When Ray Charles died in 2004, we knew we had lost a legend but there was still so much that was unknown about his life.
His son, Ray Charles Robinson Jr., is finally telling the real stories of his famous father’s life in his new book, “You Don’t Know Me.”
He says despite the blockbuster movie, “Ray” and other biographies, there are many misconceptions about his father’s life. He says one of the biggest things he wanted the public to learn about was his father’s second chance at life after overcoming addictions and personal demons.
“You’ll understand his triumphs in a new way,” Ray Jr. said.
He’s also sharing personal, intimate stories about his family’s life, including the time that Ray Jr. was 6 years old and saved his father’s life after Ray Sr. accidentally cut himself when he was high on heroin.
It’s a harrowing tale, yet Ray Jr. tells it with love and respect and he says despite their turbulent relationship, he knows that his father did the best he could, given his own troubled childhood.
Plus, Ray describes what it was like to have some of the greatest musicians in history coming in and out of his home as a child and why he thinks his father’s blindness was actually his greatest gift.
It’s a rare look into the private life of one of the greatest musicians in American history.
