How Did Ray Charles Die?
Ray Charles died of Acute liver disease (hepatic failure) on June 10, 2004, at age 73.
What was Ray Charles's cause of death?
Ray Charles died on June 10, 2004, at his home in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 73. The cause of death was acute liver disease — hepatic failure from liver disease associated with his health issues. He had been in declining health in the months prior to his death. His death came just months after he had completed recording his final album Genius Loves Company, which was released posthumously and won five Grammy Awards.
How old was Ray Charles when they died?
Ray Charles was 73 years old at the time of death.
When did Ray Charles die?
Ray Charles died on June 10, 2004.
Ray Charles Biography
Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23, 1930, in Albany, Georgia. He began losing his sight at age 4 and was completely blind by 7. He attended the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind where he learned piano, clarinet, organ, and sax. He moved to Seattle as a teenager and began his professional music career. He pioneered the fusion of gospel, rhythm and blues, and country music, effectively inventing soul music in the 1950s. Hits like Georgia on My Mind, Hit the Road Jack, and I Got a Woman made him one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.
Personal Life
Who are Ray Charles's parents?
Bailey Robinson, Aretha Williams
Did Ray Charles have siblings?
Yes — George Robinson.
Was Ray Charles married?
| Name | Married | Divorced |
|---|---|---|
| Eileen Williams | 1951 | 1952 |
| Della Beatrice Howard Robinson | 1955 | 1977 |
Did Ray Charles have children?
Ray Charles had 11 children: Ray Charles Robinson Jr., David Robinson, Robert Robinson, Evelyn Robinson, Renee Robinson, Vincent Kotchounian, Ryan Corey Robinson, Robyn Moffett, Alexandra Bertrand, Sheila Robinson, James Robinson.
What religion was Ray Charles?
Ray Charles was None stated.
What was Ray Charles's ethnicity?
Ray Charles was of African American heritage.
Career Highlights
Movies
- Ballad in Blue (1965)
Albums
- Hallelujah I Love Her So (1957)
- What'd I Say (1959)
- The Genius of Ray Charles (1959)
- Georgia on My Mind (1960)
- Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962)
- Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul (1963)
- Genius Loves Company (2004)
Awards
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1987)
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986)
- Kennedy Center Honors (1986)
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2004)
- 17 Grammy Awards total
- Grammy Award for Album of the Year — Genius Loves Company (2005, posthumous)
Facts About Ray Charles
- He went blind by age 7 from glaucoma
- He learned to read music in Braille at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind
- He pioneered the fusion of gospel, R&B, country, and jazz — inventing soul music
- Georgia on My Mind became the official state song of Georgia in 1979
- He battled heroin addiction for two decades before quitting cold turkey in 1965
Ray Charles Quotes
"I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great."
"Music to me is just like breathing. I have to have it."
Legacy
Ray Charles is one of the most important and influential musicians in American history. Rolling Stone ranked him the second greatest singer of all time. He pioneered soul music and his fusions of gospel, country, jazz, and R&B redefined American popular music. Georgia on My Mind became the official state song of Georgia. He received 17 Grammy Awards and a posthumous Grammy for Album of the Year. The 2004 biopic Ray, starring Jamie Foxx, introduced his story to a new generation.
Sources
Last verified: 2026-06-05