Monday Blues Spotlight - Ray Charles

 

(Wikipedia)

"The Genius"

September 23, 1930 - June 10, 2004

In this edition of Monday Blues, "the genius" has quite the story to tell - the one and only Ray Charles.

Wikipedia - Early Life

Wikipedia - Career

Main genre - Soul

Considered genres - R&B, Blues, Gospel, Country, Jazz, Rock and Roll

Point of interest -

Jamie Foxx portrayed Ray Charles in the 2004 film, Ray, during his life and career from the 1930s to 1979.  Foxx won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2005.

Honors -

Inducted into the American Academy of Achievement (1975)

Golden Plate Award ... Academy of Achievement Gold Medal

Georgia Music Hall of Fame (1979)
"Georgia on My Mind" made Georgia's state song

Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (inaugural, 1986)

Kennedy Center Honors (1986)

17 Grammy Awards ... 37 Grammy nominations

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1987)

Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from the University of South Florida (1990)

Inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Foundation (1991)

George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement 

National Medal of Arts (1993)

Polar Music Prize (1998)

Candle Award for Lifetime Achievement in Arts and Entertainment (Morehouse College, 2001)

Charles donated $2 million to Morehouse College (2001)

- "to fund, educate and inspire the next generation of musical pioneers"

2005 Grammy Awards dedicated to Ray Charles

Ray Charles Performing Arts Center and Music Academic Building

- Opened in 2010 at Morehouse College

Inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame (2015)

(Wikipedia)