charles landed his feet in Los Angeles, Central Avenue had become a sophisticated style strip similar to that of the New York Eagle. The Central Avenue Black district was a half a mile wide and six miles long (Man and Music). Ray was given only a few weeks to play in Los Angeles because of Lowell. However, Ray did not let that hinder him! As the blues tour went forth in 1950, it took him from playing at small gigs to now being own of the best fellow musicians to be moving through tough times, gaining a status and building a name for himself. Despite all of the racial injustice that were eminent during his time, he continued to be vigilant with the opportunities given. Black Americans thoroughly enjoyed the latest band hit. As the Fulson-Change tour continued to progress, the tour opened up the door, established give basic information of events and rebooking of evets. Ten years later, in 1960, Ray remade Carmichael’s original song “Georgia On My Mind” which reached number one on the pop charts. Georgia On My Mind is a secular song that has a Gospel vibe to it. Ray Charles never settled for brand-name status as mentioned in King Charles (p. 26). Ray had an uncanny ear for music and his skillset to p.2/4 MUS 303A – Research Paper “Ray Charles is known for his impeccable taste and incredible piquancy in the genre of Blues.”

Ray Charles: Integration of Genres and Influences On Future Music Alwayne Spencer arrange instruments were out of this world. Ray’s background from life propelled him to be versatile. However, Versatility wasn’t the main thing that contributed and added to his success in his career. The main thing that really appointed him was his incredible musicianship. He had an ear that’s sharper in hearing and interpreting what is being played as music. One artist that Ray Charles had an incredible amount of influence on is Kirk Franklin. Kirk Franklin is a Contemporary Gospel artist. According to Village Voice, the Gospel Artist’s hit single, “Stomp” concerned quite a few secular folks. Kirk Franklin’s agenda and hope for the music released was to bridge gaps between the churched and unchurched. Many were on both sides of the spectrum were confused. However, essentially what Ray Charles did in taking Gospel music and exchanging religious lyrics for secular lyrics; for example, “Georgia On My Mind” is a primarily classic example of how Ray Charles was effective in bridging the gap between two separate audiences and bringing unity to a great body of people. Ray Charles opened up the door for many to come after him and make his mark.

MUS 303A – Research Paper “Ray Charles is known for his impeccable taste and incredible piquancy in the genre of Blues.”

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Ray Charles: Integration of Genres and Influences On Future Music Alwayne Spencer

Work Cited Page Ritz, D., & Charles, R. (2009). Brother Ray: Ray Charles' Own Story. New York: Da Capo Press.

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Lydon, Michael. Ray Charles : Man and Music, Updated Commemorative Edition. vol. Updated ed, Routledge, 2004. EBSCOhost, libproxy.csun.edu/login? url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=110598&site=ehost-live.

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Tuttle, Raymond. “King Charles. (Singer Ray Charles).” Esquire, vol. 128, no. 2, 1997, p. 26.

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“Ray Charles Says He's No Fan of Rap Music.” Jet, vol. 77, no. 26, 1990, p. 56. -

Anonymous. “Musical Genius Ray Charles Says Elvis Copied Musical Style of Blacks; He's Not 'The King'.” Jet, vol. 86, no. 12, 1994, p. 56. Gieske, Tony. “Ray Charles.” Hollywood Reporter, vol. 375, 2002, p. 93.

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Jackson, Blair. “RAY CHARLES;” Mix, vol. 28, no. 11, 2004, p. 128.

Beck, Bernard. “It's a Gift: &Quot;Ray,&Quot; &Quot;The Incredibles&Quot; and Lives of Greatness.” Multicultural Perspectives, vol. 7, no. 3, 2005, pp. 20–23. Cooper, C. (1997, Aug 26). A reverse ray charles: Kirk franklin's sanctified boogie.The Village Voice, 42, 67-67, 69. Retrieved from http://libproxy.csun.edu/login?url=https://search-proquestcom.libproxy.csun.edu/docview/1220335?accountid=7285 -

MUS 303A – Research Paper “Ray Charles is known for his impeccable taste and incredible piquancy in the genre of Blues.”

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