Trivia

He was married twice and had many girlfriends. He had 12 children, 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Blind from glaucoma since age 6.

He struggled with a heroin addiction for nearly 20 years before quitting cold turkey in 1965 after an arrest at the Boston airport.

Hired for a car commercial, he actually drove a car without assistance - in the Death Valley desert. He said that it was one of the most exciting experiences of his life.

Despite his blindness, he was a chess-playing fanatic who was known to set up games between sets and concerts.

Had 12 children: Ray Charles Robinson Jr., David Robinson, Robert Robinson (all with Della Bea Robinson), Charles Wayne Hendricks (with Margie Hendricks, one of The Raelettes), Reatha Butler, Alexandra Bertrand (daughter of Mary-Chantal Bertrand), Robyn Moffett (daughter of Gloria Moffett), Evelyn Robinson (daughter of Louise Mitchell), Raenee Robinson (daughter of Mae Mosely Lyles), Sheila Robinson (daughter of Sandra Jean Betts), Vincent Kotchounian (son of 'Arlette Kotchounian') and Ryan Corey Robinson den Bok (son of Mary Anne den Bok).

Was an admirer of singer Nat 'King' Cole and even imitated his style in his early performances, which guaranteed him continued work before perfecting his own style.

At the time of his death, a feature film originally titled "Unchain My Heart, the Ray Charles Story" (renamed for release as Ray (2004)), starring Jamie Foxx, was being completed.

Had a hip replacement in the fall of 2003 in which he had to cancel his very first concert in 53 years of performing on the road.

He inspired many blind musicians to pursue careers, such as Ronnie Milsap and Terri Gibbs.

He was the first artist to combine both rhythm and blues and gospel together.

He was one of the few black performers to have a #1 song on Billboard magazine's country charts, a 1985 duet with Willie Nelson called "Seven Spanish Angels".

His very last recording is reportedly the Grammy-nominated "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word," a duet with its writer Elton John from the album "Genius Loves Company" (2004).

Dropped the "Robinson" from his name as a young performer to avoid confusion with boxer Sugar Ray Robinson.

He was a longtime supporter of Israel, and was named "Man of the Year" by the B'nai Brith in 1976.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 as part of the institution's inaugural 10-member class that included Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, James Brown and Jerry Lee Lewis. He also received the Recording Academy's lifetime achievement award at the 1987 Grammy Awards.

He was voted the 10th Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artist of all time by Rolling Stone.

Legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives to award him the Congressional Gold Medal. (February 2005)

Had three #1 pop hits with "Georgia on My Mind" (1960), "Hit the Road Jack" (1961) and "I Can't Stop Loving You" (1962).

Underwent hip replacement surgery in Los Angeles, California on November 24, 2003.

Pictured on a nondenominated ("forever") USA commemorative postage stamp in the Music Icons series, issued 23 September 2013. Price on day of issue was 46¢. First-day-of-issue ceremonies were held in Los Angeles, California and Atlanta, Georgia.

Ranked the second greatest singer of the rock era in a Rolling Stone magazine poll in 2008.

He was awarded the Polar Music Prize, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music Award, in 1998.

Not to be confused with the choral director, Ray Charles, of The Ray Charles Singers on Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (1948) (1955-1963). Ray actually performed, with The Ray Charles Singers as his chorus, along with "The Raelettes", on three episodes of "The Perry Como Show" from 1958-1961. "What'd I Say" was one of the songs performed. and that 1961 performance can be seen on the US Public Television Special, "Aretha Franklin Presents Soul Rewind" (2010) (TV).

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6777 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on December 16, 1981.

Became the big winner at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, receiving eight Grammy Awards for his final album, "Genius Loves Company" (which won for Album of the Year), and his song "Here We Go Again", featuring Norah Jones (which won Record of the Year).

Performed at Ronald Reagan's second inauguration in 1985 and also at Bill Clinton's first inauguration in 1993.

In 1981, he was heavily criticized for touring apartheid South Africa.

He was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters by Wilberforce University, a private, historically black university in Wilberforce, Ohio. (December 1999)

Inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Blues Hall of Fame in 1982.

He was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1993 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C.

His best known hit in America was his 1962 pop hit "I Can't Stop Loving You", which spent five weeks at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 charts.

He was one of the first singers to own his own master recordings and founder of Tangerine Records (1962-73).

Was portrayed by Jamie Foxx in the 2004 film, Ray (2004).

When asked in an interview which of all his hit records he liked most, Ray Charles responded "What'd I Say" from 1959 because it keeps on selling.

Born on the same day as rock & roll singer Bruce Springsteen, and actor Jason Alexander.

Mentioned in the song "Go for It" by British singer Joe Jackson.

Son of Bailey Robinson, and Aretha Williams Robinson.

Has one brother George.

Inducted into Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame in 2015.

Ray Charles's song I Believe to My Soul was sampled by Christian Hip Hop group Hostyle Gospel on their mix-tape album entitled The Calm.