All about Ray Charles

Ray Charles was a famous musician who was born on September 23, 1930, in a small town in Georgia, USA. When he was very young, Ray started to lose his eyesight, and by the age of seven, he was completely blind. Even though this was a big challenge, Ray never gave up on his dreams. He went to a special school where he learned to read and write in Braille, which is a way for blind people to read by feeling raised dots on paper.

Ray loved music from a very young age. He learned to play the piano, and his talent was amazing! He could play many different kinds of music, like jazz, blues, and gospel. Ray’s unique style of mixing these kinds of music helped him become very famous. Some of his most popular songs are "Hit the Road Jack" and "Georgia on My Mind."

Despite facing many difficulties, Ray Charles became one of the greatest musicians of all time. He showed everyone that with hard work and determination, you can achieve your dreams no matter what obstacles come your way. He passed away on June 10, 2004, but his music still makes people happy all around the world.

1. When was Ray Charles born?
2. What happened to Ray when he was seven years old?
3. Can you name two of Ray Charles's popular songs?
4. Why do you think Ray Charles is considered one of the greatest musicians of all time?
5. How did Ray Charles's music make people feel, and why do you think his music is still popular today?

Symbols and Traditions

Hi! My name is Zack and I am 8 years old. I want to tell you about my trip to Georgia where the famous singer Ray Charles was from. My family went to Albany, which is the city where Ray Charles was born. It was so cool!

One of the best parts of the trip was visiting the Ray Charles Plaza. It is a park with a statue of Ray Charles. The statue is so amazing because it shows him playing the piano and it even plays his music! You can sit on the benches and listen to songs like "Georgia on My Mind." I felt like I was in a concert!

We also learned about his life and how he became a famous musician. Ray Charles was blind, but he still learned to play the piano and sing beautifully. It made me think that you can do anything if you try hard. I had so much fun, and I want to go back again someday!

1. Who is the main person mentioned in my blog post?
2. What city did my family visit in Georgia?
3. Why is Ray Charles Plaza special?
4. How did Ray Charles manage to become a famous musician despite his challenge?
5. If you could visit any place related to a famous person, where would you go and why?

Profile of Ray Charles

A Timeline of Ray Charles to another Festival

After learning all about Ray Charles, your job is to create a timeline of their life. You should add all the important events in their life but you can be inventive and add some interesting things that people might like to read about. You can make it as simply as you like with pen and paper or you can be very inventive and create a 3D diorama or hanging banner. The sky's the limit - go for it!

Slideshow - Ray Charles
A full set of teaching plans for Ray Charlesteaching.