Ray Charles: Man and Music

Rating:
Summary: Medium but interesting
Review: I am a big fan of Ray Charles Robinson. This felt like a character assination. It is no secret that he was not exactly the best husband. I am sure Charles was a tightwad, and ran a very tight ship. But, the book goes on and on and on about this in every chapter, ad nauseum.

The good parts about the book are the the exaustive research and the insight about the single minded drive Ray had to be the best at everythig he does. I agree with the above review that there was very little insight from Ray about what makes him tick. It seems obvious that Ray did not spend much time with the author. Perhaps read this and 'Brother Ray' to get his side of the Story.

Rating:
Summary: The newly expanded paperback version of a classic biography
Review: Now in a newly updated edition from Routledge, Ray Charles: Man And Music by Michael Lydon ("Rolling Stone" founding editor and an influential music journalist) presents and documents the live and contributions to contemporary American music by Rhythm & Blues singer and musician Ray Charles. Afflicted with blindness at an early age, suffering the loss of his family at fourteen, Ray Charles went on to become one of the best known and best liked American music performers. This outstanding biography doesn't flinch from Charles struggle with heroin addiction or his problematic career at Atlantic Records. Originally published in 1995, this new edition now includes chapters on the last seven years of his life making Ray Charles: Man And Music very strongly recommended reading for anyone who has enjoyed his music and admired his ultimate triumph over adversity.

Rating:
Summary: Dismiss this mess
Review: Ray Charles is a legend, a genious of music and recording and a fine artist with extraordinary talent. But this book focused more on the times and people surrounding Ray Charles, than the actual man. I got lost in all the music jargin and mumbo jumbo-I wanted to know about this musician, his life, how he felt, what he did, how people felt about his music. But since I am not in the music business, nor do I understand most of the jargin, this book was lost on me. I skipped quite a few parts in the middle chapters because they just bored me and confused me. Not to say this was a bad book, but if you're like me when it comes to the language of music business, skip this one and buy the man's albums. His voice tells it all, you can just feel the emotions in his songs.