When people think about Ray Charles, the first thing that comes to mind is his music. Songs, the amazing voice, the piano, the iconic sunglasses, Georgia on My Mind or Hit the Road Jack – all these symbols are firmly associated with the legendary musician. Yet, behind every great male star, there is usually a woman who serves as the background for his glory. Such a woman was Della Beatrice Howard Robinson, Ray Charles’ second wife, the mother of his three sons, and a gospel singer.
Although she spent more than twenty years in the shadow of a music superstar, Della Robinson remained a humble and unspectacular woman.
Who Was Della Beatrice Howard Robinson?
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson is a woman who is most famous for being married to Ray Charles. However, it would be unfair to label her a “wife of Ray Charles.” She was not only his wife but also a gospel singer. During their twenty-two-year marriage, Della gave birth to three sons and became their mother. Unlike her husband, she did not want to exploit her status to gain fame and popularity. Little information is known about Della’s early years, and conflicting data is presented on different websites.
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson and Ray Charles
Della met Ray Charles in Texas in the 1950s when his music career was just starting. In 1955, on April 5th, they got married. In the following decades, Ray Charles became a renowned music star, and his songs were widely popular. Yet, the fame and recognition were not the only major events in his and Della’s life. During this time, she bore him three sons.
Della and Ray Charles’ Children
Della and Ray Charles had three sons:
- Ray Charles Robinson Jr., born in 1955
- David Robinson, born in 1958
- Robert Robinson, born in 1960
Della Robinson remained a mother figure for her children when their father became a music star. Ray Charles had a huge number of children with different women, and the relationships with them were apparently not serious. It seems that Della took on the role of the mother, trying to provide stability for her sons.
Like Della Beatrice Howard Robinson, Kristine Saryan: Life, Career, And Marriage Revealed offers a closer look at the life and career of a woman connected to a well-known public figure.
What Was Della’s Life Like as Ray Charles’ Wife?
A wife’s position in life can be significantly different if her husband is a famous musician versus an ordinary man. When Ray Charles became a music star, his lifestyle and behavior underwent a major change. He struggled with drug addiction, visited bars, and spent too much time on the road instead of at home. All of this severely impacted Della’s life and marriage. She was forced to care for her children on her own when Ray Charles refused to do so. It might be argued that Della Robinson became a victim of her husband’s career. Her fame and success meant little to her in comparison to her family.
Why Did Della Beatrice Howard Robinson and Ray Charles Divorce?
Della and Ray Charles got divorced after twenty-two years of marriage in 1977. It seems that the pressure of Ray’s drug addiction, infidelity, and career, which made him constantly be on the road rather than at home, was too strong. In addition, Ray Charles publicly admitted that he struggled with drug addiction and numerous affairs with women. Della Robinson was the woman behind Ray Charles, who lived a big and fascinating part of his life. Her story became known to a larger audience when Ray portrayed her in the film Ray , in which she was played by Kerry Washington. It seems that the most important aspect of Della’s story is that she was an ordinary woman who spent twenty-two years being married to a music legend without trying to become famous herself.
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson After the Divorce
When Della and Ray Charles got divorced, she practically vanished from the face of the earth. While the musician continued to live his life, make music, and appear in films, the former wife led a private and humble life. People used to think that Della was rich because of her marriage, but today her biographical data or financial situation is unknown. Most of the information that can be found on the web is based on second-hand stories and speculation. It is hard to say with a high degree of certainty what exactly happened to Della after the divorce. Perhaps she lost interest in Ray Charles’ life and, therefore, in her own biography.
Stories of celebrity relationships and personal lives can also be explored through Sophie Cunningham Wife Virginia Murdoch: Inside Their Story.
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson in Ray
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson was portrayed by Kerry Washington in the 2004 film Ray . Jamie Foxx starred as Ray Charles. The film depicted his amazing music career and the difficulties he had to face on his way to fame. The movie also told the story of the wife who served as the background for the musician’s stardom. Thus, the film’s plot was built on the relationship between Ray Charles and Della Bea Robinson.
Why Della Beatrice Howard Robinson’s Story Matters
Della Robinson is an example of a woman who was overshadowed by her famous husband. The story of Della and Ray Charles is an illustration of how people used to live before the age of social networks. When Ray Charles was on the road, Della took care of their children and tried to be a good mother and wife. This was the life of an ordinary woman whose biography became known only because she was married to a music legend. In fact, most people saw Ray Charles on stage, but few know about his personal life. In other words, Della’s story serves as a reminder that there are usually multiple people behind one great celebrity. All of them deserve attention and recognition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Della Beatrice Howard Robinson?
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson was Ray Charles’ second wife and the mother of his three sons. She also was a gospel singer.
When did Della marry Ray Charles?
Della married Ray Charles on April 5, 1955. They got divorced after twenty-two years of marriage, in 1977.
How many children did Della have with Ray Charles?
Della gave birth to three sons with Ray Charles.
Why did Della and Ray Charles divorce?
Della and Ray Charles divorced because Ray struggled with heroin addiction, infidelity, a heavy drinking lifestyle, and a constant desire to be on the road instead of at home. Such conditions made it impossible to maintain a family.
Who plays Della in Ray ?
Kerry Washington plays Della Beatrice Howard Robinson in the film Ray .
Like Della Beatrice Howard Robinson, Kelsy Ully Life Story: Untold Truths & Private Journey offers a closer look at a private life shaped alongside a well-known public figure.
Final Words
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson was an ordinary woman who saw her husband achieve music stardom. She was a mother of his three sons, a gospel singer, and, for most of her life, lived in the shadow of Ray Charles. Yet, her story is no less interesting than the lives of the celebrities who courted him. After twenty-two years of marriage, Della Robinson left Ray Charles and returned to obscurity.
Today, only a few people remember her name, and even fewer know her biography. Some sources describe her as old, rich, and living in Texas. Meanwhile, other people claim that she is still in love with Ray Charles. Most likely, this is not the case, given how much she suffered throughout her years with him. The most remarkable part of Della’s biography is that she managed to live through all these troubles and eventually move on with her life.