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Ray Charles
Ray Charles 
 

Number of games in database: 1
Years covered: 2002


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RAY CHARLES
(born Sep-23-1930, died Jun-10-2004, 73 years old) United States of America

[what is this?]

Born Ray Charles Robinson in Albany Georgia, he later moved to Greenville, Florida. In 1936 he contracted glaucoma, which eventually left him blind for life. It was while he was attending St. Augustine's School for the Deaf and Blind that Ray excelled at a variety of musical instruments, including the piano. Ray released a number of records in the early years, but his first big break came in 1952 when he signed on with Atlantic Records.

Ray was known to be a chess fan and often played against fellow band members, friends, and even at times interviewers. Ray's chess board was designed so that each square was the same color, but the 'dark' squares were slightly elevated and the 'light' squares were slightly lowered. Each square also had a hole in which to fit the pieces, in the style of traveling sets. The dark pieces' tops had sharper edges in comparison to the whites.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and his chess set was displayed there until September 5th, 2005.

Wikipedia article: Ray Charles

Last updated: 2016-12-01 12:52:12

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 page 1 of 1; one game  PGN Download 
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. Ray Charles vs Evans 0-1242002Chess Life InterviewC47 Four Knights

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Jan-20-06  morphyvsfischer: I agree with <WannaBe> for 'Hit the Road Jack' to be played on this page. A contender for best song ever!
Jan-20-06  norami: A recent Jeopardy final answer went something like this: "Ray Charles spent a lot of money for charity to help people with this handicap which he considered the worst"
Jan-20-06  Morphy Fan: norami

The jeopardy question was: "what is playing black against Topolov?"

Feb-23-06  Pawsome: What's the worst thing about being blind? asked an interviewer for a music magazine of Ray. Ya can't see, replied Ray.
Mar-20-06  alexandrovm: this man was a true genious of music...
May-20-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  WannaBe: Okay, I'm a little behind on my movie watching, just saw 'Ray' last night, and the chess set was seen in the movie. Not sure if it's the original set or a replica of it. Still, a cool looking/feel set. =)
Sep-23-06  chessmoron: Happy Birthday Ray. Sing Georgia for me while I fall asleep. zzz.
Sep-23-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  WannaBe: Happy Birthday Ray! Thank you for the joy and entertainment that you brought to us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Ti...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-4U...

And of course, this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9tc...

Aug-23-08  whiteshark: "I don't think any of us really KNOWS why we're <here>. But I think we're suppose to BELIEVE we're here for a purpose."

--Ray Charles

Aug-23-08  Jim Bartle: What'd he say?
Mar-11-09  Dredge Rivers: Does Stevie Wonder have an entry?
May-12-09  myschkin: . . .

"Most people take their ears for granted. I can't. My eyes are my handicap, but my ears are my opportunity."

(Ray Charles)

Mar-04-10  60tat: ye gods just when you think someone can go no higher in your estimation...Ray was a chessplayer too?man that guy was cool
Aug-24-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  WannaBe: http://www.greatbigstory.com/storie...
Nov-30-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  WannaBe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W13...

Can you spot what's wrong with Ray's piano?? =)

Dec-01-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: <WannaBe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W13... Can you spot what's wrong with Ray's piano?? =)>

It is that instrument rarer than an octobass - an electric grand piano.

Dec-01-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  WannaBe: <offramp> Correct!!
Dec-01-16  zanzibar: That's a relief, for a second or two I thought it might have been a practical joke at Ray's expense-

i.e. that some joker had turned the keyboard off on him!

Sep-26-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  Stonehenge: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XyS35C7C6...
Mar-19-19
Premium Chessgames Member
  WannaBe: Came across this on YouTube, had to share it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKU...

Mar-20-19
Premium Chessgames Member
  WannaBe: Had to post another Ray, (sorry). America the Beautiful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRU...

Sep-23-20  schnarre: I recall Ray Charles' music fondly!
Sep-23-20  Cheshire Matt: "Ladies and Gentlemen, you have been entertained by the genius of Ray Charles"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKX...

Sep-23-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: Most of us were playing checkers but ray was playing chess...

Loved the scene in the movie <ray> where Jamie Fox (ray Charles) tells a red neck cop "i was blinded during the D-day invasion" and then the guy left him alone.

Nov-09-21  Caissanist: Per Wikipedia, Charles learned to play chess when he was trying to kick a 15-year heroin addiction. His psychiatrist taught him how to play, and they would play three times a week as part of his therapy.
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