I did it to myself. It wasnt society… it wasnt a pusher, it wasnt being blind or being black or being poor. It was all my doing. – Ray Charles
Musics been around a long time, and theres going to be music long after Ray Charles is dead. I just want to make my mark, leave something musically good behind. If its a big record, thats the frosting on the cake, but musics the main meal. – Ray Charles
My music had roots which Id dug up from my own childhood, musical roots buried in the darkest soil. – Ray Charles
What makes my approach special is that I do different things. I do jazz, blues, country music and so forth. I do them all, like a good utility man. – Ray Charles
Music is my life, professionally, for nearly 60 years. To be recognized by the academy is still the highest honor. – Ray Charles
Learning to read music in Braille and play by ear helped me develop a damn good memory. – Ray Charles
I was born with music inside me. Music was one of my parts. Like my ribs, my kidneys, my liver, my heart. Like my blood. It was a force already within me when I arrived on the scene. It was a necessity for me-like food or water. – Ray Charles
I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great. – Ray Charles
