Ray Charles

A tribute to Ray Charles

Ray Charles interview

Charles' first recording session with Atlantic, "Roll With my Baby"

He appeared on the film, "The Blues Brothers"

He released his first country song, a cover of Hank Snow's "Movin' On"

His version of the song, "I Can't Stop Loving You," topped the Pop chart for five weeks and stayed at No. 1 R&B charts

His 1975 recording of Stevie Wonder's hit, "Living for the City" later helped Charles win another Grammy

Charles appeared in commercials for the New Jersey Lottery to promote its "For every dream, there's a jackpot" campaign

Ray appeared among a lot of other popular musicians in the USA for Africa charity recording, "We Are the World"

Charles' 1972 album, "Message from the People," included his version of "America the Beautiful"

He appeared in the popular TV comedy "The Nanny" as Sammy, in one episode singing "My Yiddish Mamma"

Charles recorded his own piece, "I Got a Woman," and the song became Charles' first number-one R&B hit in 1955

His single, "Crying Time," reached No. 6 on the pop chart and later helped Charles win a Grammy Award the following March

Charles married to Eileen Williams

He joined Swing Time Records and under his own name "Ray Charles" recorded R&B hits including, "Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand"

Appeared as the host of NBC's "Saturday Night Live"

Charles had a national acclaim and a Grammy Award for the Sid Feller-produced, "Georgia on My Mind"

Charles passed away on June 10, 2004 at age 73 due to acute liver disease at his home in Los Angeles, California

Charles and Johnny Mathis sung as a duo, a version of Harold Arlen's "Over the Rainbow," was played at his memorial service

He came out in a serial publication of Diet Pepsi commercials where he popularized the catchphrase "You Got the Right One, Baby"

Charles appeared the World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees and performed "America the Beautiful"

His first piano lessons interview

Charles returned to the pop charts in another pair, with singer Billy Joel on the song, "Baby Grand"

Charles and his lifelong friend Willie Nelson, with him, he recorded the No. 1 country duet, "Seven Spanish Angels"

Ray and Van Morrison sung "Crazy Love," which appears on Morrison's 2007 album, "The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3"

He came out on the" Super Dave Osbourne" TV show, where he was somehow forcing a automobile, often as Super Dave's chauffeur

He got nods for his duets with Elton John, "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest"