Ray Charles

Fast Facts

Born: September 23, 1930 in Albany, Georgia

Spouses: Eileen Williams Charles (m. 1951-1952); Della Beatrice Howard Charles (m. 1955-1977)

Grammy Awards: Best Rhythm & Blues Performance (1961-1964, 1967); Best Performance By A Pop Single Artist (1961); Best Vocal Performance Album, Male (1961); Best Vocal Performance Single Record Or Track, Male (1961); Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Male Or Female (1967); Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male (1976, 1994); Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal (1991); Best Gospel Performance (2005); Best Pop Vocal Album (2005); Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals (2005); Album of the Year (2005); Record of the Year (2005)

Kennedy Center Honors: 9th Annual (1986)

National Medal of Arts: 1993

Died: June 10, 2004 in Beverly Hills, California

Cause of Death: Complications from Liver Disease

Age: 73

Interment: Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California