Brother Ray
Ray Charles’ Own Story
Ray Charles
With
Having read it
★★★★☆
Wow... brilliant, insightful and really honest. What a life Ray led. What a talent, as well. So great to read his story in his own words. Fantastic.
A good passage
I learned from everyone, not necessarily piano players or singers. Charlie Christian, for example, was a bitch of a guitarist. Listening to his records I educated myself about phrasing and ad-libbing. Same went for the great drummers. They taught me the importance of keeping time. And as far as I’m concerned, there’s no greater lesson.
A second good passage
Only one time at Atlantic – and that was a very minor incident – did one of the cats suggest that I listen to Fats Domino and maybe do something on the style of ‘Blueberry Hill.’ I told the guy that I was for Fats, but that I wasn’t Fats. I was Brother Ray. That quieted him down.
A third good passage
As a child, my country upbringing gave me one view of the world. In some ways, that view was distorted. And being blind kept me from having to look at the differences. Even though that earlier world was now being shattered, I knew enough to hold on to my country ways. I knew that being blind was suddenly an aid. I never learned to stop at the skin. If I looked at a man or woman, I wanted to see inside. Being distracted by shading or colouring is stupid. It gets in the way. It’s something I just can’t see.