{"id":38869,"date":"2014-08-25T20:06:14","date_gmt":"2014-08-25T20:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/life.time.com\/?p=38869"},"modified":"2022-02-10T16:59:35","modified_gmt":"2022-02-10T16:59:35","slug":"ray-charles-rare-and-classic-photos-of-an-american-genius-1966","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.life.com\/people\/ray-charles-rare-and-classic-photos-of-an-american-genius-1966\/","title":{"rendered":"Ray Charles: Photos of a Musical Genius On Stage and Off"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In July 1966, LIFE magazine published a story in which Frank Sinatra called Ray Charles &#8220;the only genius in our business.&#8221; Whether or not he was the <em>only<\/em> genius in show business is debatable; but there&#8217;s no getting around the fact that the genius Ray Charles was one of the most influential American musicians in history. A prodigious pianist, soulful songwriter and vocalist of astonishing range and power, Charles transformed the pop-culture landscape with his melding of gospel, blues and R&amp;B music during the 1950s.<\/p>\n<p>In 1966, Charles&#8217;s career was on the rebound after a forced hiatus in rehab the previous year for his longtime heroin addiction. (He&#8217;d been arrested for possession for the third time in 1965, and agreed to rehab in order to avoid jail time.) After getting clean he reemerged with hits like &#8220;I Don&#8217;t Need No Doctor,&#8221; &#8220;Crying Time&#8221; and other songs in various genres, including blues-inflected country, that revealed his powers as an entertainer to be not merely undiminished, but perhaps stronger than ever.<\/p>\n<p>LIFE photographer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/photographer\/bill-ray\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bill Ray<\/a> spent a solid month with Charles during this pivotal time in the singer&#8217;s career, chronicling performances at celebrated venues like Carnegie Hall as well as hanging out with the legend in the studio, backstage at concerts and on the road and in the air between shows. Here, LIFE.com presents a selection of Ray&#8217;s photos many of which never ran in LIFE magazine that reveal a Ray Charles most of us have never seen.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I was amazed at how he was able to exercise so much control over so many aspects of his life,&#8221; Bill Ray said. &#8220;The music, the travel, his love life which was definitely complicated. He could sometimes seem cool, calculating, even ruthless in his dealings with people, but part of that was a way to make sure he wasn&#8217;t being cheated, or taken advantage of. To me, at least, he was always very warm, very welcoming. And when he got behind that piano and began to sing wow! It was just impossible not to be moved by music that powerful.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_38873\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=38873 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Caption from LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; &quot;Ray stands in the driveway of his rambling Los Angeles home with his wife Della and sons Robert, 5, David, 7, and Ray Jr. 11. &#039;I don&#039;t need to see them to know what they look like,&#039; he says. &#039;I know my wife is pretty, and I think my sons are pretty good boys.&#039;&quot; Ray and Della divorced in 1977.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles in the driveway of his rambling Los Angeles home with his wife Della and sons Robert, 5, David, 7, and Ray Jr. 11. &#039;I don&#039;t need to see them to know what they look like,&#039; he says. &#039;I know my wife is pretty, and I think my sons are pretty good boys.&#039;&quot; Ray and Della divorced in 1977.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/01_46705-1024x666.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles in the driveway of his rambling Los Angeles home with his wife Della and sons Robert, 5, David, 7, and Ray Jr. 11. &#8216;I don&#8217;t need to see them to know what they look like,&#8217; he says. &#8216;I know my wife is pretty, and I think my sons are pretty good boys.'&#8221; Ray and Della divorced in 1977.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3877999\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3877999 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles with his son, David, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles with his son, David, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/02_20556175-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles with his son, David, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles with his son, David, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878000\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878000 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/03_20556230-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878001\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878001 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/04_20556989-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878002\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878002 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/05_20556189-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878003\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878003 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/06_20556154-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878004\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878004 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/07_20556233-1024x695.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878005\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878005 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/08_20556238.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles at home in Los Angeles, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878006\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878006 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles and his sons goof around on his tour bus, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles and his sons on his tour bus, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/09_20556271-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles and his sons goof around on his tour bus, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles and his sons on his tour bus, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878007\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878007 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles on his tour bus, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles and his sons goof around on his tour bus, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/10_20556442-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles and his sons goof around on his tour bus, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles and his sons goof around on his tour bus, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878008\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878008 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles 1966\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/11_1152366-1024x692.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles 1966\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles 1966<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878009\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878009 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Caption from LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; &quot;In the early morning at Los Angeles airport, [Ray Charles] waits with his manager, Joe Adams, to board his plane for a flight to New York. His arm is linked to Adams&#039;, but Ray still stands very much alone.&quot;\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"In the early morning at Los Angeles airport, Charles waits and  his manager, Joe Adams, prepared to board his plane for a flight to New York.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/12_834506.jpg\" alt=\"In the early morning at Los Angeles airport, [Ray Charles] waits with his manager, Joe Adams, to board his plane for a flight to New York. His arm is linked to Adams&#039;, but Ray still stands very much alone.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">In the early morning at Los Angeles airport, Charles waits and  his manager, Joe Adams, prepared to board his plane for a flight to New York.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878010\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878010 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Caption from LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; &quot;In his 50-seat private plane, Ray talks to a control tower. He likes to sit up in the co-pilot&#039;s seat and knows so much about the operation of the plane that, in an emergency, he could take over. &#039;That would really be flying blind, baby.&#039;&quot;\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"From his 50-seat private plane, Ray talked to someone at the control tower. He liked to sit up in the co-pilot&#039;s seat and knew so much about the operation of the plane that, in an emergency, he could have taken over. As Charles said: &#039;That would really be flying blind, baby.&#039;&quot;\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/13_46712-1024x653.jpg\" alt=\"In his 50-seat private plane, Ray talks to a control tower. He likes to sit up in the co-pilot&#039;s seat and knows so much about the operation of the plane that, in an emergency, he could take over. &#039;That would really be flying blind, baby.&#039;\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">From his 50-seat private plane, Ray talked to someone at the control tower. He liked to sit up in the co-pilot&#8217;s seat and knew so much about the operation of the plane that, in an emergency, he could have taken over. As Charles said: &#8216;That would really be flying blind, baby.'&#8221;<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878011\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878011 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Caption from LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; &quot;To light his cigaret he feels the flame to guide it.&quot;\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"To light his cigarette, Charles feels the flame to guide it.&quot;\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/14_834505-1024x728.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles 1966\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">To light his cigarette, Charles feels the flame to guide it.&#8221;<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878012\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878012 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles 1966\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/15_20557120-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles 1966<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878013\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878013 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles&#039;s tour bus, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles&#039;s tour bus, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/16_20556650-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles&#039;s tour bus, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles&#8217;s tour bus, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878014\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878014 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Caption from LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; &quot;Ray plays chess on a board with special niches. The white pieces are smaller than the black.&quot;\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Charles played chess on a board with special niches. The white pieces were smaller than the black.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/17_834502.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles&#039;s tour bus, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Charles played chess on a board with special niches. The white pieces were smaller than the black.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878015\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878015 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles&#039;s tour bus, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles&#039;s tour bus, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/18_20556888-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles&#039;s tour bus, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles&#8217;s tour bus, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878016\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878016 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Caption from LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; &quot;His chauffeur, Vernon Troupe, leads Ray to the piano in Los Angeles studio where Charles records for his own company, named Tangerine after his favorite fruit.&quot;\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Charles&#039;s chauffeur, Vernon Troupe, led him to the piano in the  Los Angeles studio where Charles recorded for his own company, named Tangerine after his favorite fruit.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/19_834504-1024x715.jpg\" alt=\"His chauffeur, Vernon Troupe, leads Ray Charles to the piano in Los Angeles studio where Charles records for his own company, named Tangerine after his favorite fruit.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Charles&#8217;s chauffeur, Vernon Troupe, led him to the piano in the  Los Angeles studio where Charles recorded for his own company, named Tangerine after his favorite fruit.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878018\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878018 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles and the Raelettes, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles and the Raelettes, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/20_20556501-1024x677.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles and the Raelettes, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles and the Raelettes, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878019\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878019 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles and orchestra, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles and orchestra, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/21_20556277-1024x695.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles and orchestra, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles and orchestra, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878020\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878020 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles in the studio, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles in the studio, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/22_20556031.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles in the studio, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles in the studio, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878021\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878021 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles rests before a show, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles resting before a show, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/23_20556632-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles rests before a show, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles resting before a show, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878022\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878022 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles -- without his trademark sunglasses -- rests before a show, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles 1966\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/24_20556686-1024x696.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles -- without his trademark sunglasses -- rests before a show, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles 1966<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878023\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878023 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles before a show, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles before a show, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/25_20556546-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles before a show, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles before a show, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878024\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878024 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles before a show, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles before a show, 1966\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/26_20557012-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles before a show, 1966\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles before a show, 1966<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878025\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878025 desc=\"Ray Charles backstage talking with Eric Burdon and the Animals, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles backstage talking with Eric Burdon and the Animals, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/27_1152360-1024x687.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles backstage talking with Eric Burdon and the Animals, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles backstage talking with Eric Burdon and the Animals, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878026\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878026 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles at Carnegie Hall, New York City, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles at Carnegie Hall, New York City, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/28_1224476.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles at Carnegie Hall, New York City, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles at Carnegie Hall, New York City, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878027\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878027 desc=\"Ray Charles plays an encore at Carnegie Hall, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles at Carnegie Hall, New York City, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/29_892421.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles at Carnegie Hall, New York City, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles at Carnegie Hall, New York City, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3878028\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3878028 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Ray Charles, with arms outstretched, during performance at Carnegie Hall, 1966.\" caption=\"Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ray Charles at Carnegie Hall, 1966.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/09\/30_1138010-1024x669.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Charles, with arms outstretched, during performance at Carnegie Hall, 1966.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ray Charles at Carnegie Hall, 1966.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bill Ray; Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On his 84th birthday, LIFE.com presents a selection of photos &#8212; many of which never ran in LIFE magazine &#8212; of Ray Charles at work and at play.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31476327,"featured_media":3878028,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[183,342,362,428,1045,1054,1179,44,1376],"class_list":["post-38869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-183","tag-ben-cosgrove","tag-bill-ray","tag-carnegie-hall","tag-liz-ronk","tag-los-angeles","tag-music","tag-new-york-city","tag-ray-charles"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Ray Charles: Rare and Classic Photos of an American Genius, 1966<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Photos -- many of which never ran in LIFE magazine -- of Ray Charles at work and at play.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/people\/ray-charles-rare-and-classic-photos-of-an-american-genius-1966\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ray Charles: Rare and Classic Photos of an American Genius, 1966\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Photos -- many of which never ran in LIFE magazine -- of Ray Charles at work and at play.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/people\/ray-charles-rare-and-classic-photos-of-an-american-genius-1966\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"LIFE\" 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