LibGuides: PHSC Celebrates its 50th Anniversary and Black History Month: Ray Charles

Close up of Ray Charles in Natalie Blake’s Clay Tile Mural “Noonday Sun: Central Ave in its Heyday. Circa 1920-1967”

Ray Charles (1930-2004), legendary blues musician, was born in FL and got his early career start performing in Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa.

Performed on the “chitlin' circuit” – a series of Black dance halls throughout the south
Moved to Tampa in 1947 and lived with his girlfriend, Louise Mitchell, with whom he had a daughter, Evelyn.
Honed his skills as performer in the various clubs of the Tampa Bay area before leaving to pursue bigger opportunities in Seattle.
Charles made some of his first recordings during his time in Tampa.

Bancroft, Colette, “Tampa Bay was Home Turf,” Tampa Bay Times, Jun. 11, 2004. https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2004/06/11/tampa-bay-was-home-turf/

Kelly, McKenna, “When Ray Charles Came to Tampa,” Tampa Magazines, May 19, 2020, https://tampamagazines.com/the-history-of-ray-charles-in-tampa/