The Saturday Morning Wake Up Club's special Salute to the Blues & Southern Soul recently caught up with Robyn Charles, daughter of Ray Charles--who was credited with the first song referred to as "soul" music.
Robyn was raised here in Chicago and is a singer, songwriter, recording artist, and businesswoman. She is the 11th of Ray Charles' 12 children and she shares details about their relationship, what advice he gave her as a performer and what it's been like trying to recapture and preserve her father's music and legacy.
She was a touring member of both the Daughters of R&B, performing alongside Carla Cooke (daughter of Sam Cooke) and Rhonda Ross (daughter of Diana Ross), and the Daughters of Legacy, where she shared the stage with Keisha Jackson (daughter of Millie Jackson), Dr. Deanna Brown Thomas (daughter of James Brown), Heather Hayes (daughter of Isaac Hayes), Aisha Namphuyo Wright (daughter of Betty Wright), and Jamecia Bennett (daughter of Ann Nesby). She also shares how some of the Queens of Soul and others have impacted her music and life.
Robyn is also working on tech start-up, a decentralized music platform for independent artists to help them make money sooner from their art and retain control of their work.
Watch the full video at the link below.