Ray Charles (1930-2004) was a pianist, songwriter, and a leading figure in American music. Growing up as a blind child in an environment of poverty and racial segregation in Georgia, Charles overcame many obstacles to become a singular voice in the fledgling soul genre.
His unique blend of gospel, blues and jazz resulted in timeless songs that became staples of the canon, including "Georgia on My Mind", "What'd I Say", “I Got a Woman” and countless more. His accolades include more than 60 studio albums, 17 Grammys, an Oscar-winning biopic, and the induction into the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame.
