<P> His second marriage, to Della Beatrice Howard Robinson (called "Bea" by Charles), began on April 5, 1955, and lasted 22 years . Their first child together, Ray Jr., was born in 1955 . Charles was not in town for the birth, as he was playing a show in Texas . The couple had two more children, David (1958) and Robert (1960). Charles felt that his heroin addiction took a toll on Della during their marriage . </P> <P> Charles had a six - year - long affair with Margie Hendricks, one of the original Raelettes, and in 1959 they had a son, Charles Wayne . His affair with Mae Mosley Lyles resulted in another daughter, Raenee, born in 1961 . In 1963, by Sandra Jean Betts, Ray Charles had a daughter, Sheila, a singer - songwriter, who died of breast cancer on June 15, 2017 . </P> <P> In 1966, his daughter Aretha was born to a woman who remains unidentified, and another daughter, Alexandra, was born to Chantal Bertrand . Charles divorced Della Howard in 1977 . Later that year he had a son, Vincent, with Arlette Kotchounian . A daughter, Robyn, was born a year later to Gloria Moffett . His youngest child, a son, Ryan Corey den Bok, was born in 1987 to Mary Anne den Bok . One of Charles's long - term girlfriends at the time of his death was Norma Pinella . </P> <P> Charles first tried recreational drugs when he played in McSon Trio and was eager to try them as he thought they helped musicians create music and tap into their creativity . He later became addicted to heroin for sixteen years . He was first arrested in the 1950s, when he and his bandmates were caught backstage with loose marijuana and drug paraphernalia, including a burnt spoon, syringe, and needle . The arrest did not deter Charles's drug use, which only escalated as he became more successful and made more money . </P>

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