Primary Wave Music Publishing has finalized an agreement with the heirs of Ray Charles which will see the publishing firm acquire a majority stake in the pre-1964 music publishing catalog of the 17x Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, composer, and pianist.
The terms of what is described as a “multi-million deal” include a majority of the publishing and writer’s share, as well as all administration rights, for some of the soul legend’s biggest hits such as What I’d Say, Ain’t That Love, and I Got A Woman, which was famously sampled by Kanye West in his hit song Gold Digger featuring Jamie Foxx.
The agreement also includes access to Primary Wave’s publishing infrastructure, which includes digital strategy, licensing and sync opportunities, publicity, branding, and film & TV production.
Born Ray Charles Robinson on September 23, 1930, in Albany, Georgia, he was raised in Greenville, Florida, and started playing the piano before he was five.
At age six, he contracted glaucoma that eventually left him blind. He studied composition (writing music in Braille) and
learned to play the alto saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, and organ while attending the St. Augustine School for the Deaf and the Blind from 1937 to 1945.
His father died when he was 10, his mother five years later, and he left school to work in dance bands around Florida, dropping his last name to avoid confusion with boxer Sugar Ray Robinson.
“WE ARE THRILLED TO WELCOME RAY CHARLES INTO THE PRIMARY WAVE FAMILY AND ARE EXCITED TO WORK WITH HIS HEIRS TO HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF HIS LEGACY.”
BILL CISNEROS, PRIMARY WAVE IP INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
In 1947, with $600 he moved to Seattle and worked as a Nat “King” Cole-style crooner. He signed his first label deal in 1948 and a year later began releasing music.
Between the years 1949 and 1963, he recorded 15 LPs and countless singles which topped the charts in the U.S. and across the world, selling millions of copies, winning a number of awards, and laying the foundation for his legendary career.
Over the course of the next two decades, Charles would continue to win award after award, open his own studio, sign artists, tour, perform for world leaders, and perform on TV and film, most notably in the 1980 hit The Blues Brothers.
In 1986, Charles was the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, which celebrates individuals who, through a lifetime of accomplishments have enriched American life by their achievement in the performing arts.
He continued to receive accolades and awards throughout the 90s. He appeared on multiple broadcasts and celebrated 50 years in the recording industry.
In 2004, his final piece of music, Genius Loves Company was released and went on to sell over 5 million copies, earned eight Grammy nominations and won five including Album Of The Year.
That same year the film Ray was released and went on to become one of the highest grossing biopics in history.
Bill Cisneros, President of Primary Wave IP Investment Management, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Ray Charles into the Primary Wave family and are excited to work with his heirs to help shape the future of his legacy.”
Marc Toberoff of Toberoff & Associates, P.C. who represents Ray Charles’ heirs, aded:
“Ray Charles was a unique artist genius and Primary Wave is the perfect, creatively proactive company to look after his music and legacy.”
Source: Music Business Worldwide
