RAY CHARELS. i DIDN'T KNOW

Ray Charles had a lot of difficult times but I think RAY, the movie, put more emphasis on his drug addiction for dramatic effect. I don't think it was as much a part of his life as the film makes it out to be, though drug addiction always makes for great drama onoscreen so I understand why it was brought to the forefront of the screenplay of the film. Then again, Charles was around when filmoing began and undoubtedly was allowed to see the screenplay. The film did clean up other parts of his life though...the film depicts Ray as fathering an illegitimate child when in real life he fathered six.

That movie didn't come close. Here's what the Wikipedia says about him.

Charles was married twice and fathered twelve children by nine different women. His first marriage to Eileen Williams was brief: July 31, 1951 to 1952. He has three children from his second marriage to Della Beatrice Howard Robinson from April 5, 1955 to 1977.

His children are:

Charles Wayne Hendricks (son of Marge Hendricks — one of the Raelettes)
Evelyn Robinson (daughter of Louise Mitchell)
Raenee Robinson (daughter of Mae Mosely Lyles)
Sheila Robinson (daughter of Sandra Jean Betts)
Vincent Kotchounian (son of Arlette Kotchounian — worked with him as photographer on Would You Believe album)
David Robinson (son of Della Robinson)
Ray Charles Robinson, Jr. (son of Della Robinson)
Reverend Robert Robinson (son of Della Robinson)
Reatha Butler
Alexandria Bertrand (daughter of Chantelle Bertrand)
Robyn Moffett (daughter of Gloria Moffett)
Ryan Corey Robinson den Bok (son of Mary Anne den Bok)

Charles gave each of his 12 children $1,000,000 tax free in 2004 just before he died.