Ray Charles

Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 - June 10, 2004) was a singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer from the United States. He is widely considered as one of the most famous and influential vocalists of all time, and he was sometimes referred to as "The Genius". Among his friends and other musicians, he favored the moniker "Brother Ray." Charles was blinded as a youngster, probably as a result of glaucoma.

Ray Charles fused gospel and blues to create his own kind of soul music. As a member of the Atlantic Records label, Charles, noted for his inventive singing and talent as a pianist and conductor, helped to break down barriers between gospel and secular music. Charles worked hard to establish his name, for example, by studying blues, boogie-woogie, and big-band swing songs on a jukebox in a store that doubled as a juke joint at night. After touring throughout Florida and the remainder of the southern states, Charles signed with Atlantic Records, and the rest is history. From "Georgia on my Mind" through "Hit the Road Jack" and a slew of other successes too many to name here, Charles has influenced hip hop music in the modern-day.

Genres: R&B, soul, blues, gospel, country, jazz, rock and roll