“My music had roots which I’d dug up from my own childhood, musical roots buried in the darkest soil.”
– Ray Charles
Ray Charles (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) 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.
Below are a mix of videos and sound clips to give you some examples of his career.
Heartbreaker (78rpm , Atlantic 1008) – Ray Charles and his Orchestra (1953)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD7I7VbqaDE
Ray Charles – Hit The Road Jack Live (1961)
Ray Charles Live, Sao Paulo, First Show (1963)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRlqjUIjryI
Billy Preston & Ray Charles – Double O Soul Live (1964)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCuw_j-bVyU
Ray Charles Live Paris (1969)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY-vLoAGiGc