{"title":"Ray Charles","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAbout Ray Charles\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRay Charles Robinson was born in Albany, Georgia on September 23, 1930 and raised in Greenville, Florida. He began going blind at age four from glaucoma and was completely blind by age seven. He attended the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind from age seven to fifteen, where he developed his musical training in classical, jazz, and blues idioms. He launched his recording career in 1947 and signed with Atlantic Records in 1952. He is widely cited as the foundational figure of soul music as a recognized genre - combining gospel music's emotional intensity and call-and-response structures with the secular content of rhythm and blues, against the opposition of African American church leadership of the era (controversy over perceived sacrilege). His 1959 single What'd I Say became one of the foundational documents of soul music. He moved to ABC-Paramount Records in 1959 and expanded his stylistic range - the country pivot of Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962, a commercial breakthrough that established country as a market for African American artists). His 2004 final album Genius Loves Company (a duets album with guest collaborators including Norah Jones, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, James Taylor, and others) was released two months after his death and won eight Grammy Awards at the 2005 ceremony (including Album of the Year). He won 17 Grammy Awards across his career. He died of acute liver disease on June 10, 2004 at age 73. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 (inaugural class). His foundational influence on soul, R\u0026amp;B, country, jazz, and broader popular music history is widely cited as one of the most important contributions to the form.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSound and style\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRay Charles's sound is foundational to soul music as a recognized genre - combining soul, R\u0026amp;B, blues, jazz, country, gospel, rock and roll, and pop with his distinctive vocal delivery (use of gospel-influenced phrasing applied to secular content), virtuosic classical-trained piano work, and varied compositional approaches across his multi-decade career. His foundational influence on soul, R\u0026amp;B, and broader popular music history is widely documented.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDiscography highlights\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRay Charles (1957, Atlantic)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Great Ray Charles (1957, Atlantic)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRay Charles in Person (1959, Atlantic) - live\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Genius of Ray Charles (1959, Atlantic)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Genius Hits the Road (1960, ABC-Paramount)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eModern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962, ABC-Paramount)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eModern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume Two (1962, ABC-Paramount)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIngredients in a Recipe for Soul (1963, ABC-Paramount)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSweet \u0026amp; Sour Tears (1964, ABC-Paramount)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrying Time (1966, ABC)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenius Loves Company (2004, Concord) - posthumous duets album, 8 Grammys 2005 incl. Album of the Year\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFor collectors\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginal Atlantic Records and ABC-Paramount pressings of the Ray Charles catalog are foundational items in soul, R\u0026amp;B, and broader popular music collecting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhere to start\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eListeners new to Ray Charles typically start with The Genius of Ray Charles (1959) or Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962). \u003cspan class=\"related-collections\"\u003eExplore more: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rnb-soul-vinyl-records\"\u003eR\u0026amp;B And Soul\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"ray-charles-ray-sings-basie-swings-140g-vinyl","title":"Ray Sings Basie Swings 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eExperience the timeless collaboration of Ray Charles and the Count Basie Orchestra with \"Ray Sings Basie Swings,\" a double LP pressed on 140g vinyl. This reissue features previously unreleased vocal performances from 1973 paired with fresh instrumental tracks, all housed in a stylish gatefold jacket. Perfect for fans of R\u0026amp;B and soul, this album showcases the unique blend of Charles's emotive singing and Basie's classic jazz sound.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48541029302455,"sku":"210000076974","price":39.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4103722-2863001.jpg?v=1781155144"},{"product_id":"ray-charles-true-genius-sides-of-ray-vinyl-180g","title":"True Genius Sides of Ray 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eExperience the diverse artistry of Ray Charles with the \"True Genius Sides of Ray\" 2LP collection on 180g vinyl. This compilation captures his unique blend of R\u0026amp;B, soul, jazz, blues, and country, featuring timeless classics like \"Hit The Road Jack\" and \"Georgia On My Mind.\" Whether you're a lifelong fan or a newcomer, this essential collection showcases the multi-faceted genius of one of music's greatest pioneers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48772765450423,"sku":"210000064963","price":36.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3979597-2749637.jpg?v=1782828065"},{"product_id":"ray-charles-best-of-country-western-vinyl","title":"Best Of Country \u0026 Western LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe hits that establish Ray Charles as a genius of country and western music.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785883496631,"sku":"210000093622","price":28.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/ray.jpg?v=1783046188"},{"product_id":"ray-charles-live-in-stockholm-vinyl","title":"Live in Stockholm LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eLimited vinyl LP pressing. The first vinyl pressing of Ray's historic performance in Stockholm in 1972. Includes eight tracks.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785943691447,"sku":"210000070384","price":29.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4055390-2791294.jpg?v=1783046355"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.waxtraxrecords.com\/collections\/ray-charles.oembed","provider":"Wax Trax Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}