“My mom would say ‘You might not be able to do things like a person who can see. But there are always two ways to do everything. You just have to find the other way.” - Ray Charles
“He left not only the phenomenal music he sang and recorded, he left the indelible impression on people that it's all right to be yourself" - Johnny Mathis, who recorded a duet of Somewhere Over the Rainbow with Ray Charles just a little over three months’ prior to the Genius’ death
Ray Charles’ life was not only a testament to the unique ability each person possesses to overcome adversity and weakness but in finding the way to become the person you were meant to be.
He felt it was important to share his financial success to improve the lives of others. In 1986, Ray Charles created a private foundation dedicated to providing support in the area of hearing disorders and the empowerment of young people through education. The vision of The Ray Charles Foundation is to instill in the youth of America that “there is no challenge too great one cannot overcome.”
Just a few years before his death Ray Charles gave Wilberforce University, our nation’s oldest African-American college in Ohio, $2,000,000 to fund music scholarships because “"It was what I had to do, and the reason I had to do it is too many people have been good to me." In 2001 he donated another $1,000,000 to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.
He then gave $3,000,000 to Albany State University. A few years after his death his personal representative threatened to sue the college to get that money back.
Shortly after his death tabloids reported Ray Charles died broke and was a negligent father. This publicity so angered his children that they shared with the public a very private story about what their father had done for each of them.
A few days before Christmas 2002, Ray Charles called a meeting of his 12 children at a hotel in Los Angeles. Few of his children knew each other as they had 10 different mothers. Ten of the children, ranging in age from 16 to 50 – came to this luncheon to listen as their father told them he was mortally ill and outlined what they could expect from his fortune. What we know about this family meeting comes largely from Ray’s second oldest son, the Rev. Robert Charles, who recalled:
"He called and we had a sit-down lunch...We took a lot of pictures. And we had a really good time getting to know each other. There were 10 of us there because two couldn't make it. My dad talked about how they always wait until a person passes. He said, 'Why do that? I'll give it to you now so you can build on that now.' It wasn't publicized because he was a very private man."
At that time, Ray Charles presented each child with a check for $1 million and explained that most of his financial assets would be left at his death to his charitable foundation. When he passed away it is believed Ray Charles’ holdings were worth between $25,000,000 and $50,000,000.
Another son, Ray Jr., responded to the rumors that his father had died penniless with these words: "How can you be broke when you give us $1 million and pay the taxes on it? What does that tell you? My father was second to none. He died not owing anyone anything. Everything he had belonged to him. He has 12 kids and he recognized them. He gave them $1 million in the prime or peak of their lives."
It really doesn’t matter how large Ray Charles’ estate was or how much he left his children. The key to his personal and family legacy is found in the strength he exhibited in overcoming weakness and adversity and in the desire he had to give something to his children before he died that they could build on.
How will you tell your children about what your testamentary intentions are? In what ways will your personal and family legacy empower your children to build upon what you have given them—both monetarily and through that family wealth that isn’t taxed, your wisdom and experiential reflections?
"Heaven wanted some music, and God sent for Ray Charles," - The Reverend Jesse Jackson speaking at Ray Charles’ funeral
"Through his darkness, he enlightened and brightened our lives." - Cecily Tyson, who along with Clint Eastwood, was present with Ray Charles at his last public appearance in April, 2004
What an incredible story. I’ve always been a Ray Charles “music” fan, and now I am becoming a real Ray Charles fan. He reached out through his music, his children and his charitable acts in ways that touch us all. Thanks, John A., for carrying the message and telling the story.
Posted by: Bob Pittman | August 20, 2010 at 01:20 PM
Thanks Bob. As you have noted, there was much more to Ray Charles than just the music. And, while his life was a lifetime struggle to overcome addiction there are some powerful lessons for all of us in how he lived those final years. John A
Posted by: John "John A" Warnick | August 20, 2010 at 06:39 PM
This is awesome.
I love this story.
I now know that Ray Charles was generous and wasn't selfish. He gave his children one million dollars each and gave money to the universities. To me Ray Charles is my inspiration and role model. I now am looking forward to later on in life that way I could do exactly what Ray Charles did.
That is a goal for me.
Posted by: Shazanay | July 10, 2011 at 07:54 PM
Thanks Shazanay. There is a lot to admire in the Ray Charles story.
Posted by: John "John A" Warnick | July 10, 2011 at 08:07 PM
Ray Charles had a heart of gold. It's a shame that no talent "reality people" ( they are not stars) don't put some of that money back into helping those that need it. Instead they are selfish little whiners that only think about themselves. The same goes for all the overpaid spoiled pro jocks. God Bless Ray Charles and people like him!
Posted by: Cecilia | July 17, 2011 at 03:27 PM
"...A song for you..." You have said it all. May God give you peace and take you into his kingdom for redemption. We will never forget you Brother Ray.
Posted by: Ceril Brkett | December 02, 2011 at 09:33 AM
How incredible was his ability to love, lose, recover and share the story in a song.
Posted by: Lennox | December 29, 2011 at 07:29 PM