Ray Charles Trivia

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In 1981 he was heavily criticized for touring South Africa. (imdb.com)

Was an admirer of singer Nat `King` Cole and even imitated his style in his early performances, which guaranteed him continued work before perfecting his own style. (imdb.com)

He was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1993 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C. (imdb.com)

Legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives to award him the Congressional Gold Medal. (February 2005) (imdb.com)

Performed at Ronald Reagan`s second inauguration in 1985 and also at Bill Clinton`s first inauguration in 1993. (imdb.com)

He inspired many blind musicians to pursue careers such as Ronnie Milsap and Terri Gibbs. (imdb.com)

Despite his blindness, he was a chess-playing fanatic who was known to set up games between sets and concerts. (imdb.com)

Had three #1 pop hits with "Georgia On My Mind" (1960), "Hit the Road Jack" (1961), and "I Can`t Stop Loving You" (1962). (imdb.com)

Had a hip replacement in the fall of 2003 in which he had to cancel his very first concert in 53 years of performing on the road. (imdb.com)

Dropped the "Robinson" from his name as a young performer to avoid confusion with boxer Sugar Ray Robinson. (imdb.com)

He struggled with a heroin addiction for nearly 20 years before quitting cold turkey in 1965 after an arrest at the Boston airport. (imdb.com)

Charter member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. (imdb.com)

One of the few black performers to have a No. 1 song on Billboard magazine`s country charts, that being a 1985 duet with Willie Nelson called "Seven Spanish Angels". (imdb.com)

His best known hit in America was his 1962 pop hit "I Can`t Stop Loving You," which spent five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard`s Hot 100 charts. (imdb.com)

Awarded the Polar Music Prize, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music Award, in 1998. (imdb.com)

Awarded honorary doctor of humane letters by Wilberforce University, a private, historically black university in Wilberforce, Ohio (December 1999) (imdb.com)

Hired for a car commercial, he actually drove a car without assistance - in the Death Valley desert. He said that it was one of the most exciting experiences of his life. (imdb.com)

Blind from glaucoma since age 6. (imdb.com)

He was married twice and had many girlfriends. He had 12 children, 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. (imdb.com)

Spouse: Della Beatrice Howard (5 April 1955 - 1977) (divorced) 3 children; Eileen Williams (31 July 1951 - 1952) (divorced) (imdb.com)