A Tribute to Ray Charles's Early Years: Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling
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A tribute to Ray Charles’s early years: Breaking through the glass ceiling by Valerie Etienne-Leveille Ray Charles Robinson was born in Albany, Georgia on September 23rd,1930 (1). His father, Bailey Robinson, was a migrant railroad worker who was married to Mary Jane. Bailey and Mary Jane Robinson lived in Greenville, Florida with Bailey’s mother, Margaret Robinson in the 1920s (2). They lived in a Black quarter of town popularly known as Jellyroll. Aretha Williams was an orphan girl whom the Robinson family adopted, and she was affectionately known in the community as Retha Robinson. Retha became pregnant with Bailey’s child. To still some of the unrelentless gossips circling around town, Bailey and his mother sent Retha to relatives in Albany, Georgia to have the baby. Retha Robinson was 17 years old when her son Ray Charles Robinson was born (3). Retha moved back with her son to Jellyroll in Greenville, Florida but the situation had changed. Retha was now a single teen mother who had to support herself and her baby. When Bailey and Mary Jane Robinson separated, Bailey moved further south to another town where he took another wife. Bailey Robinson was not a consistent presence in Ray Charles’s life and contributed very little to his upbringing. Retha and Mary Jane remained close, and Mary Jane loved Ray Charles as her own. Ray Charles’s younger brother, George, was born a year after him. Life during the depression was hard and the Black communities were additionally hit due to the Jim Crow laws. In his autobiography “Brother Ray”, Ray Charles mentioned that compared to the other Blacks in the Greenville community, his mother was at the bottom of the economic ladder (4). Retha had a weak health so she could not maintain a job requiring strong physical labor. Because of her precarious health and job scarcity, Retha took in the extra washing and ironing of laundry that the other Black women could not tend to. Retha and her little boys moved frequently as money ran out and rent became due (3). Through the tough times, the boys knew that they were deeply loved by their mother and she worked hard to keep the family together until 1935. Five-year-old Ray Charles, affectionately called RC, was playing with his 4-year-old brother in their backyard. George was playing with the large old tub that their mother used to wash clothes. Suddenly, the afternoon summer play turned tragic. RC realized that George was flailing and kicking his legs in the tub. RC tried to pull his brother up, but he was not strong enough. He ran into the house calling his mom for help. Retha rushed out and pulled George out of the tub and tried to revive him. Unfortunately, it was too late. Retha lost her second son that afternoon and RC lost his beloved brother. The Florida School for the Deaf and Blind After the death of his brother, RC would have to face another blow. A few months after George’s death, mucus started to ooze out from RC’s eyes like thick tears. He woke up every morning with his eyelids stuck shut. His mother brought him to the local doctor, Dr. McLeod, who saw colored folks and he prescribed some drops and ointments. Unfortunately, RC’s vision continued to deteriorate. Retha Robinson was weak in body but she was very strong in mind. She was determined to not let blindness cripple RC, so she kept him at his chores. She wanted to make sure that RC learned to be independent. Mary Jane coddled and indulged RC while his mother fostered his independence (5). Retha taught RC his letters and sums but she knew that he would need more education to develop his other talents. She learned of the State school for the Deaf and Blind from Dr. McLeod and he assisted her in inquiring if they accepted colored children. The Florida School for the Deaf and Blind had a department for colored children and the state paid room, board, tuition and one roundtrip train fair in the fall and the spring semesters. Retha knew that this school was her son’s only chance at an education. In late September of 1937, seven-year-old RC boarded the train alone to St. Augustine away from his mother and his community. The adjustment at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind was difficult for RC. He missed his mom terribly and his six-week late start did not make the situation at school easier. After a difficult start to the school year, seven-year-old RC had to face the harsh reality of spending the Christmas holidays at the school. Retha did not have money to buy a train ticket for her son. All the students left to spend the holidays with their families and RC was left alone to roam the halls of the south campus. Upon the return of the students after the holiday break, RC slowly fell into the school’s routine. At the school, RC learned to read, composed, and write music in VALERIE ETIENNE-LEVEILLE 1 braille (1). He learned to play the clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, and keyboards. RC had the opportunity at FSDB to deepen his love for the piano which he first experienced at the upright piano of Wylie Pittman, a local grocer in Jellyroll. At school, RC was considered an “average” student. He was good at reading and woodworking, but he possessed a natural talent for music. By the of twelve RC was able to arrange and score all parts of big band or orchestral music. RC played at small social events in St. Augustine while at FSDB, but the songs were not the boogie-woogie he loved to play but the kind of tunes heard most often at piano recitals (3). The woodwork shop on South Campus at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind (mid 1930s) Photo courtesy from FSDB (2) In May 1945, two school employees announced bluntly to RC that his mother had died (2)(3). The fourteen-and-a-half- year-old boy took the train home stricken with an overwhelming grief. RC has shared in many interviews that the loss of his mother had been the hardest thing that he had to overcome in his life. She was such a strong-minded woman despite her weak health. Journey to fame Upon his return at the FSDB in September of 1945, RC felt restless, and he had the increasing sentiment that he had outgrown the school. A few weeks after his fifteenth birthday, he was expelled from the school as an “unsatisfactory pupil” for pulling a prank on one of his teachers (6). Gathering his meager possessions, RC boarded the train for Jacksonville. His talent was not immediately obvious. RC moved through a few cities in Florida trying to find work as a musician. He moved to Orlando, then Tampa but he struggled for jobs. At the age of 18, RC decided to leave Florida. Upon leaving Florida, he stayed in Seattle for a few years and started to become a little better known. He also started using drugs in Seattle. He decided to move to Los Angeles, living out of his suitcase and playing in different places. His fame started to spread slowly and in the late 1950s, he played at Carnegie Hall and the Newport Jazz Festival (3). Ray Charles’ s recordings are rich in blues, jazz, and country (1). Ray Charles is popularly known as the “Father of Soul Music”, but he is an artist that has avoided attempts to be categorized in just one style of music. He was a complex man whose upbringing by two dynamic women greatly impacted and influenced his character. Ray Charles Robinson passed away on June 10, 2004 and the music world mourned the passing of a legend (1). References 1. JRank. (n.d.) Ray Charles Biography- Lost His Sight at an Early Age, Seasoned on the Road, Developed Unique Sound. https://biography.jrank.org/pages/2393/Charles-Ray.html 2. Lydon, M. (2004). Ray Charles: Man and Music. Routlegde. 3. Clark, J.C. (1991, April 14). Ray Charles: The R & B. The Orlando Sentinel. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1991- 04-14-9104131224-story.html VALERIE ETIENNE-LEVEILLE 2 4. Charles, R. & Ritz, D. (1978). Brother Ray: Ray Charles’s own story. Dial Press. 5. Ritz, D. (2004, October 22). It’s a Shame About Ray: Why must biopics sentimentalize their subjects? Slate group. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2004/10/what-ray-gets-wrong-about-ray-charles.html VALERIE ETIENNE-LEVEILLE 3 .