Ray Charles: A Hero's Journey

Ray Charles, born, Ray Charles Robinson on 23 September 1930 in Albany Georgia, later relocated to North Florida with his mother. Ray endured a very hard, early, young life. He witnessed the drowning death of his younger brother, which was very traumatic for him and haunted him for years. He started losing his sight very quickly and was blind by 7 years old. He then was sent to the state school for the blind, where he learned to read and write, plus among other things, arrange music in Braille. During this time he also learned to play several musical instruments. He went on to become one of the greatest musical artists of all time by Fusing R&B, gospel, pop, country and Jazz. In the movie "RAY" he is portrayed as a young black musician learning

They have him wear sunglasses to hide his eyes. Again he has flashbacks but this time they are about the man at a local store, in Florida, where he taught him to play the piano. He has a natural talent for music and learns quickly. Back to 1950, the band says that Ray Robinson isn't a good stage name and drops his last name, making his middle his last, therefore Ray Charles. Again, in 1950 Ray joins the " Chitlin Circuit", playing Blues Piano for the band. Ray has many flashbacks to his child hood, almost as hallucinations, seeing a small child and water. Each flashback reveals more visions of his young brother falling into his mother’s wash tub. Struggling and kicking to get out, he drowns before Ray realizes what is

Ray also receives a call that Margie had died of a drug overdose which he claims he never allowed her to use and doesn’t know what happened. Finally, his record company can’t bail him out anymore and sends him to a rehab center. During the rehabilitation process Ray has more flashbacks, visualizing his mama making him educate himself against drug abuse. Also in the vision, his little brother appears and tells Ray that he doesn’t blame him for his death. Ray never touched drugs again after he makes a promise to his