Sheila Raye Charles, daughter of the legendary Ray Charles, will return in February to New Covenant United Methodist Church in The Villages.
Her appearance will be Friday in honor of Black History Month.
Last year, she packed the house at the church’s Celebrate Recovery event, and shared testimony of overcoming a life of addiction.
As a singer/songwriter, she has found her voice in acoustic jazz and R & B with lyrics that deliver the personal journey of her own life and her relationship with her father.
At age 19, she defied her father’s wishes and pursued music.
Demonstrating her commitment and her talent, her father actually brought her and her band into his studio and personally produced several songs. Through a series of life changing events, her music career waned as she gathered a lifetime of experiences which, today, give great meaning and countenance to her music. Today, Charles is called upon to provide skin tingling renditions of her father’s best known songs from “America the Beautiful” to “Hit The Road Jack” to “Georgia” from jazz festivals to places of worship. As an entertaining and engaging vocalist, Charles is able to inspire her audiences with stories of her life challenges of drug addiction and recovery, of her spiritual journey and personal growth while at the same time delivering meaty, life giving music. With the publication of her life story, “Behind the Shades,” Charles provides insight into her life and her path to God. She will be on hand to sign her book and take pictures after the program.
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