THE MONSTER AND THE GENIUS RAY CHARLES

Ray Charles Robinson, September 23, 1930 - June 10, 2004 was a singer, clarinetist and pianist, soul, R & B and jazz was born in Albany, Georgia (USA), blind since childhood. recognized worldwide as one of the most influential musicians in the history of popular music.
had to make a living as a musician, when his parents died.
In the late forties, Ray Charles Robinson gets to put a disc in the lists of their country, and in 1951 obtained his first Top Ten, thanks to "Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand". He was criticized for singing gospel songs with lyrics popular.
Charles had much control over his music and extended its focus not on experimental side projects but with pop music, resulting in the song "Unchain My Heart" and the number 1 on the Billboard charts, "Hit the Road, Jack". In 1962.
In 1965, Ray was arrested for possession of heroin, to which he was addicted for 17 years. It was his third arrest for the crime, but could avoid jail time after kicking the habit at a clinic in San Francisco. He spent a year on probation and performed "Let's Go Get Stoned".

He died at the age of 73 years, June 10, 2004 at his home in California. 2 His remains are in Inglewood Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
In 2004, Ray opened the film, which chronicles his life. He was winner of 2 Oscars, including Best Actor and Best Original Score, and also nominated for best picture. Since then they have continued to publish on CD compilations and even recorded some unreleased songs by the artist in the movie disc. It has also published his autobiography Brother Ray, who narrates his life in the most close to reality as possible.
Rolling Stone named him # 10 on its list of the 100 greatest artists of all time. In 2009 published a list of the 100 greatest singers in history, which have been elected by all the singers and music-related people. Among them Ray has been named best male singer and as the second best singer of all time, second only to Aretha Franklin.