MovieChat Forums > Ray (2004) Discussion > Why did Ray go to Seattle?

Why did Ray go to Seattle?

posted 10 years ago by Sparky48
4 replies | jump to latest

As depicted in the opening scene of the movie, Ray Charles moved to Seattle from Florida start his career. However, it sort of struck me as odd that he would have relocated to the Pacific Northwest from South Florida --nearly 4,000 miles across the U.S--to embark on a musical career.

And of all places, why Seattle? I could see him relocating to cities such as Memphis or NYC, places where there's a heavy concentration of nightclubs and other music venues. But why would a blind man venture so far to a seaport city in the Northwest?

[–] abajasds 10 years ago

Probably because that was the only band interested in Ray at that time, but when he started really showing his skills that's when people wanted him. It probably was hard for Ray to land a gig in a band seeing how he was blind.

My job is to inform, not persuade- Dan Rather

[–] lisajohn-4 8 years ago

I don't know if it was cause or effect, but post-WWII Seattle had a pretty hot music scene (still does) that gave birth to no less than Quincy Jones and Jimi Hendrix.

[–] knytrydr 8 years ago

He probably also wanted to get as far away from Florida as he could. Nothing but bad memories there for him.

[–] spookyrat1 8 years ago

A couple of reasons, one of which was made pretty clear in the film, the other perhaps not quite so.

1 He wanted to start his own band. Remember how he mentioned he was over playing for other people all the time in the south.

2 The Terence Howard character, Gossie McKee, was influential in directing him towards Seattle, where he might make a fresh start.🐭