Ray Charles

A well-loved musician from the 50s, Ray Charles, was also a high school drop-out. Like the others, he did this to pursue a career in music. Ray Charles was a legendary musician who pioneered the genre of soul music during the 1950s. Often called the “Father of Soul,” Charles combined blues, gospel, and jazz to create groundbreaking hits such as “Unchain My Heart,” “Hit the Road Jack” and “Georgia on My Mind.” He died in 2004, leaving a lasting impression on contemporary music.

True enough, he didn’t become a scholar to earn a university degree but became one of the pioneering artists of the soul music genre. He was referred to as Brother Ray by most of his colleagues, and he was also called The Genius. Charles also contributed plenty to the integration of country music. He has reached all these feats despite not getting a higher education and being blind since he was seven years old due to glaucoma.