About
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 success on ABC Records, most notably with his Modern Sounds albums. While with ABC, Charles became one of the first African-American musicians to be given artistic control by a mainstream record company. Frank Sinatra called Charles “the only true genius in show business.” Rolling Stone ranked Charles number 10 on their list of "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" in 2004, and number two on their November 2008 list of "100 Greatest Singers of All Time". In honoring Charles, Billy Joel noted: "This may...
Known for
The NannySeries • 1993
WingsSeries • 1990
St. ElsewhereSeries • 1982
MoonlightingSeries • 1985
Who's the Boss?Series • 1984
The John Larroquette ShowSeries • 1993
Albert, the RockefellerSeries • 1968
Spy HardMovie • 1996
The Blues BrothersMovie • 1980
In the Heat of the NightMovie • 1967
Cosmic RayMovie • 1962