Marjorie "Margie" Hendrix (sometimes Hendricks) (March 13, 1938 – July 14, 1973)[1] was an American rhythm and blues singer and founding member of the Raelettes, who were the backing singers for Ray Charles, the father of her child, Charles Wayne Hendrix.
Margie Hendrix was born on March 13, 1938, in Statesboro, Georgia, the daughter of Kattie and Renzy Hendrix.[1] She sang, played piano and directed her local church choir while in her pre-teens. In the early 1950s', she moved to New York City and signed a record deal with Lamp records and released her first singles "Everything", "Good Treatment", and "Every Time" in 1954, but they did not hit the charts and she left the label in 1955. In 1956, she replaced Beulah Robertson in the Cookies, joining existing members Dorothy Jones and Darlene McCrea. The group signed to Atlantic Records, and had a #9 hit on the R&B chart with "In Paradise". They also started working as session singers at Atlantic, where they were introduced to Ray Charles. The Cookies auditioned for Charles on the song "Leave My Woman Alone". In 1958, Margie and McCrea left the Cookies (who later went on to greater success with a different line-up), and later formed the Raelettes as Ray's backing singers.[2]
The Raelettes and Ray Charles
In October 1958, Ray Charles recorded his first song with the Raelettes, "Night Time Is the Right Time", which reached #5 on the R&B charts. The song is widely known for Margie's powerful vocals.[3] There was a mutual attraction and Margie and Ray began an affair, and had one son, Charles Wayne Hendricks (born October 1, 1959 in New York City) together.[2][4] After she gave birth to Charles Wayne, she tried to convince Ray to leave his wife Della Beatrice Howard and live with her and their son, but Ray refused. Margie and the Raelettes performed on several of Ray's songs, but during the 1960's, Margie's relationship with Ray began to fall apart and she later started to use alcohol and heroin, and her career began to suffer. Her drug use started to affect her appearance and behavior with the Raeletts like picking fights during recording sessions, not showing up to performances, and showing up to performances drunk. In 1964 the Raelettes released the single "A Lover's Blues" which featured Margie on lead vocals, but this was the last song that she recorded with Ray, because in July 1964 during a tour in Europe after a heated and possibly physically violent argument, Ray officially fired Margie from the Raelettes and sent her back to the United States.[5]
Unsuccessful solo career and drug addiction
After leaving the Raelettes, in 1965 Margie signed a record deal with Mercury Records and she released five singles, but the singles flopped and an album was shelved causing an increase in her use of alcohol and more damaging drugs.[2] In 1966, Margie married jazz singer Robert Fulson, who was the brother of singer Lowell Fulson.[6] On September 7, 1967, while driving in Texas, Margie was injured with Robert, when their car was struck by a lumber truck. The two of them both survived, but Margie suffered neck injuries and slight loss of hearing in her right ear.[7] She was dropped from the Mercury label in late 1967 due to her singles flopping. Margie and Robert divorced in 1968.[8] Margie later signed her second record deal with the Sound Stage 7 label in that same year and released two singles, but they also flopped and she was dropped from the label in 1969.[2] In 1970 she became mentally unstable, faded away from the public eye, quit singing, and continued to use drugs and alcohol for the remainder of her life.[9]
Death
Hendrix died in New York, New York on July 14, 1973, (aged 35). The official cause of her death is unknown due to a lack of evidence, and no autopsy was performed. Most sources claim her death was due to a heroin overdose,[10] but there are rumors that she died in a car crash or from cancer. Some sources also claim that she was facing poverty around the time of her death.[citation needed] She is buried at New Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Register, Georgia. Her son Charles Wayne died in 2013 from unknown causes.
^"After breaking up with The Raelettes in '64, Margie Hendricks (Hendrix) signed with Mercury. Here she is with Lowel… | Ray charles, African american, After break up". Pinterest. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
^"Singer Injured In Car Mishap In Texas". Jet. 32 (22): 62. September 7, 1967.
^"Ray Charles Video Museum: Ray Charles & The Raelettes". Ray Charles Video Museum. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
^Meredith. "Margie Hendrix". YouTube. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
^Clemente, John (2013). Girl Groups: Fabulous Females Who Rocked the World. AuthorHouse. p. 133. ISBN978-1477276334. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
External links
Discography at discogs.com
Margie Hendrix Memorial at www.findagrave.com
January 07, 2023
margie, hendrix, marjorie, margie, hendrix, sometimes, hendricks, march, 1938, july, 1973, american, rhythm, blues, singer, founding, member, raelettes, were, backing, singers, charles, father, child, charles, wayne, hendrix, birth, namemarjorie, hendrixborn, . Marjorie Margie Hendrix sometimes Hendricks March 13 1938 July 14 1973 1 was an American rhythm and blues singer and founding member of the Raelettes who were the backing singers for Ray Charles the father of her child Charles Wayne Hendrix Margie HendrixBirth nameMarjorie HendrixBorn 1938 03 13 March 13 1938Register Georgia U S DiedJuly 14 1973 1973 07 14 aged 35 New York City U S GenresJazz Blues R amp B GospelOccupation s SingerInstrument s VocalsPianoYears active1954 1970LabelsMercury Records Sound Stage 7Spouse s Robert Fulson married 1966 divorced 1968 Contents 1 Early years and the Cookies 2 The Raelettes and Ray Charles 3 Unsuccessful solo career and drug addiction 4 Death 5 In popular culture 6 References 7 External linksEarly years and the Cookies EditMargie Hendrix was born on March 13 1938 in Statesboro Georgia the daughter of Kattie and Renzy Hendrix 1 She sang played piano and directed her local church choir while in her pre teens In the early 1950s she moved to New York City and signed a record deal with Lamp records and released her first singles Everything Good Treatment and Every Time in 1954 but they did not hit the charts and she left the label in 1955 In 1956 she replaced Beulah Robertson in the Cookies joining existing members Dorothy Jones and Darlene McCrea The group signed to Atlantic Records and had a 9 hit on the R amp B chart with In Paradise They also started working as session singers at Atlantic where they were introduced to Ray Charles The Cookies auditioned for Charles on the song Leave My Woman Alone In 1958 Margie and McCrea left the Cookies who later went on to greater success with a different line up and later formed the Raelettes as Ray s backing singers 2 The Raelettes and Ray Charles EditIn October 1958 Ray Charles recorded his first song with the Raelettes Night Time Is the Right Time which reached 5 on the R amp B charts The song is widely known for Margie s powerful vocals 3 There was a mutual attraction and Margie and Ray began an affair and had one son Charles Wayne Hendricks born October 1 1959 in New York City together 2 4 After she gave birth to Charles Wayne she tried to convince Ray to leave his wife Della Beatrice Howard and live with her and their son but Ray refused Margie and the Raelettes performed on several of Ray s songs but during the 1960 s Margie s relationship with Ray began to fall apart and she later started to use alcohol and heroin and her career began to suffer Her drug use started to affect her appearance and behavior with the Raeletts like picking fights during recording sessions not showing up to performances and showing up to performances drunk In 1964 the Raelettes released the single A Lover s Blues which featured Margie on lead vocals but this was the last song that she recorded with Ray because in July 1964 during a tour in Europe after a heated and possibly physically violent argument Ray officially fired Margie from the Raelettes and sent her back to the United States 5 Unsuccessful solo career and drug addiction EditAfter leaving the Raelettes in 1965 Margie signed a record deal with Mercury Records and she released five singles but the singles flopped and an album was shelved causing an increase in her use of alcohol and more damaging drugs 2 In 1966 Margie married jazz singer Robert Fulson who was the brother of singer Lowell Fulson 6 On September 7 1967 while driving in Texas Margie was injured with Robert when their car was struck by a lumber truck The two of them both survived but Margie suffered neck injuries and slight loss of hearing in her right ear 7 She was dropped from the Mercury label in late 1967 due to her singles flopping Margie and Robert divorced in 1968 8 Margie later signed her second record deal with the Sound Stage 7 label in that same year and released two singles but they also flopped and she was dropped from the label in 1969 2 In 1970 she became mentally unstable faded away from the public eye quit singing and continued to use drugs and alcohol for the remainder of her life 9 Death EditHendrix died in New York New York on July 14 1973 aged 35 The official cause of her death is unknown due to a lack of evidence and no autopsy was performed Most sources claim her death was due to a heroin overdose 10 but there are rumors that she died in a car crash or from cancer Some sources also claim that she was facing poverty around the time of her death citation needed She is buried at New Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Register Georgia Her son Charles Wayne died in 2013 from unknown causes In popular culture EditMargie was portrayed by Regina King in the 2004 film Ray King received her first NAACP Image Award and Satellite Award for her performance References Edit a b Eagle Bob LeBlanc Eric S 2013 Blues A Regional Experience Santa Barbara Praeger Publishers p 105 ISBN 978 0313344237 a b c d Tom de Jong Margie Hendrix SirShambling com Retrieved 4 October 2016 Mike Evans Ray Charles The Birth of Soul Music Sales Limited 2009 Michael Lydon Ray Charles Man and Music Routledge 2004 p 149 Lydon p 242 After breaking up with The Raelettes in 64 Margie Hendricks Hendrix signed with Mercury Here she is with Lowel Ray charles African american After break up Pinterest Retrieved 2020 09 09 Singer Injured In Car Mishap In Texas Jet 32 22 62 September 7 1967 Ray Charles Video Museum Ray Charles amp The Raelettes Ray Charles Video Museum Retrieved 2020 09 09 Meredith Margie Hendrix YouTube a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Check url value help Clemente John 2013 Girl Groups Fabulous Females Who Rocked the World AuthorHouse p 133 ISBN 978 1477276334 Retrieved 2022 05 17 External links EditDiscography at discogs com Margie Hendrix Memorial at www findagrave com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Margie Hendrix amp oldid 1130347450, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
