Biography of Ray Charles

The seminal 50s Atlantic recordings of Ray Charles virtually defined the very essence of soul, and his radical early 60s R&B/country synthesis helped immeasurably to bridge the gap between the two idioms. If he isn't a certifiable genius, as is often claimed, Ray Charles is certainly one of the most influential musical figures of the 20th century.Completely blind by age seven, Charles mastered the piano in his teens and, by 1948, was already recording in a Nat Cole/Charles Brown-derived style. But Charles hit upon a daring concept of combining joyous gospel rhythms with secular lyrics just about the time he signed with Atlantic, turning the musical world on its collective ear in the process.With his jazzy combo in place, Brother Ray sat down at the 88s and began racking up the hits during the mid 50s -- "I've Got a Woman," "Hallelujah, I Love Her So," and, in 1959, the wondrous "What'd I Say," combining the call-and-response structure of the church with the sexually charged message of the blues. The number one R&B seller also showcased Charles's pioneering use of the electric piano.When Charles signed with ABC-Paramount in 1960, he shifted gears entirely, delving deep into pop and country in his own inimitable style. Ray Charles epitomizes the soul idiom with his gospel-soaked vocals and keyboards, even though his recent recording activities have generally been confined to the country field (with the exception of those ubiquitous Diet Pepsi TV ads). ~ Bill Dahl

Biography of Maxin Trio

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