Uncovering the Legend: Top 4 Fun Facts About Ray Charles You Never Knew!

1. Georgia's State Song King

Once upon a time, in the land of peaches and pecans, a melody whispered its way into the hearts of Georgians and swayed them to crown it king: In 1979, Ray Charles' rendition of "Georgia On My Mind" was declared the official state song of Georgia, forever linking the beloved musician with the state he sang so beautifully about on his 1960 album "The Genius Hits the Road."
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Blind Multi-instrumentalist

You'd think the phrase "blind as a bat" applied to the musical prowess of Ray Charles, but this visionless virtuoso had more instruments under his belt than contenders on "America's Got Talent": Despite his sightlessness, Ray mastered the piano, saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, and organ while attending the St. Augustine School for the Deaf and the Blind.
Source => raycharles.com

Did you know? Billie Holiday's haunting "Strange Fruit" was inspired by the chilling lynchings of Black Americans and became an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement, even earning the title "Song of the Century"! 🎶💔 Discover more.

=> Fun Facts about Billie-Holiday

3. Unstoppable Vision Loss

Much like a pesky fly that refuses to leave your line of sight, Ray Charles couldn't shake his pesky vision problems: By the tender age of 7, the legendary musician experienced a complete loss of sight due to glaucoma, but he didn't let that stop him from learning to read music in Braille and possessing an awe-inspiring memory for tunes, ensuring his place in the pantheon of celebrated musicians.
Source => raycharlesvideomuseum.blogspot.com

4. Fashionable Sunglass Legend

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade; and when you lose your glasses, make sunglasses your ultimate fashion statement: Ray Charles, the famed pianist and singer, began donning his signature shades after misplacing his regular glasses while on tour in the 1950s, ultimately transforming them into a trademark of his image, even having a special prescription made for his sunglasses despite his blindness.
Source => en.wikipedia.org