Later that year, he signed with a country music label and released his first country song and three more albums. The song, which incorporated gospel, jazz, blues, and Latin music, was the apex of his success at Atlantic and became his first top ten pop hit in the United States of America. As early as 1958, he performed in New York City venues such as the Apollo Theater and Carnegie Hall.Īnother Ray hit, "What'd I Say," would go on to become a classic, reaching No. He scored major hits the following year with "This Little Girl of Mine" and "Fool for You," he scored significant hits the following year. In the years that followed, Charles' star continued to rise steadily, and he eventually became one of the first artists to achieve significant crossover success in pop music.Ĭharles recorded "I've Got a Woman" in 1954, which became another notable hit for him, reaching No. " Mess Around" was not only popular at the time of its release, but it continues to be one of Charles' most popular songs to this day. 5 and 8, respectively, after signing with the labelįor more engaging reads, check out our other articles on How Did Billy Ray Cyrus Get Discovered + Net Worth.Īfter signing with Atlantic Records in 1953, he scored his first major hit single, released in 1954. After signing with Swing Time Records, Ray had two more hits: "Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand" in 1951 and "Kiss Me Baby" in 1952, both peaked at Nos. He also worked as an arranger artist, such as Cole Porter and Dizzy Gillespie.įollowing the success of his first two singles, Charles hit the road for Los Angeles in 1950, where he would spend the next few years touring with Lowell Fulson as his musical director for the next few years. In April 1949, he formed a band called the McSon Trio, and it was with them that he recorded "Confession Blues," which would become his first national hit. His first four recordings, and after hearing them, he decided to move from Florida to Seattle to pursue his dream of starting his band. In 1947, he relocated to Tampa, Florida, where he found work as a pianist for Charles Brantley's Honey Dippers restaurant. Moved to Orlando when he was 16 years old, where he lived in poverty and frequently went days without eating. As a talented musician in the area, he began to establish a reputation, but the gigs didn't come in fast enough for him to show a loyal following. While living in Jacksonville, Charles began working as a pianist for bands at the Ritz Theatre in LaVilla, where he earned $4 per hour. He moved to Jacksonville, Florida, to live with Charles Wayne Powell, a family friend caring for him since their deaths. Because of the weight of her and his brother's untimely deaths, Ray was distraught and left school. His mother passed away when he was fourteen years old. Augustine from 1937 to 1945, where he learned to read braille music and play classical piano. At the same time, he was a student at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. His mother, Aretha, used her connections in the local community to locate a school that would accept a blind African-American student as a student. Charles went utterly blind before he reached the age of eight due to glaucoma. George, Ray's younger brother, tragically died in a drowning accident when he was only four years old.Ĭharles began to lose his vision when he was five years old. Pitman later taught Charles how to play the instrument. Pitman's Red Wing Café, where he would sit and watch Pitman play on an old upright piano, was where he first showed an interest in music when he was three years old. ![]() He was born on Sept 23, 1930, in the city of Albany, Georgia and spent his early years there.
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