Charles Wayne Hendricks – Facts about Ray Charles' Son with His Backup Singer

Charles Wayne Hendricks is the late Ray Charles' son. According to his father, he has at least eleven siblings from seven or more women.

Ray's eldest child is now 73, and his youngest is 36. He had been married twice, and his first marriage was to beautician Eileen Williams.

Ray, then 24, married Williams in 1951, but their union was short-lived as it ended a year later in 1952. The pianist wed again to former singer Della Howard Robinson in 1955.

They welcomed three sons, Ray Jr., David, and Robert. However, Ray and Robinson divorced after 20 years together in 1977. Ray's multiple infidelities, including two paternity suits, contributed to the downfall of his marriage with Robinson.

The Georgia native then had his son, Charles Wayne Hendricks, with the late Margie Hendrix, one of his Raeletts backup singers.

Hendrix gave birth to their child in an apartment in Harlem, and Ray paid the bills and promised to take care of their boy – which he did.

Hendricks leads a private life away from the public eye. But he was thrust into the limelight when he and his half-siblings won a lawsuit against song rights termination in 2013.

Charles Wayne Hendricks Lost His Mother at an Early Age

Charles Wayne Hendricks lost his mother at an early age. She passed away in 1973 after being fired by his father as she had started an affair with trumpeter John Hunt.

Hendrix and Ray met when he was still married to his second wife, Robinson. Hendrix was 23 years old then and had come to live with her older sister Lula in New York as a teen.

Hendrix started sleeping with Ray regularly until she discovered she was pregnant. They both discussed their newfound circumstances and decided to keep the baby.

Their child Hendricks was born on October 1, 1959, but his father did not see him as much, nor did he with his mother. After Ray fired Hendrix, she died, leaving their young child behind.

Charles Wayne Hendricks Chose Not to Live a Public Life

Charles Wayne Hendricks chose to live a private life. He might have even avoided participating in his father's biopic, "Ray," in which actress Regina King starred. King played the role of his beloved mother in the 2004 film.

The Academy Award winner once revealed that she was unaware if the crew members managed to get in touch with Hendricks, adding that, if they did, he did not want to be a part of it.

The hit movie is centered on Ray's life and career, from his roots in the South to his rise to stardom during the 1950s and 1960s.

While his son Hendricks was not a part of the film, he was involved in the lawsuit about song rights termination, which he won alongside his other brothers and sisters.

Ray had told most of his kids (two were in jail) that they would get $500,000 each once he died, and years after he passed, they attempted to get rights to his music under the termination clauses of copyright law.

But that proved difficult as the Ray Charles Foundation, where he left most of his estate, sued the children, alleging they had breached their agreement with their dad. However, they came out victorious.

Charles Wayne Hendricks Has 11 Half-Siblings

Charles Wayne Hendricks has 11 half-siblings, including Ray Charles Robinson Jr., David Robinson, Robert Robinson, Reatha Butler, Alexandra Bertrand, Robyn Moffett, Evelyn Robinson, Raenee Robinson, Sheila Robinson, Vincent Kotchounian and Ryan Corey Robinson de Bok.

Hendricks' four siblings, Ray Jr., Robert, Raenee, and Corey, were mainly involved in controversies over their famous father's estate.

In an interview, Hendricks' older half-brother, Ray Jr., candidly talked about their late dad. Although blind, he revealed the 17-time Grammy Award winner taught him how to ride a bicycle.

Ray was an attentive father who loved playing chess and taught his child independence. "I think that was a driving force in his life. It had to be because of his discipline and what he was able to do," said Ray Jr. about his iconic father. He wrote a book about him called "You Don't Know Me." The alto saxophonist died on June 10, 2004.