| There are few musicians in modern pop
music who can truly be called "genius," but in the case of Ray
Charles, the term applies. His innovative singing, drawing on both
gospel and
pop, has inspired legions of great singers. With a long, prolific
recording career that began in 1949, Ray Charles became perhaps
the finest interpreter of pop music in the post-war years. A gifted
pianist, songwriter, and vocalist, he was a master of every style he
attempted, be it R&B,
country,
blues, or soul.
The man who wrote such indelible R&B
classics as "I Got a Woman" and "What'd I Say"
passed away in 2004, a legend several times over. The same year, a
remakable performance by Jamie
Foxx in the biopic RAY served as a fitting cinematic eulogy |
