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Ray Charles (Ray Charles Robinson) (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004),
was a pioneering American pianist and soul singer who helped shape the
sound of rhythm and blues and brought a soulful sound to everything from
country music to pop standards to a now-iconic rendition of "America the
Beautiful." Frank Sinatra called him "the only genius in the business."
was a pioneering American pianist and soul singer who helped shape the
sound of rhythm and blues and brought a soulful sound to everything from
country music to pop standards to a now-iconic rendition of "America the
Beautiful." Frank Sinatra called him "the only genius in the business."
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Although this charismatic boxer was born Walker Smith Jr., he is best
remembered as "Sugar" Ray Robinson. Born on May 3, 1921 in Ailey, Georgia, his
parents moved the family to New York when Sugar Ray was a teenager to escape the
prevalent prejudice in the South. It was there, in a Harlem gym, that he was
first introduced to boxing. Sugar Ray visited the gym frequently, using a
borrowed Amateur Athletic Union boxing card of a friend. The friend's name,
incidentally, was Ray Robinson.His natural talent in the ring began to draw attention, and soon crowds
gathered to watch Sugar Ray perform. When future coach George Gainford watched
him box for the first time, Gainford commented that the young boxer's style and
fluid motions were "sweet as sugar." Others agreed, and the nickname stuck.
After winning the New York Golden Gloves championship in 1940, 19-year-old Sugar
Ray turned pro and never looked back. By 1946, Sugar Ray was the world
welterweight champion. His reign included a 91 fight winning-streak. He held the
title for five years, and then moved onto acquiring the world middleweight
title, which he held five times between 1951-1960. A dominant force in the
boxing ring for two decades, Sugar Ray was 38 when he won his last middleweight
title.
In the mid-1960s, Sugar Ray exited the ring gracefully. "No beefs, George,"
he told his coach. "Sometimes we got the best of it in the past."
Sugar Ray's record was 128-1-2 with 84 knockouts at the pinnacle of his
career. Amazingly, in over 200 fights, Sugar Ray was never physically knocked
out (though he did receive one technical KO). Altogether, he amassed 109 KOs,
and finished with a record of 175-19-6 with two no-decisions. World champion
Muhammad Ali called him "the king, the master, my idol." In 1997, The Ring
magazine named Sugar Ray "pound for pound, the best boxer of all time." More
recently, in 1999, the Associated Press named him both the greatest welterweight
and middleweight boxer of the century.
remembered as "Sugar" Ray Robinson. Born on May 3, 1921 in Ailey, Georgia, his
parents moved the family to New York when Sugar Ray was a teenager to escape the
prevalent prejudice in the South. It was there, in a Harlem gym, that he was
first introduced to boxing. Sugar Ray visited the gym frequently, using a
borrowed Amateur Athletic Union boxing card of a friend. The friend's name,
incidentally, was Ray Robinson.His natural talent in the ring began to draw attention, and soon crowds
gathered to watch Sugar Ray perform. When future coach George Gainford watched
him box for the first time, Gainford commented that the young boxer's style and
fluid motions were "sweet as sugar." Others agreed, and the nickname stuck.
After winning the New York Golden Gloves championship in 1940, 19-year-old Sugar
Ray turned pro and never looked back. By 1946, Sugar Ray was the world
welterweight champion. His reign included a 91 fight winning-streak. He held the
title for five years, and then moved onto acquiring the world middleweight
title, which he held five times between 1951-1960. A dominant force in the
boxing ring for two decades, Sugar Ray was 38 when he won his last middleweight
title.
In the mid-1960s, Sugar Ray exited the ring gracefully. "No beefs, George,"
he told his coach. "Sometimes we got the best of it in the past."
Sugar Ray's record was 128-1-2 with 84 knockouts at the pinnacle of his
career. Amazingly, in over 200 fights, Sugar Ray was never physically knocked
out (though he did receive one technical KO). Altogether, he amassed 109 KOs,
and finished with a record of 175-19-6 with two no-decisions. World champion
Muhammad Ali called him "the king, the master, my idol." In 1997, The Ring
magazine named Sugar Ray "pound for pound, the best boxer of all time." More
recently, in 1999, the Associated Press named him both the greatest welterweight
and middleweight boxer of the century.