The article details Della Beatrice Howard Robinson's life as Ray Charles' second wife, covering her career, marriage, and life after divorce.
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson is the ex-wife of an American singer, Ray Charles. Ray was a singer, songwriter, and pianist who was famous in the entertainment industry for pioneering soul music. Besides his career achievements, Ray’s personal life was equally intriguing because of his romantic relationships with several women. Also, he was married twice; his second wife was Della. Della came into the media and public attention after marrying Ray Charles. Ray’s second marriage got more coverage because his marriage with Della lasted longer, for about 22 years.
In this article, we will explore Della Beatrice Howard Robinson’s early life, her career, and the challenges in her personal life.
The ex-wife of Ray Charles, Della Beatrice Howard Robinson, was born in Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1929. She is also known as Bea. Her parents were not married and separated soon after her birth. Apart from that, further information about her parents and family background is not disclosed anywhere.
She was raised on an eighty-acre farm, which was owned by her maternal family. Della spent her early life in a peaceful environment in contrast to her married life in the spotlight. She grew up in a challenging environment because there was only her mother to bring her up and earn for her. These early days of upbringing without a father aroused a sense of independence in Della. She later attended a school in Richmond until fourth grade.
Della began her career as a gospel singer in Cecil Shaw’s church choir. Along with her churchmates, she gave live performances and also appeared on the radio. Hence, she secured recording deals and further produced many songs. Della’s powerful voice soon gained popularity, and she garnered attention at the very beginning of her career. Her song recordings were also available in the form of compact discs (CDs).
Later, after meeting Ray Charles, she left behind her music career and concentrated on her family. Della Beatrice Howard Robinson dedicated her time to raising her children because of her husband’s limited availability to children due to his demanding music career.
Before marrying Ray, Della had been married twice. Both these marriages proved bad experiences for her, ending in divorce. Even her first marriage was scary and marked by abuse, which forced her to move to New York City for safety measures. However, Della had not disclosed to whom she was married previously.
Ray Charles met Della in 1954, in Houston, Texas. This was the time when Della’s music career was at a boom. They began dating, leading to their marriage. Della was named Bea by Ray.
Della Bea and Ray Charles met in 1954 in Texas and married the following year, on April 5, 1955. Their marriage brought both happiness and challenges in Della’s life. Della has three children with Ray Charles. The couple welcomed their first son, Ray Charles Robinson Jr., on May 25, 1955. At the birth of his oldest son, Ray was busy playing a show in Texas. The couple’s second son, David Robinson, was born in 1958, and their third son, Robert Robinson, in 1960. Della and her husband raised their children in View Park, California.
Della and Ray spent twenty-two years together. Despite Ray’s infidelity and drug addiction, Della remained committed to her family, prioritizing the emotional well-being of her children. When Ray’s extramarital affairs, drug addiction, and abusive behavior became unbearable, Della Beatrice Howard Robinson filed for divorce in 1976.
Della was the second wife of Ray. Before his marriage to Della, Ray was married to Eileen Williams, a beautician. Their marriage lasted for less than one year. Additionally, from a very young age, Ray had been in relationships with different women and was involved in some addictive habits.
Apart from three children from Della, Ray has nine more children. In total, he has 12 children from 10 different women. Ray’s other children were
Della Beatrice’s net worth is approximately $15 million. The primary source of her net worth is a divorce settlement with her ex-husband, Ray Charles. At the time of death, Ray had accumulated a net worth of $75 million, primarily from his music career. A major portion of which was transferred to Della after divorce.
Despite being a low-profile personality, Della could not escape the spotlight as the wife of a famous personality, Ray Charles. But after divorcing Ray, she continued her private life far away from the media attention. As a responsible mother, Della focused on raising their three children and provided them with a stable environment away from the limelight.
Della Bae was born in 1929; she will be 95 years old in 2024. She was born in the United States, so her nationality is American. Regarding her ethnicity, Della is of African American heritage, and her religion is Christianity.
Della is living a private life after her publicized marriage to Ray. She is residing in Riverside County with her children and grandchildren.
After her divorce from Ray, she kept her life private and stayed away from the spotlight. There is no report about her death that makes us believe that Della is still alive. But, unfortunately, Della’s ex-husband Ray Charles passed away on June 10, 2004, due to liver failure.
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson’s life is one of perseverance and grace in the face of challenges. Her life, from a farm girl to a gospel singer and then the wife of musician Ray Charles and later to a devoted mother, reflects her strength. Though her marriage to Ray brought both joy and trials, Della remained steadfast in her children. After stepping away from the limelight, she embraced a quieter life, enjoying her role as a mother. Today, Della is not just known as the ex-wife of Ray Charles but also known for her tireless commitment to her family.
