Ray Charles: Man and Music, Updated Commemorative Edition

by Lydon,Michael

• ISBN13: 9780415970433
• ISBN10: 0415970431
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2004-01-22
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

There are only a few legendary singers who have developed mass audiences while pursuing their own artistic visions: Sinatra is one; Ella Fitzgerald another. Ray Charles undoubtedly belongs in this pantheon of major musical stars. Ray Charles: Man and Musicbegins with Charles's impoverished childhood in Greenville, Florida, where tragedy struck early when the young Charles went blind at age 6 and was orphaned at age 14. Driven by his enormous talent and determination, Charles landed work playing some of the toughest juke joints in the state, fought heroin addiction, and finally landed a recording contract with Atlantic Records. Unlike other R&B singers, Charles took control of his career from its earliest days, moving on from his gospel-soul stylings of the mid-'50s to break through musical barriers, recording two country albums in the late '50s (at a time when the black presence in country music was barely felt), pure jazz, and then the powerful pop hits of the '60s. Famed music journalist MichaelLydon - a founding editor ofRolling Stone- is uniquely qualified to document Charles's career, having interviewed Charles and followed the star's performances since the 1960s. Originally published in 1995, and universally hailed as the definitive biography, this new edition brings Charles's life up to date, covering the last 7 years of his life. It coincides with the release of a made-for-TV movie starring Jamie Fox as Charles, currently in production by Taylor Hackford. Charles has also issued a new CD recently and remains active as a touring artist throughout the world.

Author Biography

Michael Lydon was a founding editor of Rolling Stone magazine and one of the most highly regarded rock journalists of his generation

Table of Contents

Prologue	xi
PART I YOUTH
Greenville 1930--1937	3	(10)
St. Augustine 1937--1945	13	(10)
The Death of Retha Robinson 1945	23	(6)
PART II APPRENTICE
Jacksonville 1945--1946	29	(10)
Orlando and Tampa 1946--1948	39	(12)
Seattle 1948--1949	51	(12)
Los Angeles 1950	63	(8)
On the Road 1951--1952	71	(14)
PART III THE 1950s: THE ATLANTIC YEARS
Atlantic Records 1952	85	(7)
New Orleans 1953	92	(11)
The First Band 1954	103	(14)
Breakthrough 1955	117	(13)
Growth to Genius 1956--1958	130	(25)
The Genius Moves On 1959	155	(24)
PART IV THE 1960s: THE ABC YEARS
Georgia on My Mind 1960	179	(14)
New Highs, New Lows 1961	193	(19)
I Can't Stop Loving You 1962--1963	212	(25)
Busted in Boston 1964	237	(12)
The Year Off 1965	249	(11)
Coming Back 1966--1967	260	(13)
Rolling Onward 1968--1969	273	(14)
PART V THE 1970s: THE INVISIBLE YEARS
Volcanic Messages Early 1970s	287	(16)
Life on the Road Mid-1970s	303	(18)
Divorce and Decline Late 1970s	321	(20)
PART VI THE 1980s: THE LONG COMEBACK
Nashville Early 1980s	341	(15)
Medals and Honors Late 1980s	356	(17)
PART VII THE 1990s: THE GRAND MASTER
No Time to Waste Time Early 1990s	373	(16)
Lion in Winter Late 1990s	389	(10)
Epilogue Into the New Century	399	(14)
Acknowledgments	413	(2)
Source Notes	415	(12)
Bibliography	427	(3)
Discography	430	(6)
Index	436