Ray Charles in Jacksonville

American musical icon Ray Charles launched his career as a pianist, singer, composer, and bandleader in Jacksonville. Ray Charles Robinson was born in Albany, Georgia on September 23, 1930. His parents were Bailey Robinson and Aretha (or Reatha) Robinson. Known by his friends as R.C., he lost his sight by the age of seven, while growing up in Greenville, Florida. He attended the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine from 1937 to 1945. Following his mother's death in spring 1945, he quit school and moved to Jacksonville at the age of 15 with the intent to gain professional music experience in the big city. Here are six sites associated with Ray Charles' time as an up-and-coming musician in Jacksonville. - Jacksonville Terminal 1000 Water Street Ray Charles Robinson arrived in Jacksonville by train. His 126-mile train ride started in Greenville, Florida and ended at LaVilla’s Jacksonville Terminal. At the time, the Jacksonville Terminal was the largest passenger railroad station in the South. Millions of railroad passengers passed through the LaVilla...