It is often said that a man’s success is always backed by a woman. You must be aware of the legendary American musician Ray Charles, also known as the “genius of soul.” But, as the aforementioned statement proves its credibility, perhaps Ray’s rise could not have been possible without the constant support from his then wife, Della Beatrice Howard Robinson, also known as Bea. She is said to be the backbone of Ray’s advent into music.
There must be numerous questions running through your mind- Who is della beatrice howard robinson? Why is she relevant to this statement? What does she do? Well, you shall find out as you read further- just have patience.
Some relevant facts about Bea
| Real name | Della Beatrice Howard Robinson |
| Gender | Female |
| Nickname | Bea |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Afro-American |
| Year of birth | 1929 |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Place of birth | Richmond, Texas |
| Profession | Gospel singer, homemaker |
| Net worth | ~$15 million |
Early days in her life
Let’s glance over what her early days were like, her familial condition, and her level of education.
Family
Born in 1929 in Richmond, Texas, Della beatrice howard robinson, also known as Bea, grew up when racial discrimination was prevalent in the US. She was born to parents who had never been married. Her parents parted ways some years after her birth, due to which she was raised by her mother. This incident instilled a particular conscience within her- to live life on her own terms, and to be independent.
Educational Qualification
Talking of her educational background, della beatrice howard robinson went through local schooling in Richmond. She studied till the fourth standard, before she had to eventually put a stop to her schooling and take over familial responsibilities.
However, in spite of facing such difficulties at such a young age, Bella stood strong and found music as her comfort. She became inclined particularly towards the genre of Gospel music, which in turn shaped her career in the future.
Gospel Singing- A Medium to Thrive
Della beatrice howard robinson embarked on a professional musical journey in her teenage when she came across the choir group of the church of Cecil Shaw. This event turned out to be a paving move for her, as this was the moment which determined her future in her singing career.
While in the choir, Bea used to sing in churches as well as on the radio- which brought her some recognition. Her journey in this musical genre proved to be of much significance, which brought upon newer opportunities as well as recognition in her locality.
Her Acquaintance With Ray Charles
Della beatrice howard robinson came across Ray Charles in Houston, Texas in the year 1954. They met at a time when both of them were doing well in the music industry, although their musical genres did not entirely align. They made a connection upon meeting- which was due to Bea’s charming personality as well as comforting nature. According to him, Bea was not among those who pitied Ray for his premature blindness. This led to a connection between the two of them, and as a result meetings became almost regular. And just after a short span of time, they announced that they are dating.
Their meetings were not just driven romantically- it was rather collaborative as well. This is because at that time, Ray was experimenting his way through blending different musical genres such as Gospel, jazz and blues, and Della beatrice howard robinson was proficient in the genre of gospel music.
The Marriage: A Big Move
Della beatrice howard robinson and Ray Charles got married informally on the 5th April, 1955. Why informal? The marriage took place in the junk-piled backroom of a hotel (Dallas). The marriage seemed to be prosperous and was filled with happiness.
Ray and Bea had their first child, Raj Charles Robinson Jr., in May 1955- just a few weeks after their marriage- which is indicative towards the fact that the two were not too serious when it came to keeping their professional and personal lives segregated.
| Family of Della beatrice howard robinson with Ray Charles | |
| Spouse | Ray Charles (m. 1955-1977) |
| Date of marriage | 5th April 1955 |
| Children (if any) | 3 |
| Name of children (biological) | Ray Jr. (1955), David (1958), Robert (1960) |
Marriages work well when we keep our personal and professional relationships aside from each other. This marriage was indeed prosperous- but initially. This can be considered as a rift for different factors between the couple, which eventually led to the end of a bond of more than two decades.
Challenges to their Married Life
Well, what could have been the possible factors behind the duo’s separation and eventual divorce after a long span of 22 years? Let’s see in detail.
Poor Management of Publicity by the Duo
Della beatrice howard robinson and Ray Charles were, to an extent, incompetent when it came to tackling their fame and not letting it into their personal lives. Ray’s bustling fame led to the discovery of newer and perhaps inappropriate information surfacing out in the media.
Bea had to bear the consequences as a result, facing the rather scrutinous paparazzi.
Extramarital Affairs
Ray Charles was quite infamous for his extramarital affairs- and this caused a rift between Della beatrice howard robinson and him. Despite being the father of three children, her husband indulged in numerous affairs. It was reportedly alleged that her husband is having an affair with Mary Ann Fisher. Not only that, the names of Margie Hendricks as well as Mae Mosely Lyles also surfaced regarding this matter.
Ray’s Heroin Addiction
Additionally, Ray was also addicted to substance abuse (namely heroin), which led to him being ill tempered as well as being in depleting health conditions. Her husband failed to realise that Bea left her career to take up responsibility for the family and his nonchalance regarding this matter increased conflicts within them.
The Divorce
The marriage of Della beatrice howard robinson and Ray Charles had deteriorated to such an extent that it was seemingly beyond irreparable. And that is exactly what happened- unable to endure any more, Bea filed for a divorce in 1976. Eventually, they got divorced in the year 1977. Twenty two years of togetherness was smothered by external factors- and thus ended what could have been a prosperous “till death do us part” story.
The Life After divorce
Following the divorce, Della beatrice howard robinson got a compensation of $15 million as alimony. This shot up her net worth and provided her a chance to get away from the media in order to avoid being burdened with questions. And she did quite the right, needless to say- sometimes you need to value yourself instead of enduring the unjust.
As of where she is now, she was last seen in 2010- in Riverside County. She was in good health back then. But ever since 2010, she has not disclosed her whereabouts, and the media has drifted its interest away from her over time. Hence, we don’t really have an idea about where she is or how she is- and perhaps this is how we should be keeping it, for everyone deserves some privacy.
Conclusion
You see, Della beatrice howard robinson has profound significance. It would be unjust to remember her solely as the ex wife of Ray Charles- she was much more than that. It was her resilience and strength that helped her sustain a living in her earlier days. We could also see her sacrificial nature for her love- she had been enduring everything while she was married.
She was someone who was a victim of domestic abuse, and yet she sought to endure it for more than twenty years. This shows her grit for her love. Bea’s story gives us the lesson that we should always value those who are around us- supporting us in times of distress. And as it was said before- behind every successful man, there is a woman. She deserves credit for helping her husband out in times of distress and nurturing a short-lived happy family with him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Who was Della Beatrice Howard Robinson married to before her marriage with Ray Charles?
Ans: Della beatrice howard robinson was married twice before her marriage with Ray Charles took place. She deferred from revealing the identities of her ex husbands.
Q2. Is Della Beatrice Howard Robinson still alive?
Ans: Supposedly yes. She was reported to be in good health in 2022.
Q3. Who was Della Beatrice Howard Robinson born to?
Ans: Although the identities of her parents are not known, her biological father was a preacher.
