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[[image:RAY_CHARLES.jpg‎|300px|thumb|Ray Charles]]

[[image:RAY_CHARLES.jpg‎|300px|thumb|Ray Charles]]

'''Ray Charles''', born Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 - June 10, 2004), was a modern [[American]] singer and pianist influential in the genres of [[rhythm and blues]], [[soul]], [[pop music|pop]], [[blues]], [[country music|country]], [[jazz]], and [[gospel music|gospel]].<ref>http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19764/m1/</ref>  Blind since the age of seven (he began to go blind from the age of six), it is suspected he suffered from an early attack of glaucoma.  He is known for hits such as "What'd I Say?", "I Can't Stop Loving You", "Hit the Road Jack", "Georgia on My Mind", "Busted", "You Are My Sunshine", "I Got A Woman", as well as his version of "America the Beautiful".  He was the winner of twenty [[Grammy Awards]], and in 1986 was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]<ref>http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/ray-charles</ref> and the [[Jazz Hall of Fame]].<ref>http://www.yuddy.com/celebrity/ray%20charles/bio</ref> In 2007, Ray Charles was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.<ref>http://www.hitparadehalloffame.org/2008/Inductees.html</ref>

'''Ray Charles''', born Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 - June 10, 2004), was a modern [[American]] singer and pianist influential in the genres of [[rhythm and blues]], [[soul]], [[pop music|pop]], [[blues]], [[country music|country]], [[jazz]], and [[gospel music|gospel]].<ref>http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19764/m1/</ref>  Blind since the age of seven (he began to go blind from the age of six), it is suspected he suffered from an early attack of glaucoma.  He is known for hits such as "What'd I Say?", "I Can't Stop Loving You", "Hit the Road Jack", "Georgia on My Mind", "Busted", "You Are My Sunshine", "I Got A Woman", as well as his version of "America the Beautiful".  He was the winner of twenty [[Grammy Awards]], and in 1986 was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]<ref>http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/ray-charles</ref> and the [[Jazz Hall of Fame]].<ref>http://www.yuddy.com/celebrity/ray%20charles/bio</ref> In 2007, Ray Charles was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.<ref>http://www.hitparadehalloffame.org/2008/Inductees.html</ref>  He performed a memorable rendition of ''[[America the Beautiful]]'' at the opening of a game of the 2001 [[World Series]], shortly after [[9-11]].<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OTRRzSuWro</ref>

Although blind, Ray Charles was an excellent [[chess]] player who defeated the devoted chess player [[Willie Nelson]] in back-to-back games.<ref>https://news.yahoo.com/time-ray-charles-beat-willie-172425075.html#:~:text=An%20avid%20chess%20player%2C%20country,Checkmate!</ref>

Although blind, Ray Charles was an excellent [[chess]] player who defeated the devoted chess player [[Willie Nelson]] in back-to-back games.<ref>https://news.yahoo.com/time-ray-charles-beat-willie-172425075.html#:~:text=An%20avid%20chess%20player%2C%20country,Checkmate!</ref>