Ray Charles’ Visual Impairment May Have Fueled His Creative Genius: Celebrity Legacies
Celebrity Legacies on ReelzChannel is back! I am so excited for these new episodes to air.
American musician Ray Charles has been referred to as “The Genius” for good reason; known as the father of soul, Ray combined elements of gospel, rock, country, and jazz to produce a truly unique sound. Additionally, he was one of the first African Americans to have almost complete artistic freedom with a major record label. A prolific pianist, songwriter, and performer, Ray enthralled the nation with such hits as “Hit the Road Jack,” “I Got a Woman,” and his acclaimed cover of “Georgia On My Mind.”
Ray Charles’s Successes
The smashing success of Charles’s decade-spanning career is clearly evident: 17 Grammy awards, induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and other creative masters like Frank Sinatra and Billy Joel singing his praises. Even the United States Postal Service paid homage to Ray by putting his face on a forever stamp in 2013. But when you consider the fact that he developed glaucoma as a young child and was completely blind by the age of 7, his accomplishments become truly remarkable.
