Della Beatrice Howard Robinson is a former American gospel music artist. She initially gained experience through Church choirs and continued to sing there. For Della, it was a form of art and personal expression. She never planned to earn money or commercial success from gospel music. Della Beatrice Howard Robinson started focusing more on her family and children later on.
She gained a lot of stardom and public attention after marrying Ray Charles. He was a legendary music artist with a huge fan following. The marriage of Della and Ray Charles didn’t last very wrong. After 22 years together, their divorce was finalised back in 1977. Keep reading further to explore her life and career. This biography blog is entirely dedicated to Della Beatrice Howard Robinson.
Della’s Biography & Wiki
Her full and official name is Della Beatrice Howard Robinson. She also has a popular nickname i.e., Bea. Della’s exact date of birth is unknown but she was born in 1929. There’s a lot of speculation around her birthplace and it’s claimed to be Los Angeles, California.
By profession, she was a gospel singer. Della has continued to sing in Church choirs. Many people recognise her as the ex-wife of Ray Charles. She was his second wife and even helped him with addiction issues. Della Beatrice also has three kids which shifted her focus from music to family. Since her divorce, she has been living privately away from public attention.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Della Beatrice Howard Robinson |
| Date of Birth | 1929 |
| Age | 97 years old |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Former Gospel singer and songwriter |
| Zodiac Sign | – |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
Early Life & Upbringing
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson was born in a African-American family. When she was young, racial discrimination was at its peak. For the same reason, she had to face a lot of struggles. Della even struggled to find stable employment. Without a doubt, the whole African race had limited opportunities.
This shaped her humble and modest personality. Della’s household was very religious and they went to Church regularly. According to sources, she even volunteered to be a part of the Church choir. That’s how she started exploring gospel music to express her faith and beliefs.
High School & College Education
The names of Della’s high school and college institutions are unknown. It is not confirmed whether she graduated with a bachelor’s degree or not. There are no public records about her educational background.
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson Age
Her birth took place back in 1929. Accordingly, she is 97 years old as of 2026.
Physical Appearance
| Height | 5 feet and 5 inches |
| Weight | 76 kgs |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Skin Color | Dark skinned |
| Appearance | Healthy and fit |
Family of Della Beatrice Howard Robinson
Even after her marriage to Ray Charles, she preferred her privacy. For the same reason, the names of Della’s parents are not revealed Allegedly, her father was absent in most of her childhood. It’s unknown if she has any siblings.
Marriage, Children, & Divorce
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson was only married once in her life. The love of her life was Ray Charles. He was a famous American singer, songwriter, and composer. Ray had a strong presence in the 20th century music industry. They were married back on April 5, 1955. Della and Ray Charles had 3 sons together. The couple used to live in View Park, California, USA. After 22 years of marriage, they got divorced. According to sources, their relationship was full of problems.
Who Is Ray Charles?
He was officially born as Ray Charles Robinson on September 23, 1930. His birthplace is located in Albany, Georgia, USA. He was a singer, songwriter, and composer. Ray Charles emerged as a legendary music artist. He embarked on his journey back in 1945 and didn’t stop making music until his death.
Ray passed away on June 10, 2004. The cause of his death was an acute liver disease. He was 73 years old at the time. The origin of his music career happened from Greenville, Florida, USA. His music catalogue spans across souls, blues, gospel, country, jazz, R&B, etc. Ray Charles worked with many record labels. For example, Atlantic Records, ABC, Warner Bros, Columbia, Concord, etc.
Relationship Timeline of Della & Ray Charles
- They first met each other back in 1954. Della and Ray Charles were in Texas at the time. According to sources, they formed an instant connection. Both of them being music artists strengthened their bond.
- Della Beatrice Howard Robinson married Ray Charles on April 5, 1955.
- Due to Ray Charles’ success their marriage wasn’t going too well. It’s claimed that he was on concert tours most of the time.
- Their marriage lasted a total of 22 years before ending in divorce. Della and Ray Charles have 3 sons. Their names are Ray Charles Robinson Junior, David, and Robert. At the time, she was mostly staying at home and tending to family. Della rarely focused on gospel music anymore.
- The extramarital affairs of Ray Charles further broke their relationship. He was cheating on Della throughout their marriage. He had other relationships with Margie Hendrix, Mae Mosley Lyles, etc.
- It was confirmed that Ray Charles had drug addiction issues. For the same reason, his behaviour was very aggressive and short tempered. Della claimed that he didn’t have a stable relationship with her. She mentioned emotional burden and uncertainty.
- Their marriage constantly declined around the 1960s and 1970s. Della filed for a divorce back in 1976 and it was finalized next year. Accordingly, their marriage lasted 22 years
- Where Is She Now? – After the divorce, Della hasn’t married again. She focuses on raising her children privately away from the spotlight.
Career & Professional Journey
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson had a very short professional journey. She was a local gospel singer. Della was a frequent singer in Church choirs. After the marriage, her attention shifted towards her husband’s career and children. After the divorce, she remains out of the spotlight. That’s why there are no latest updates about Della’s career.
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson Net Worth
According to sources, Della’s net worth is more than USD 15 million. A huge sum of her wealth comes from the divorce settlement. Della won against Ray Charles in court. That’s how she also got custody of all the three kids.
Social Media Handles
There are no official profiles of Della Beatrice Howard Robinson. For privacy reasons, she doesn’t have a public presence on social media platforms.
Trivia, Favorite Things & Hobbies
- Della has been very passionate about Gospel music since the start. She developed this interest through Church activities.
- Her popular nickname Bea was actually given by Ray Charles.
- Ray Charles was rarely present as a husband or father. He was going on international tours. Plus, they had other personal challenges.
- Della was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- She never started making gospel music for money or fame. Della is passionate about putting her religious beliefs out there through logic.
- The main reasons behind their divorce were drug addiction issues of Ray Charles. Also, the extramarital affairs further strained their relationship.
- Her hobbies include singing in Church choirs and playing guitar.
FAQs
Where was she born?
Della’s birth took place in Los Angeles, California, USA,
What are the names of her kids?
She has three sons named Ray Charles Robinson Junior, David, and Robert.
When was Della married to Ray Charles?
Their wedding day is April 5, 1955.
Also, Read: Ceslie-ann Kamakawiwo’ole | Kevin Von Erich | Kelly Ripken
