Ray Charles’ Illegitimate Kids Banned From White House Tribute

When beloved singer Ray Charles is honored by President Barack Obama tonight, a host of crooners and dignitaries will be in attendance — but eight of the late superstar’s children will be missing. His illegitimate offspring are barred from the White House!

Ray’s ex-wife, Della “B” Howard Robinson, will attend the ceremony. She'll be with her and Ray’s eldest son, Ray Charles Robinson Jr., 62. Ray’s eldest daughter, Evelyn, 66, will also be there when Usher, Demi Lovato, Brittany Howard and other big-name singers perform some of Ray’s greatest hits as part of the “In Performance” concert series.

But missing out will be Ray’s nine other living children — eight of whom were fathered with eight different women! Most of those offspring were the result of affairs during the soul pioneer’s 22-year-marriage to B. Those eight offspring weren't even invited to the ceremony. The ninth, B’s other son, Robert, 54, was invited but cannot attend. He can see the ceremony when it is broadcast on PBS Feb. 26.

Sadly, Ray’s illegitimate brood is used to being snubbed by high-profile events honoring their brilliant father, who was born Raymond Charles Robinson in 1930.

“We’re usually the last to hear about it,” sniffed Raenee Robinson, 54. When the siblings sought help from Ray Jr. — who actually helped raise funds for this concert — he told them space was limited and he wasn’t in charge of the guest list. He suggested contacting the president’s social office.

“You can’t call the White House and say, ‘Hey, I’d like to get an invite to this,'” said Robyn Moffett, 37, Charles’s youngest daughter. “We are what’s left of him, and it’s as if we don’t exist,” Robyn said. “It hurts to know that we are his family and we’re treated like outcasts.”

For example, in 2013, the U.S. Postal Service held two concerts honoring Ray’s postage stamp — but Robyn only found out because she worked for the post office at the time!

Older sister Sheila Jean Robinson, 52, said all the kids wished they had been closer to the singer in life, but now they’re settling for “just being a part of continuing his legacy.”  

And that legacy includes the “Georgia” singer’s copyright royalties. The siblings are currently locked in a federal court battle with the Ray Charles Foundation — the singer’s nonprofit and sole beneficiary of his estate — which now controls those copyrights.

Bally Gaming and Systems developed games using Ray’s “America The Beautiful,” “What'd I Pay” and “Ray's Jukebox,” as well as videos of the Grammy-winning musician.