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A Blind Man’s Fortunate Fate How does a blind man play chess? Is it a possibility or does it just take a Genius? Ray Charles was a student of the game of chess; he often played it and enjoyed it. He often defied odds in his life whether it was being blind and playing chess or being a black man in a white society to make it to the big stage, making money never imagined for a man of his position. When asked about playing chess Ray responded, I isn’t no Spassky or Fischer -but being blind has nothing to do with playing chess. It has nothing to do with sight. It has to do with memory and where the pieces are on the board. I can just touch the board and see where the horse is, where the bishop is, or the pawns. There's no luck in chess. None. That's why I like it. You either outthink your opponent or he outthinks you. (Griffey) This is one of the reasons Ray was so successful in life. His illness never set him back and gave him more to strive from, to help deliver his message and help entertain people which he truly enjoyed doing. Ray was an innovator, a man who took something and perfected it or mastered it. He was one of the most influential men in music, his soul and R&B hits helped change music because of the sounds and styles which evolved from his work. Charles had an interesting life to say the least; he battled heroin addiction for twenty years, was blinded at age seven, was an amazing piano player and musician and voted number ten of //100 Greatest Artist of All Time// by Rolling Stone magazine. His music is often seen as a symbol for a general love of life and as a piece of art. He unintentionally and intentionally made a difference in society though his sounds and lyrics and has brought social change to many aspects of life. Born on September 23, 1930 in the midst of the Great Depression, Ray was born to Bailey Robinson and Aretha Williams in Albany, Georgia, the family was very religious and also lived in a very poor neighborhood. Shortly after being born the family moved to Greenville, Florida, about 100 miles south of their hometown. His brother, George drowned to death when Ray was only seven; this event had an atrophic effect on Ray. Only a few months later he was completely blind after starting to lose his vision by the age of five, most experts believe it was from Glaucoma. He went to St. Augustine School for the Deaf and Blind and study music there. His father died at age ten and he lost his mother to cancer at age 15. (Britannica) Growing up Ray admired the works of Nat King Cole, Charles Brown, Artie Shaw, and Duke Ellington; he was inspired to be a jazz musician because of some of their work. His first trio formed was The Maxim Trio (Kelly); although they weren’t extremely successful it helped Ray get a kick start into his career. Eventually he finally signed with Atlantic Records in 1952 after recording some minor songs for Downbeat label. Then his career took of writing pieces of work such as //I Got A Women, What’d I say, The Ray, Hornful Sound, Georgia on My Mind,// and other songs mixing either jazz and blues or a country western sound, his music was always unique. He dominated the charts in the early sixties with classics like //Hit the Road Jack//. After being caught with heroin and a saring in 1964 he entered a rehab center to kick the habit (SwingMusic). Over his long career he won thirteen Grammy awards and a lifelong achievement award. He finally dies at the age of 73 on June 10, 2004 of acute liver disease.   Because of Ray’s musical talents he is often views as one of the best artist ever. It is because of his sounds and his lyrics that he has achieved this. His instrumental talents reach too many people an allow him to be make a difference on someone just by listening to his notes. He presents many types of different styles of music and can therefore be essential to anyone’s mood. In addition to being a skilled pianist he was a lot a great alto saxophone player. His rhythms could reach many people and would often vary sounds. Depending on the style of music, the sounds would often be very different. For example, when the genre of his music was blues the music would often sound very slow and low. The instruments used would be simple, sometimes just a harmonica. But when he wrote a song like “What’d I Say” Charles would often have a face paced, southern sounded song using many instruments from the saxophone, to an acoustic guitar with background vocals. His music had so many sounds, which is one of the reasons many people appreciate his work. Throughout his music, Charles his own idea of how he wants his music to be enjoyed, he sings not only because he cares but, he also loves the people and their expressions. But when I play my music, I'm playing for the enjoyment of the people, because they love my music and they respond to it, and I love them. So, when I go to these various places where there might be turmoil, I'm not going there to try to send a message through my music. I'm going there hoping that, for about an hour and a half, I can make these people feel happy -I can make them forget about their troubles. (Griffey) Ray really had no true reason for his music besides making a living, which he did very well. He wanted to make people enlightened and possibly for those few hours he sings, to try and unite people for on common purpose. He also spoke great words through many of his lyrics. One of his common themes Charles would address would be poverty. He could often relate his music through singing to the common mans trouble, or even his hidden troubles which he lived through in his adolescents. Ray knew what it was like to be poor and black in an American society. In these songs he delivered messages about getting through the difficult times and persevering through hardships. One example of this is when he wrote and performed //The Lucky Old Sun//. The song is composed with violins in the background and Ray playing the piano. The tempo is very slow as well as the lyrics a delivered in the same manner. It expresses the sorrow of the artist. In the lyrics, Ray describes how he’s working to support his family and the amount of stress he goes through in working. He’s extremely upset with the conditions he’s living in ask God the following, “ Dear Lord above, don't you see I'm cry'in? I got tears all in my eyes. Why don't you send down that cloud with the silver lining, Lift me up to Paradise” (Charles1). This theme is a common 0issue many struggling financial or life problems come across. After listening to this song someone may listen to his other music which is much more upbeat. This song does prove in the end there is more to hold onto and how you cannot leave the ones you love. Charles’ abilities to relate his own people of African America decent were another stretch of his. Ray became a popular artist primarily before the civil rights movement began but still most of his music talks about the black man’s blues. In his song “Black Coffee” Ray tells the story of a man who sits there one Sunday drinking coffee. The song is in a slow tempo and resembles many blues styles songs, featuring a harmonica and a piano. He writes about the man’s struggle about how he’s “been talkin’ to the shadows one o’clock ‘til four... Since the blues caught my eye I’m hanging out on Monday, my Sunday dreams to dry.” This could be a single of his likely hood the end is coming for this man. He describes the depression one goes through while awaiting day after day of oppression from the common white man. Another song where Ray faces African American struggles is in the song “Rainy Nights in Georgia”. In Georgia, during the late 1950s the population was largely black but rules by the white male. He depicts a situation where he’s clinging to his suitcase, cold and lonely on the streets looking to find somewhere to spend the night. He then mention how “it seems like it’s rainin’ all over the world, Neon signs a-flashin’, taxi cabs and busses passin’ through the night”. This is clearly the struggle of a poor homeless man who has known better purpose in life. Later in Ray’s life once he was established he often gave to charities, especially of the African American community, for example all-black Morehouse College ( Encyclopedia ). One of Ray’s songs which are instantly recognizable is “I Got a Woman”. This song was covered and made even more popular by Kayne West. The lyrics aren’t the same but, the beat and sounds are extremely similar. In Charles’ version, he explains how he a woman, whose good to him in multiple aspects. He expresses his gratitude and love for her. This is a theme which is extremely common in Ray’s music and encourages love between all people. His lyrics are mostly about love and the appreciation people need to have for each other. Ray Charles died in 2004 but his legend will live on forever. He will always be remembered for the successful music career he had and chart topping hits he recorded. His music brought social change to a generation which faced several issues from an expanded unemployment to a diverse nation whose willingness to accept each other was nonexistent. Ray Charles, a onetime poor, always black and blind man, defied all odds living through and passing an addiction to a deadly drug. His music will touch people forever, emotionally and spiritually. Works Cited Charles1, Ray. //Sing365//. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2009. . //Encyclopedia of World Biographies//. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2009. . Griffey, Harriet. “Catching Ray Sunday.” //London Times// 6 Feb. 2005: n. pag. //LexisNexis//. Web. 19 Oct. 2009. Kelly, John. “Oh, sweet Mr Ray of life.” //The Irish Times//: n. pag. //LexisNexis//. Web. 19 Oct. 2009. Kennedy, Liz. “SOUL-ENHANCING STORY OF MUSIC LEGEND CHARLES.” //Belfast News Letter//: n. pag. //LexisNexis//. Web. 19 Oct. 2009. “Ray Charles.” //Encyclopædia Britannica Online//. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2009. . //SwingMusic//. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2009. .