"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.