Ray Charles is synonymous with American soul music. The genres greatest talent and easily one of the most recognizable voices in Pop; Ray Charles is an American institution. His contribution is more than just his music, but as an African American singer Ray Charles helped to racially integrate a country. His soulful singing and piano playing was only eclipsed by that enduring smile. Ray Charles could fill a bar in the middle of nowhere and just about any football stadium in America.

Ray Charles - The Sound Of America

"I was born with music inside me. Music was one of my parts. Like my ribs, my kidneys, my liver, my heart. Like my blood. It was a force already within me when I arrived on the scene. It was a necessity for me-like food or water." - Ray Charles

The King of Soul

Ray Charles is synonymous with American soul music. The genres greatest talent and easily one of the most recognizable voices in Pop; Ray Charles is an American institution. His contribution is more than just his music, but as an African American singer Ray Charles helped to racially integrate a country. His soulful singing and piano playing was only eclipsed by that enduring smile. Ray Charles could fill a bar in the middle of nowhere and just about any football stadium in America.

His electrifying stage performance and charismatic presence will forever be etched in our memory. The music legacy has inspired everyone from Rod Stewart, Tina Turner and Billy Joel. The songs like "I Got a Woman", "What I'd Say" and of course the iconic "Georgia on my Mind" have helped to shape the sound of soul music and carried it forward. Charles's musical ability is a gift for everyone.

His popularity and influence can also be ascertained by the fact that he has played in two Presidential inauguration ceremonies - for Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. In 2004 he was significantly contributed to the biopic movie Ray which starred Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles, Foxx went on to win an Oscar.

In the Beginning

Ray Charles was not born blind but by age 5 is lost his eyesight. He lost his parents by the age of 15. He started to learn classical piano in high school. By 1943 he had become quite accomplished on the piano and would regularly perform small gigs in clubs in Tallahassee. He moved to Jacksonville after his mother died and he started earning $4 for playing at a local theater.

The Rise of the Genius

He moved to Seattle in 1947 and started recording music and even scored a hit with "Confession Blues" in '49. After recording several hits by 1952, he came under the notice of Atlantic owner the legendary Ahmet Ertugen who immediately signed him. Ertugen encouraged Ray Charles to be more open in his approach to performing, to be a band leader. In 1954 after a few minor hit singles he recorded "I Got a Woman" which brought him nationwide acclaim and commercial success.

The song was a huge a hit. A string of hits followed which would be his golden period of the 50s. The single "It brings tears to my eyes" and "the Night time is the right time" were huge hits. But Ray Charles was still selling his music to a more African American audience and was still not a crossover commercial hit

Crossover Success

In 1959, Ray Charles spontaneous blues single "What'd I say" was a hit on the mainstream charts. He left Atlantic records and signed a lucrative contract with ABC records and released commercial block busters "Georgia On My Mind" and "Hit the Road Jack". His iconic album "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music" were now mainstream pop success. Ray Charles has transformed America by becoming one of the artists like Chuck Berry who blurred the racial divide.

The Later Years

In the 60s Ray Charles continued to perform and record music but it was his heroin intake which had become a full blown addiction. He was even arrested three times and was out on parole when he recorded "Crying Time" in 1965. In the 70s he recorded a unique version of "America the Beautiful". He also hosted Saturday Night Live and appeared in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers

In 1984 he was asked by Quincy Jones to perform on the "We are the World" song. He became more prominent by taking large sums of money for TV appearances. Ray Charles continued to tour all the year long in the 80s and 90s, keeping the legacy going. He performed all over the world most notably in South Africa, Venezuela and France.

His final public appearance was on April 30 at a tribute to his studio as a historic landmark in Los Angeles. His last album release was "Genius Loves Company", where he sang duets on some of his signature tunes. The album featured Natalie Cole, Elton John, Norah Jones and James Taylor.

A legend, an institution and an enduring figure that helped shape American music. Ray Charles has performed for nearly five decades and has inspired many artists over the years. But it is a story of man's self belief in himself to defy insurmountable odds and personal disability to rise to such phenomenal success.

• Ray Charles is ranked no. 10 on the list of "The 100 Greatest Artist of all Time" and No.2 as the "The 100 Greatest Singer of all Time"
• Ray Charles was the inductee in the inaugural ceremony of the Rock Hall of Fame in 1986
• Ray Charles loved playing chess and he would play in a special board

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