Ray Charles

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

121

Gender

Male

Birthday

1930-09-23

Day of death

2004-06-10 (73 years old)

Place of Birth

Albany, Georgia USA

Ray Charles

Biography

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 sound like sacrilege, but I think Ray Charles was more important than Elvis Presley. I don't know if Ray was the architect of rock & roll, but he was certainly the first guy to do a lot of things . . . Who the hell ever put so many styles together and made it work?"

Known For

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • Saturday Night Live

    Saturday Night Live

  • The Nanny

    The Nanny

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • Wings

    Wings

  • Champs-Elysées

    Champs-Elysées

  • The Carol Burnett Show

    The Carol Burnett Show

  • Moonlighting

    Moonlighting

  • The Dick Cavett Show

    The Dick Cavett Show

  • St. Elsewhere

    St. Elsewhere

  • Who's the Boss?

    Who's the Boss?

  • Sacrée Soirée

    Sacrée Soirée

  • Le monde est à vous

    Le monde est à vous

  • The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1

    The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2

    The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2

  • Kraft Music Hall

    Kraft Music Hall

  • The Blues Brothers

    The Blues Brothers

  • The John Larroquette Show

    The John Larroquette Show

  • The Kennedy Center Honors

    The Kennedy Center Honors

  • The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

    The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

  • Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!

    Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!

  • Star Academy

    Star Academy

  • The Midnight Special

    The Midnight Special

  • The Midnight Special

    The Midnight Special

  • NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney

    NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney

  • Musikladen

    Musikladen

  • Shindig!

    Shindig!

  • The Greatest Night in Pop

    The Greatest Night in Pop

  • Spy Hard

    Spy Hard

  • The Flip Wilson Show

    The Flip Wilson Show

  • Victoires de la musique

    Victoires de la musique

  • Téléthon

    Téléthon

  • Limit Up

    Limit Up

  • The Hollywood Palace

    The Hollywood Palace

  • Cachitos de hierro y cromo

    Cachitos de hierro y cromo

  • CMT Crossroads

    CMT Crossroads

  • The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

    The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

  • Piano Blues

    Piano Blues

  • Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration

    Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration

  • Rat Pack

    Rat Pack

  • Swingin' Along

    Swingin' Along

  • The Johnny Cash Show

    The Johnny Cash Show

  • Love Affair

    Love Affair

  • Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters

    Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters

  • Cher

    Cher

  • Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O

    Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O

  • Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love

    Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love

  • Super Dave

    Super Dave

  • Merci Dorothée !

    Merci Dorothée !

  • Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration

    Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration

  • Quincy Jones | Music Man

    Quincy Jones | Music Man

  • The Blues

    The Blues

  • Blue's Big Musical Movie

    Blue's Big Musical Movie

  • 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

    2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

  • Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

    Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

  • Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones

    Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones

  • Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

    Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

  • The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki

    The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki

  • Bio’s Bahnhof

    Bio’s Bahnhof

  • Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres

    Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres

  • Unsere kleine Show - Musik zur blauen Stunde

    Unsere kleine Show - Musik zur blauen Stunde

  • The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson

    The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson

  • Ballad in Blue

    Ballad in Blue

  • Billy Joel: Building the Bridge

    Billy Joel: Building the Bridge

  • They All Came Out to Montreux

    They All Came Out to Montreux

  • The World of Jim Henson

    The World of Jim Henson

  • O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar

    O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar

  • TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

    TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

  • Lynda Carter's Celebration

    Lynda Carter's Celebration

  • The Statue of Liberty

    The Statue of Liberty

  • The Smothers Brothers Show

    The Smothers Brothers Show

  • I Love Quincy

    I Love Quincy

  • Sinatra: 80 Years My Way

    Sinatra: 80 Years My Way

  • Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

    Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

  • Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'

    Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'

  • Ray Charles with the Voices of Jubilation Choir

    Ray Charles with the Voices of Jubilation Choir

  • Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues

    Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues

  • The Big T.N.T. Show

    The Big T.N.T. Show

  • Saturday Live

    Saturday Live

  • Barbra Streisand... and Other Musical Instruments

    Barbra Streisand... and Other Musical Instruments

  • Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer

    Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer

  • Quincy Jones...The First 50 Years

    Quincy Jones...The First 50 Years

  • We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song

    We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song

  • Tom Dowd & The Language of Music

    Tom Dowd & The Language of Music

  • Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976

    Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976

  • Ray Charles - Live in France 1961

    Ray Charles - Live in France 1961

  • Montreux Jazz Festival 1991

    Montreux Jazz Festival 1991

  • The Beatles Forever

    The Beatles Forever

  • Ray Charles: A Man & His Soul

    Ray Charles: A Man & His Soul

  • Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built

    Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built

  • Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music

    Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music

  • The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years

    The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years

  • Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan

    Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan

  • The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music

    The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music

  • Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On

    Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On

  • WrestleMania 2

    WrestleMania 2

  • Jazz Evolution

    Jazz Evolution

  • Glen Campbell | Good Times Again

    Glen Campbell | Good Times Again

  • Ray Charles: Live At Montreux 1997

    Ray Charles: Live At Montreux 1997

  • Fats Domino: Walking to New Orleans

    Fats Domino: Walking to New Orleans

  • Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company

    Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company

  • Ray Charles At The North Sea Jazz Festival

    Ray Charles At The North Sea Jazz Festival

  • John Schneider: Back Home

    John Schneider: Back Home

  • The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles

    The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles

  • Hallelujah Gospel

    Hallelujah Gospel

  • Ray Charles: Live at the Olympia

    Ray Charles: Live at the Olympia

  • Face of Unity

    Face of Unity

  • The Second Barry Manilow Special

    The Second Barry Manilow Special

  • Ray Charles - In Concert

    Ray Charles - In Concert

  • Legends of Rock 'n' Roll

    Legends of Rock 'n' Roll

  • Rockin' Pianos

    Rockin' Pianos

  • Fats and Friends

    Fats and Friends

  • Ray Charles Live - In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony

    Ray Charles Live - In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony

  • Ray Charles: O-Genio - Live In Brazil 1963

    Ray Charles: O-Genio - Live In Brazil 1963

  • Jazzline - Ray Charles & Orchestra

    Jazzline - Ray Charles & Orchestra

  • Piano Greats at the BBC

    Piano Greats at the BBC

  • Ray Charles: Soul of the Holy Land

    Ray Charles: Soul of the Holy Land

  • Ray Charles: Live: Montreux Jazz Festival

    Ray Charles: Live: Montreux Jazz Festival

  • Ray Charles - La Salle Pleyel, Paris

    Ray Charles - La Salle Pleyel, Paris

  • Ray Charles: Angels Keep Watching Over Me

    Ray Charles: Angels Keep Watching Over Me