Bob Dylan was both a lyrical genius and an amazing performer. His ability to play both the guitar and harmonica at the same time was brilliant; he would even switch between the harmonica and singing in the middle of a song. The lyrics to the songs that Dylan played where not only meaningful and moving, but also deep and rich. In his songs he uses many poetic devices, notably alliteration. Dylan’s protest song “Masters of War” portrays the use of alliteration in his lyrics.

that build the big bombs
Build, big and bombs

You that never done nothin'
Never and nothing’

When the fast bullets fly
Fast and fly

A world war can be won
World, war and won

That runs down my drain
Down and drain

Unborn and unnamed
Unborn and unnamed

To talk out of turn
Talk and turn

When your death takes its toll
Takes and toll

All the money you made
Money and made

Will never buy back your soul
Buy, and back

And I'll watch while you're lowered
Watch and while

Down to your deathbed
Down and deathbed.

1)He was not always blind, he didn’t actually go completely blind until he was seven due to glaucoma.
2)Georgia on my mind was originally written by Hoagy Carmichael amd Stuart Gorrell.
3)Ray Charles endorsed the American product “Diet Pepsi.”
4)In 1965 Charles was jailed for one year with possession of heroin.
5)He played a character named “Ray” in the movie “The blues brothers.”
6)In 1996 he played a bus driver in the movie “Spy Hard.”
7)In 1948 Charles and some of his friends formed the McSon Trio.
8)Charles gained the nickname “The Genius.”
9)The name of his major record label was Atlantic.
10)He also gained the nickname “Brother Ray.”

Here is some famous music played by Ray Charles.



Ray Charles - I got a woman (LIVE)
Ray Charles - Georgia on my mind (LIVE)
Ray Charles - Shake your tail feather (From the blues brothers)
Ray Charles - Smack dab in the middle (Album Version)
Ray Charles - Don't let her know (Album Version)

September 23, 1930
-Ray Charles Is born.

April 9, 1949
Ray Charles makes a hit with "Confessin' Blues," which appeared on Swingtime lablel.

September 1, 1952
Atlantic Records buys Ray Charles' contract from Swingtime

November 1, 1959
Ray Charles leaves Atlantic Records for ABC-Paramount.

November 8, 1960
Georgia on my mind becomes a hit.

December 3, 1965
Convicted of possession of heroin and marijuana.

March 2, 1967
Ray Charles' "Crying Time" wins two Grammies.

June 20, 1980
Ray Charles stars in the film “Blues Brothers”

January 23, 1986
Ray Charles is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

March 2, 1988
Ray Charles receives a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 30th annual Grammy Awards.

June 2, 1993
Ray Charles is given a lifetime achievement award at the songwriters hall of fame.

March 1, 1994
Ray Charles wins the 12th Grammy of his career.

March 2, 1995
Ray Charles is given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Rhythm & Blues Foundation's annual Pioneer Awards.

June 10, 2004
-Ray Charles Dies.

Ray Charles was an amazing song writer and performer, which was even more notable because he was blind. Along with this he made many contributions to songwriting. Charles slowly built his way up from the bottom. His first inspiration to play music was when he heard Pit play “boogie woogie” at the red café. From their Charles began to move into the different genres of music. Charles‘ played soul, jazz and the blues, which eventually allowed him to blend them together and pioneer “soul“ music. Charles’ hit song “Georgia on my mind” contains numerous poetic devices which showcase Charles’ genius.

Georgia on my mind contains many poetic devices, one of which can be seen in the 3rd line down. Charles’ says “Sweet song,” which is an example of alliteration. Another example of a poetic device can be found in the second stanza toward the bottom “Comes as sweet and clear As moonlight through the pines” this is an example of Imagery, It gives the listener a very vivid image of what the landscape of Georgia. In the third stanza there is much personification and symbolism. “Other arms reach out to me Other eyes smile tenderly” Can be both people and states that are welcoming Charles’, but he finds that there is nothing like Georgia. “Still in peaceful dreams I see The road leads back to you.” In this sentence Georgia is being treated more like a person than a state. He is saying that in his dreams he is being led back to Georgia. In the 4th stanza Charles’ says “Ooh Georgia, no peace I find Just an old sweet song Keeps Georgia on my mind” This is the first line of the song that has a rhyme to it. It is repeating again in the 6th stanza. The entire song contains local color. It is describing the beauty of Georgia.

Charles was a very religious man. He enjoyed the ideas of gospel music, but didn’t want to stick to just one style of music. He also enjoyed jazz and blues. As time progressed he was able to find a way to mix all of these styles of music together into one genre. Through Charles creativity and innovation he pioneered the genre of “soul” Music. This was a massive contribution to song writing and musical appreciation. From this Charles’ has become a legend and will always be known as the “The Genius.”