Margie Hendrix

Born: 13th March 1935 in Register, Georgia, USA
Died: 14th July 1973 in New York, New York, USA
Children: Charles Wayne Hendricks
Burial: New Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Register, Georgia

Marjorie Hendricks was born on 13th March 1935 in Register, Georgia to Katie and Renzy. She started out as a teenager playing the piano for the children's choir at her church in Register. In the early 1950's she wrote and recorded her debut single in 1954, but it didn't find much traction. In 1956 at the age of 21, Margie Hendricks joined the Cookies and not long after that the Raelettes. Her first real gig was with Ray Charles. She recorded duets with Ray and performed behind him with the Raelettes. In the late 1950's Margie developed a close relationship with Ray. On 1st October 1959 Margie had a child with Ray (Charles Wayne Robinson). In the early 1960's Margie started getting into heroin and drinking. In July of 1964 while touring Europe Margie revealed that she had been secretly sleeping with one of his backing musicians and Ray fired her. Margie started her own solo career by signing a record deal with Mercury records and released 5 singles, but they were unsuccessful and she was dropped from the label in late 1967. Margie married Robert Fulson in 1966, but they divorced in 1968. Margie then signed another record deal with Sound Stage 7 and released 2 singles, but they were unsuccessful as well and she was later dropped from the label in 1970. After 1971 she faded into obscurity and continued to use drugs and alcohol. She later died of a heroin overdose on 14th July 1973, but people have been theorizing over if her death was caused by the overdose, cancer, or a car accident. Some people also say she was living in poverty around the time of her death.