Beyond launching Tangerine in 1962, Charles recording on his own label, in turn, released his landmark album, Modern Sounds of Country and Western Music, that same year.īefore Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, and Lil Nas X, Charles broke the country color line, He became a catalyst for change in the burgeoning civil rights movement with the gold-certified Modern Sounds of Country and Western Music. This is what genius is all about.”Ĭharles' talent and barrier-breaking creative foresight also propelled his strategic decision to leave Atlantic in 1961 and sign with ABC-Paramount Records, where he negotiated a lucrative and rare stipulation for an artist, let alone a Black artist: ownership of his master recordings, along with his own Record Label, Crossover Records, and two publishing companies, Tangerine Records and Racer Music. We can always count on him to accent any emotion we may be feeling. Ervin reflected, “Ray Charles is a musical North Star. It forever sealed his reputation as an artist who always delivered passion and authenticity in his music and vocals. His explosive combination of blues, gospel, and R&B in the '50s pioneered the launch of soul music. All three will encompass Charles' multi-genre career and equally savvy business acumen.

The Ray Charles Foundation, headed by its President Valerie Ervin, is concurrently helming several upcoming projects, including a documentary, biography, and Broadway musical. However, the celebration of Charles' prolific legacy and the ongoing worldwide appeal doesn't end there. The tracklist and additional details will be announced in the coming months. In further commemoration of the artist's 90th anniversary, a curated box set of 90 Ray Charles songs will be released in 2021. In honor of the 17-time Grammy Award winner, James Taylor, Johnny Mathis, Carol Burnett, Loretta Lynn, and Vin Scully are among the host of celebrities paying tribute to Brother Ray via social media posts on the Ray Charles website. Concurrently, debuting today, fans are invited to take an exciting virtual reality tour of the virtual-tour of the Ray Charles Memorial Library's vast collection of memorabilia - from his colorful stage wardrobe to his office and studio. It's the 90th birthday of the late Ray Charles, aka 'The Genius' behind timeless classics such as 'What I'd Say,' 'Hit the Road Jack,' 'I Can't Stop Loving You,' and 'Georgia on My Mind.' September 23 marked a momentous occasion in music history.

Genius of ray charles