Awards

• Winner of Coretta Scott King Award (Author) 1974

Overview

Illustrated by George Ford In a beautiful new edition of this 1973 multiple award-winning biography, young readers learn the rags-to-riches story of legendary musician Ray Charles's life - from age 7, when he loses his sight completely, to age 40, when he performs to dazzled audiences world-wide and participates in the fight for racial justice. A new introduction by the author sets the context for Charles's journey to stardom, and an afterword updates his life to the present.

Full Product Details

9781584300182

Table of Contents

Reviews

Winner of both the Coretta Scott King Author Award and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, Ray Charles by Sharon Bell Mathis, illus. by George Ford, originally published in 1973, traces the star's surmounting of incredible obstacles to become one of the world's greatest jazz musicians. Ford's illustrations capture every emotional nuance, from Ray's disappointment at being tricked by classmates as a child, to his strength as a man, refusing to perform to segregated audiences. -- Publishers Weekly The music of Ray Charles 'tells about love and pain and joy and trouble' and so do the events of his life... [This] biography ... details the heroism in Ray Charles' life. -- The Horn Book It was extremely hard to be a child of the Depression, but even more so without sight. Ray Charles Robinson was that child, and his gutsy story of achievement will inspire readers of all ages. At the age of six he lost his sight, and at seven left his family to attend a school for the blind. By the time Charles graduated at 15, his parents and brother had died. His first job was playing the piano at a radio station. By age 24, Charles had traveled from Greenville, Florida, to Seattle, dropped his last name, played the Apollo Theatre, formed a band of his own, and had the number two spot on Billboard's Rhythm and Blues chart with I Got a Woman. He painstakingly composed music in Braille and could play several instruments. Charles has received numerous music and humanitarian awards and composed the state song of Georgia. Ford's illustrations in black acrylic and India ink contain the same passion and energy Charles exemplifies. Read this book aloud when featuring biographies, people of achievement, or themes related to music. This book, first published in 1973, was a Coretta Scott King Award winner for both text and illustrations. This new edition contains a foreword and afterward by the author, which updates Charles' life to the present. -- Library Talk Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, American Library Association (ALA) Coretta Scott King Author Award, American Library Association (ALA) Choices, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Storytelling World Honor Award, Storytelling World

Winner of both the Coretta Scott King Author Award and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, Ray Charles by Sharon Bell Mathis, illus. by George Ford, originally published in 1973, traces the star's surmounting of incredible obstacles to become one of the world's greatest jazz musicians. Ford's illustrations capture every emotional nuance, from Ray's disappointment at being tricked by classmates as a child, to his strength as a man, refusing to perform to segregated audiences. -- Publishers Weekly The music of Ray Charles 'tells about love and pain and joy and trouble' and so do the events of his life... [This] biography ... details the heroism in Ray Charles' life. -- The Horn Book Ford's illustrations in black acrylic and India ink contain the same passion and energy Charles exemplifies. -- Library Talk Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, American Library Association (ALA) Choices, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Storytelling World Honor Award, Storytelling World

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Coretta Scott King Author Award Choices Storytelling World Honor Award

Author Information

Sharon Bell Maths, has won numerous awards for her many children's books. Some of her most enduring books include The Hundred-Penny Box, a Newberry Honor Book, and Teacup Full of Roses, an ALA Notable Book and a New York Times Best Book of the Year. George Ford is a veteran artist who has illustrated more than 30 children's books, including Paul Robeson, winner of the Jane Addams Peace Award, the Story of Ruby Bridges, by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Coles.

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