Ray Charles

by Michael Lydon

Ray Man and Music is a complete biography of this seminal singer/pianist who has been active on the American music scene since the mid-'50s. Originally published in 1995 by Penguin Books, and universally hailed as the definitive biography, this new edition will bring Charles's life up to date, covering the last 7 years of his life.There are only a few legendary singers who have developed mass audiences while pursuing their own artistic Sinatra is one; Ella Fitzgerald another. Ray Charles undoubtedly belongs in this pantheon of major musical stars. Ray Man and Music begins with Charles's impoverished childhood in Greenville, Florida, where tragedy struck early when the young Charles went blind at age 6 and was orphaned at age 14. Driven by his enormous talent and determination, Charles landed work playing some of the toughest juke joints in the state, fought heroin addiction, and finally landed a recording contract with Atlantic Records. Unlike other R&B singers, Charles took control of his career from its earliest days, moving on from his gospel-soul stylings of the mid-'50s to break through musical barriers, recording two country albums in the late '50s (at a time when the black presence in country music was barely felt), pure jazz, and then the powerful pop hits of the '60s. Famed music journalist Michael Lydon - a founding editor of Rolling Stone - is uniquely qualified to document Charles's career, having interviewed Charles and followed the star's performances since the 1960s. Originally published in 1995, and universally hailed as the definitive biography, this new edition brings Charles's life up to date, covering the last 7 years of his life. It coincides with the release of a made-for-TV movie starring Jamie Fox as Charles, currently in production by Taylor Hackford. Charles has also issued a new CD recently and remains active as a touring artist throughout the world.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, History

488 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 1998

Reviews

[Chavon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have not finished this book, but I have given up on reading it. At least for now. It has not managed to captivate me. And that's not for lack of an interesting story of Ray Charles. The Michael Lydon inundates readers with the most miniscule details of Charles' history and it's a bit much. Lydon focuses on his career much more than his life. It doesn't flow as a story, but as a compilation of dates and facts, where as the autobiographies of Marvin Gaye and Miles Davis read as a story. Hope this makes sense. Anyway, reading this book was painful and I simply can not take it anymore.

[Darla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but after reading it, I don't much like Ray Charles. Loved the movie, and as always, I must find out the truth of the matter. So, I picked up the Bio. Good, worth the read, but don't read it if you want to stay enamored with Mr. Charles.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Good book. I'd idealized Ray and his voice for most of my life. It's not exactly a triumph learning that he was a real bastard to most of the people close to him.

[Cheryl McEnaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exhaustively researched and well-written, this book details the extraordinary life of "The Genius" from his earliest impoverished days in rural Florida to his global success, drawing vivid portraits of the many musicians, women, record executives, managers, and agents who came and went through the decades of his long career. Ray Charles -- RC Robinson -- was a complex and fascinating man, and this book does him justice while not sugar-coating his tumultuous, tempestuous life.

[Tammi Townsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. But it made me realize the difference between what the public sees in a musician versus reality. The later years Ray Charles I remember, was the music loving grandpa, fiercely independent but lovable as portrayed in a 60 Minutes piece about his life. This book does NOTHING to support that PR viewpoint of RC. At times he comes off as a rebel but not very generous or really nice at times. Other times, the book read like a spruced up calendar with a little fluff (or dirt) depending on the source.

Now, if you want a little insight into how the recording industry changed over a long time period, this is the book for you. You get details about life before popularity, life during the peak years and the fall into reverential obscurity. At times, it felt like RC never really adjusted to the changes in musical tastes past the early to mid-1960s.

[Wilhelmina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading for every man, woman and child. This book encompasses the trajectory of a man who never saw the light of day. He was blind from day one and was immediately thrown into poverty in the segregated south. With an uneducated single mother to guide him along he became, in time, a superstar and an ICON. He also became a cruel man. It is that dichotomy that kept me intrigued -- just to see if he would make it to the next level or not. Of course he did make it, but what he learned, on the way up, must have hurt on the way down -- and then, back up again. You will never feel obsolete about being handicapped once you read this masterful book.

[Jak · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learnt that your heroes are not always the nice guys you hoped they would be. Charles comes across as driven and narcissistic which was a bit of a shock.

[Tony Sacre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read