Ray Charles

American singer, pianist and songwriter (1930–2004)
Person human Q544387
Ray Charles
William Morris Agency (management)/Photo by Maurice Seymour, New York. · Public Domain · Wikimedia
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Ray Charles

Summary

Ray Charles is a human[1]. Born in Albany[2], he… he was born on September 23, 1930[3]. He died in Beverly Hills[4]. He died on June 10, 2004[5]. He worked as a pianist[6], composer[7], singer-songwriter[8], singer[9], and jazz musician[10]. He ranks in the top 0.11% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (9,816 views/month, #1,052 of 1,000,298).[11]

Key Facts

  • Ray Charles's place of birth was Albany[2].
  • Ray Charles passed away in Beverly Hills[4].
  • Ray Charles was born on September 23, 1930[3].
  • Ray Charles died on June 10, 2004[5].
  • Burial took place at Inglewood Park Cemetery[12].
  • Ray Charles was married to Della Beatrice Howard Robinson[13].
  • Ray Charles was married to Eileen Williams[14].
  • Ray Charles held citizenship in United States[15].
  • English was Ray Charles's native language[16].
  • Ray Charles is identified as part of the African Americans ethnic group[17].
  • Ray Charles's professions included pianist[6].
  • Ray Charles's professions included composer[7].
  • Ray Charles worked as a singer-songwriter[8].
  • Ray Charles's professions included singer[9].
  • Ray Charles worked as a jazz musician[10].
  • Ray Charles worked as a vocalist[18].
  • Ray Charles's education included a stint at Florida School for the Deaf and Blind[19].
  • A notable work attributed to Ray Charles is Georgia on My Mind / Carry Me Back to Old Virginny[20].
  • Ray Charles received the Polar Music Prize[21].
  • Ray Charles received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award[22].
  • Ray Charles received the Library of Congress Living Legend[23].
  • Ray Charles received the Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres‎[24].
  • Ray Charles received the Florida Artists Hall of Fame[25].
  • Ray Charles received the Kennedy Center Honors[26].
  • Ray Charles was a member of Ray Charles and His Orchestra[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Born in Albany[2], Ray Charles… he was born on September 23, 1930[3]. He is identified as part of the African Americans ethnic group[17]. English was his native language[16].

Education

Ray Charles was educated at Florida School for the Deaf and Blind[19].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include pianist[6], composer[7], singer-songwriter[8], singer[9], jazz musician[10], and vocalist[18].

Works and Contributions

A notable work attributed to Ray Charles is Georgia on My Mind / Carry Me Back to Old Virginny[20].

Recognition

Awards received include Polar Music Prize[21], a music award[28], in Sweden[29], founded in 1989[30]; Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award[22], a lifetime achievement award[31], in United States[32], founded in 1962[33]; Library of Congress Living Legend[23], an award[34], in United States[35], founded in 2000[36]; Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres‎[24], a grade of an order[37], in France[38]; Florida Artists Hall of Fame[25], an award[39], in United States[40], founded in 1987[41]; and Kennedy Center Honors[26], an award[42], in United States[43], founded in 1978[44].

Personal Life

Spouses include Della Beatrice Howard Robinson[13] and Eileen Williams[14], an aesthetician[45], 1922–1971[46], of United States[47]. Ray Charles was affiliated with the Republican Party[48].

Death and Burial

Ray Charles died on June 10, 2004[5]. He passed away in Beverly Hills[4]. The cause of death was liver failure[49]. Burial took place at Inglewood Park Cemetery[12].

Why It Matters

Ray Charles ranks in the top 0.11% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (9,816 views/month, #1,052 of 1,000,298).[11] He has Wikipedia articles in 28 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[50] He is known by 16 alternative names across languages and contexts.[51]

He has been cited as an influence by Stevie Wonder[52], a singer-songwriter[53], b. 1950[54], of United States[55], awarded the Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres‎[56]; Randy Newman[57], a singer-songwriter[58], b. 1943[59], of United States[60], awarded the Annie Award[61], specialised in film score[62]; Billy Preston[63], a singer[64], 1946–2006[65], of United States[66], awarded the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame[67]; Michael Bolton[68], a film producer[69], b. 1953[70], of United States[71], awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor[72]; Srbuk[73], a singer[74], b. 1994[75], of Armenia[76]; and Dalto[77], a singer[78], b. 1949[79], of Brazil[80].

FAQs

Where was Ray Charles born?

Born in Albany[2], Ray Charles…

Where did Ray Charles die?

Ray Charles died in Beverly Hills[4].

Who was Ray Charles married to?

Ray Charles's spouses include Della Beatrice Howard Robinson[13] and Eileen Williams[14].

What did Ray Charles do for work?

Ray Charles worked as pianist[6], composer[7], singer-songwriter[8], singer[9], and jazz musician[10].

Where did Ray Charles go to school?

Ray Charles was educated at Florida School for the Deaf and Blind[19].

What awards did Ray Charles receive?

Honors received include Polar Music Prize[21], Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award[22], Library of Congress Living Legend[23], and Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres‎[24].

Who did Ray Charles influence?

Ray Charles has been cited as an influence by Stevie Wonder[52], Randy Newman[57], Billy Preston[63], and Michael Bolton[68].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . BnF authorities. Retrieved . dos.myflorida.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  2. [4] . Find a Grave. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  3. [13] . wikidata.org.
  4. [14] . wikidata.org.
  5. [15] . Library of Congress Name Authority File. Retrieved . familysearch.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  6. [19] . dos.myflorida.com. Retrieved . dos.myflorida.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  7. [48] . wikidata.org.
  8. [16] . wikidata.org.
  9. [6] . BnF authorities. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  10. [7] . The Fine Art Archive. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  11. [8] . wikidata.org.
  12. [9] . The Fine Art Archive. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  13. [10] . wikidata.org.
  14. [18] . wikidata.org.
  15. [12] . Find a Grave. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  16. [21] . polarmusicprize.org. Retrieved . polarmusicprize.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  17. [22] . songhall.org. Retrieved . songhall.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  18. [23] . loc.gov. loc.gov. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  19. [24] . gettyimages.ch. Retrieved . gettyimages.ch. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  20. [25] . dos.myflorida.com. Retrieved . dos.myflorida.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  21. [26] . The New York Times. Retrieved . nytimes.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  22. [17] . BlackPast.org. wikidata.org.
  23. [27] . wikidata.org.
  24. [49] . dos.myflorida.com. Retrieved . dos.myflorida.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  25. [3] . Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved . familysearch.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  26. [5] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  27. [20] . wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [52] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [57] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [63] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [68] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [73] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [77] . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [45] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [46] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [47] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [28] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [30] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [31] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [32] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [33] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [34] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [35] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [36] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [38] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [40] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [41] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [42] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [43] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [44] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [53] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [54] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [55] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [56] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [58] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [59] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [60] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [61] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [62] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  30. [64] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  31. [65] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  32. [66] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  33. [67] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  34. [69] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  35. [70] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  36. [71] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  37. [72] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  38. [74] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  39. [75] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  40. [76] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  41. [78] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  42. [79] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  43. [80] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [11] . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [50] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [51] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

📑 Cite this page

Use these citations when quoting this entity in research, articles, AI prompts, or wherever provenance matters. We aggregate Wikidata + Wikipedia + authoritative open-data sources; the stitched, scored, cross-referenced view is what 4ort.xyz contributes.

APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Ray Charles. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/ray-charles
MLA “Ray Charles.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 10 Apr. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/ray-charles.
BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_ray-charles_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Ray Charles}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/ray-charles}, note = {Accessed: 2026-04-10}}
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Edit History

Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 3h ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-20 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Local thumb
    Occupation pianist, composer, singer-songwriter +6
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32117|batch #32117]]: import P21 and P106 from GND (30)"
  2. 20d ago · MariuszRokin · 2026-04-30 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Start of work period +1947-00-00T00:00:00Z
    Member of political party Republican Party
    Manner of death natural causes
    Aliases
    + 54 other properties edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ [[Property:P3368]]: 465294, [[:toollabs:quickstatements/#/batch/257026|batch #257026]]"
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