Few entertainers have left behind a legacy like Ray Charles. Often referred to as “The Genius” — a title bestowed upon him by Frank Sinatra (per The Los Angeles Times) — Charles was born in 1930. He overcame seemingly impossible odds, such as blindness due to glaucoma, to become one of the most prolific and influential musicians of all time.
Considered by many as the pioneer of modern soul music, Charles has been sampled by everyone from Kanye West (“Gold Digger,” which sampled “I Got A Woman”) to Led Zeppelin (“Your Time Is Gonna Come,” sampling “I Believe to My Soul”). The biopic about his life, Ray, earned Jamie Foxx his first — and to date, his only — Academy Award win. Elsewhere, Rolling Stone has placed the late creative at No. 10 on their Top 100 Greatest Artists of All Time list.
In short, he’s nothing short of a legend. Though his $75 million estate (per Celebrity Net Worth) is quite impressive, it is his continued legacy in his twelve children – born between 1949 and 1987 – that is, perhaps, the most precious of all. Let’s take a look at how the magic of Ray Charles continues to live on through Evelyn, Ray Jr., David and their many siblings.
Editorial note: The net worth listed in this piece is a speculative estimate drawn from a variety of online sources.
Evelyn Robinson
The first of the Charles children is 74-year-old Evelyn Robinson, born in 1949 to the vocalist and Louise Mitchell. The couple was dating for a year before the wound up separating, though their baby girl’s arrival left them bonded together for life. Evelyn was born in Tampa, Florida, where her father recorded his first song, “I Found My Baby There.”
According to Yahoo News, Evelyn spent her younger years working as a success coach, event/travel manager, health/wellness consultant and a manager at a pre-paid legal services company. Prior to that, she was employed at Verizon as a software engineer/systems analyst. For her education, Charles’ firstborn earned a Master’s Certificate in Project Management; she resides in Boston, Massachusetts as of 2023.
Ray Charles Robinson Jr.
The eldest son of Ray Charles and Della Bea Robinson was born in 1955 and has quite a distinguished career in the entertainment industry. Named after his father, Ray Jr. was the co-producer of the Ray biopic, and the co-executive producer of Ray Charles: 50 Years of Music. He also wrote a book called “You Don’t Know Me,” about his father and his life. His author bio says he’s “committed to helping those in need in his community, especially those struggling with addiction.”
David Robinson
Born in 1958, to the same parents as his older brother, David Robinson has very vivid memories of his famous father. In 2020, he shared some of his favorite ones with Closer Magazine, specifically recalling the impact of Charles’ independence on his career in music. “I think that was a driving force in his life,” David said. “It had to be, because of his discipline and what he was able to do.”
The second Robinson boy married his longtime girlfriend, Synthia, though their only son, Sgt. Conrad Robinson, tragically lost his life at just 36 years old at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo.
Charles Wayne Hendricks
Next in line is Charles Wayne Hendricks, the only child of Ray and Margie Hendrix, born in 1959. The latter was a renowned gospel singer and member of the Raelettes. She and Charles’ father were in a long-term relationship, though she died at age 38, leaving her son and lover behind. Hendricks’ personal life was kept largely out of the public eye before his 2013 death. He married a woman named Marlene from Aurora, Colorado, and they shared several children who brought them grandchildren too.
Dr. Robert F. Robinson, Sr.
Dr. Robert F. Robinson Sr. was born in 1961; he’s the youngest child of Ray and Della. After serving as his father’s roadie during his teenage years, he chose to become a stay-at-home father while working various odd jobs. According to his bio, after reading news reports about the HIV and AIDS crisis in the United States, he went into evangelism. Now, he currently serves as the pastor of Great Faith Ministries and Schools.
Raenee Robinson
Also born in 1961 was Raenee Robinson who serves as Ray Charles’ children’s unofficial spokesperson. In 2016, she told The Washington Post that eight — out of twelve — of Charles’s children weren’t invited to the White House tribute to their father. “We’re usually the last to hear about it,” she said. “Everyone might not talk to each other, but everyone talks to me.”
Besides carrying on the Charles name, Robinson has also worked professionally in fields like tax repair, legal shielding and credit repair. She and her husband, Kevin, currently reside in Los Angeles, California.
Sheila Robinson
In 1963, the “Hit the Road Jack” singer welcomed another daughter, Sheila Raye Charles. Her mother was Sandra Jean Bettes, who raised her daughter in Minnesota. Due to the distance, Sheila didn’t spend much time with her father, but she still held onto the fond memories they shared. In her own life, the 53-year-old dealt with substance abuse and other mental struggles. Thankfully, forming a close bond with God and her evangelist religion helped save her from drugs.
Charles was always open about her personal battles, including addiction, incarceration, a car accident and sexual abuse. In 2005, she shared an album dedicated to Ray, My Daddy, before relocating to Sarasota, Florida, After living a full life, Sheila sadly passed away in June 2017 following a battle with breast cancer.
Reatha Butler
Reatha Butler’s passion lies in real estate; she’s the proprietor of a company with two offices in Colorado – one in Payton and the other in Falcon. She was born in 1966 to mother Mary Chantal Bertrand, but prefers to live life outside of the spotlight.
Alexandra Bertrand
Alexandra Bertrand is the biological little sister of Reatha, born in 1968. Much like Ray and Mary’s firstborn, little is known about Bertrand’s private life as she also chooses to avoid the public eye.
Vincent Kotchounian
One of Ray Charles’ youngest sons is Vincent Kotchounian, who he fathered with a woman named Arlette in 1977. The 47-year-old had the honor of contributing to one of his father’s albums by designing the cover art in the late 80s. As an adult, Kotchounian (who’s also of Armenian descent) studied at the University of Southern California before launching his career as a fitness trainer.
Robyn Moffett
The last daughter fathered by Charles was Robyn LaJoya Moffett, born on the West Side of Chicago in 1978. Her mother was Gloria, and Robyn now has a daughter of her own, Avari Rhaen. Taking after her paternal side, the 46-year-old worked as a singer-songwriter for A-Class Productions in Atlanta, Georgia. She’s also the proprietor of R. Charles & Co. Enterprises – a music publishing and consulting company since 2015.
Ryan Corey Robinson den Bok
The youngest child of Ray Charles was born in 1987. Ryan Corey Robinson den Bok currently has a YouTube page where he shares his burgeoning music career, including pretty respectable covers of his father’s classic tracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Inherited Ray Charles’ Fortune?
MSN reports that most of the Georgia-born artist’s assets went to his charitable foundation. However, he did ensure all of his kids were taken care of too, reportedly leaving them $500,000 each to be paid out over the course of five years following his death.
How Many Biological Children Did Ray Charles Have?
Throughout his 73 years of life, Ray Charles had 12 children with ten different women. The women who mothered the musical icon’s kids are Louise Flowers Margie Hendrick, Mae Mosley Lyles, Sandra Jean Betts, Mary Chantal Bertrand, Arlette Kotchounian, Gloria Moffett and Mary Anne den Bok.
How Many Grandchildren Did Ray Charles Have?
From his dozen children, Charles became the grandfather of 20 babies and the great-grandfather of five others, according to IMDb.
