Ray Charles
Sign in to saveAmerican singer, pianist and songwriter (1930–2004)
AI overview
Ray Charles was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter who lived from 1930 to 2004 and became one of the most influential musicians in popular music history. He is widely regarded as a pioneering figure who blended elements of blues, jazz, country, and gospel music in innovative ways that shaped modern music.
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Person · Open Library
- Born
- 1930-09-23
- Died
- 2004-06-10
- Works
- 14
Top works
- Ray Charles
- Do the Twist with Ray Charles
- Sermon Preached Before the United Congregations of Wyoming, N. y
- Ray Charles - O Genio - Live in Brazil 1963
- The 2% Way
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Film & TV
Acting · Albany, Georgia, USA
Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004), better known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records. He also helped racially integrate country and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover…
Known for
- Merci Dorothée ! — Self (archive footage)2025
- Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music — Self (archive footage)2025
- Quincy Jones, Music Man — Self (archive footage)2025
- The Greatest Night in Pop — Self (archive footage)2024
- Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love — Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Article
Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential musicians of the 20th century and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Genius". Among friends and fellow musicians, Charles preferred being called "Brother Ray". He lost his vision as a child, possibly due to glaucoma, and consequently wore dark glasses.
Charles pioneered the soul music genre during the 1950s by combining elements of blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel into his music during his time with Atlantic Records. He contributed to the integration of country music, rhythm and blues, and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, notably with his two Modern Sounds albums. With ABC, Charles became one of the first black musicians to be granted artistic control by a mainstream record company.
Gallery (11)
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Categories
1930 births2004 deaths20th-century American jazz composers20th-century American keyboardists20th-century American male composers20th-century American organists20th-century American singer-songwritersABC Records artistsAfrican-American country musiciansAfrican-American jazz composersAfrican-American jazz pianistsAfrican-American male singer-songwriters