“I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great.” ~ Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23, 1930 in Albany, Georgia to Aretha Williams, who stacked boards in a sawmill, and Bailey Robinson, a railroad repair man, mechanic, and handyman. When Ray was an infant the family moved to Greenville, Florida. Charles had an ordinary life in the Jellyroll districtofGreenville. He began his musical career playing around on a piano in the local Red Wing Café and learning music at the New Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. When he was six, Charles began to lose his sight, becoming totally blind by the age of seven. Sources suggest his blindness was due to glaucoma. To help him adjust to his new condition, he was enrolled at the St. Augustine School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine, Florida. He was a student there from 1937-1945. Ray Charles learned to play the piano, saxophone, and how to write music while at the school. And the rest, as they say, is history.
In February 2006 childhood playmate and town Mayor Elesta Pritchett joined members of the Greenville town council in unveiling a life-size sculpture of singer Ray Charles. In her remarks before visitors to Haffye Hayes Park where the monument has a permanent home, Pritchett fondly recalled the laughing, playful Charles, called “RC” by friends. Charles claimed his background made him strong. Pritchett stated that she has always wanted the town to remember RC in a very special way so that “His success could serve as an inspiration to young people who have to face adversities like he did.” Members of the Charles family were special guests at the dedication ceremony. This same year the Town of Greenville purchased Ray Charles’ childhood home. Restoration was completed in 2008 with a grant from the Florida Bureau of Historic Preservation and a historic marker stands outside the home.
