Ray Charles
WINS*
17
NOMINATIONS*
37
47th Annual GRAMMY Awards
View All Nominations For This Artist
Through the 65th GRAMMY Awards
"I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great."
- Born Ray Charles Robinson on Sept. 23, 1930, in Albany, Georgia. Died June 10, 2004, in Beverly Hills, California
- Ray Charles' 1960 hit "Georgia On My Mind" was the first of his three career No. 1 hits. His 1962 album, Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music, became his first album to top the Billboard 200.
- Charles won his first four career GRAMMYs at the 3rd GRAMMY Awards, including Best Vocal Performance Album, Male and Best Rhythm & Blues Performance for The Genius Of Ray Charles and "Let The Good Times Roll," respectively.
- In 1967 he performed "Crying Time" on "The Best On Record," a TV special commemorating the 9th GRAMMY Awards, marking his GRAMMY stage debut.
- Did you know? Charles was an accomplished chess player, and used a special board with raised squares and holes for the chess pieces in order to play.
- Charles was honored with a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987; 10 of his recordings have been inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame.
- Founded in 1986, the Ray Charles Foundation provides support in the area of hearing disorders, in addition to stewarding donations and support to institutions and organizations for educational purposes.
Ray Charles News
All GRAMMY Awards and Nominations for Ray Charles
Wins
Best Gospel Performance
Heaven Help Us All
Best Pop Vocal Album
Genius Loves Company
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
Here We Go Again
Album Of The Year
Genius Loves Company
Record Of The Year
Here We Go Again
Nominations
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
Sinner's Prayer
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
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