The Life and Times of Ray Charles Robinson

Ray Charles had an unusual upbringing, though perhaps one that's not as unusual as people would like to think. As far as I can tell from his autobiography, he was the product of what we would now call a polyamorous relationship. His given name was Ray Charles Robinson, but he changed it when he became a professional musician. He didn't want to be confused with another more famous Ray Robinson. By his late teens he was playing great jazz piano, inspired by art Tatum, who like Ray was blind.