Ray Charles
American singer, pianist and songwriter (1930-2004) · United States · Musicians · Died at 73
Ray Charles is read about 5,100 times a day, in 89 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 15 October 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 390 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?He fused gospel ecstasy with blues grit and called it soul, then crossed every line the industry had drawn - recording country standards with strings, holding out for artistic control when black musicians were still sidemen, and proving that a blind pianist from the South could rewrite American music on his own terms.
A life in dates
Ray Sings, Basie SwingsAlbum released after his death, live album by Ray CharlesConcord Records2005Genius & FriendsAlbum released after his death20 September 2005, 2005 studio album by Ray Charles14 tracksRhinoOpen on Spotify2004RayBiopic about his life12 September 2004, 2004 American biographical musical drama filmDirected by Taylor HackfordIMDb
Genius Loves CompanyAlbum released after his death31 August 2004, 2004 studio album by Ray Charles200412 tracksHear MusicOpen on SpotifyDied10 June 20042002Alone in the CityAlbum1998“Do it right or don't do it at all. That comes from my mom. If there's something I want to do, I'm one of those people that won't be satisfied until I get it done.”In their wordsFort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel (1998)Polar Music PrizeAward
Ray Charles & FriendsAlbum, 19981995It's a Blues ThingAlbum1993Lifetime Achievement AwardAwardNational Medal of ArtsAwardMy WorldAlbum1992Florida Artists Hall of FameAward1991Ray Charles in LAAlbum1990Would You Believe?Album1989“The fact of the matter is, you don't give up what's natural. Anything I've fantasized about, I've done.”In their wordsLos Angeles Times (1989)Porgy & BessAlbum1988Grammy Lifetime Achievement AwardAward1986Commandeur des Arts et des LettresAwardKennedy Center HonorsAwardRock and Roll Hall of FameAward1983“Music has been around a long time, and there's going to be music long after Ray Charles is dead. I just want to make my mark, leave something musically good behind.”In their words25 April 1983As quoted "Words of the Week" in Jet magazine, Vol. 64, No. 6 (25 April 1983), p. 401981Star on Hollywood Walk of FameAward1968“You gotta know how to get to people's heart”In their wordsPop Chronicles: Show 15 - The Soul Reformation I: A symposium on soul, interview recorded 1.2.1968.1966“Soul is when you take a song and make it a part of you - a part that's so true, so real, people think it must have happened to you.”In their wordsJuly 1966As quoted in LIFE magazine (July 1966), also in Ray Charles : Man and Music (1998) by Michael Lydon, p. 2641954“I got a woman way over town, That's good to me, Oh yeah!”In their words"I Got a Woman", written with Renald Richard (1954)1930Born23 September 1930Also in Deutsch
Photos 8
Ray Charles classic piano pose
Nachtconcert van Ray Charles in RAI-gebouw Ray Charles, Bestanddeelnr 915-1483_op_Schiphol%2C_Bestanddeelnr_921-7410.jpg?width=1200)
Aankomst Ray Charles (kop) op Schiphol, Bestanddeelnr 921-7410
1992 Ray Charles_op_Schiphol_Ray_Charles%2C_Bestanddeelnr_921-7411.jpg?width=1200)
Aankomst Ray Charles (kop) op Schiphol Ray Charles, Bestanddeelnr 921-7411
Andrew Salkey with Ray Charles BBC 1966.jpg?width=1200)
Bo Diddley's Guitar - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2014-12-30 11.42.34 by Sam Howzit)
In their own words 8
, Do it right or don't do it at all. That comes from my mom. If there's something I want to do, I'm one of those people that won't be satisfied until I get it done.
The fact of the matter is, you don't give up what's natural. Anything I've fantasized about, I've done.
Music has been around a long time, and there's going to be music long after Ray Charles is dead. I just want to make my mark, leave something musically good behind.
Listen
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739K subscribersAlbums 24
WSWhat'd I Say
RSRay Sings, Basie Swings
RMRay Charles - Great Moments 9RFRay Charles & FriendsRLRay Charles in LA
SMSoul Brothers / Soul MeetingAwards
In their orbit 2
About this person
Ray Charles Robinson lost his vision as a child, possibly to glaucoma, and grew up wearing dark glasses that became a signature. In the 1950s at Atlantic Records he pioneered soul by braiding blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel into something new. The 1960s brought crossover: he signed with ABC Records, became one of the first black musicians granted artistic control by a mainstream label, and released Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music in 1962 - a country-and-strings gamble that topped the Billboard 200. "Georgia on My Mind" hit No. 1 in 1960, the first of three chart-toppers, and over his career he landed 61 singles on the US R&B chart, 33 on the Hot 100, and eight on Hot Country. Frank Sinatra called him "the only true genius in show business"; Billy Joel said he mattered more than Elvis. He died June 10, 2004, with 17 Grammys, a Kennedy Center Honor, and a permanent seat in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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