This is FRESH AIR. In 1962, Ray Charles released two albums that became surprise hits - "Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music," Volumes 1 and 2. At the time, few popular black artists had ...

One night in Stockholm half a century ago, Ray Charles delivered a blood-pumping, soul-shaking concert that was almost lost to history. The evening begins with a finger-snapping rendition of Charles’ ...

As we were preparing to gather with family for dinner while sheltering from the coronavirus, an email arrived from a reader. Its subject line was “I-m-a-g-i-n-e.” Attached was a video of Ray Charles ...

The final recording of Ray Charles, Genius Loves Company, enjoys its tenth anniversary. It is striking to consider that it has been over ten years since the death of Ray Charles, one of the most ...

Somewhere in America -- probably in a lot of somewheres in America -- folks are hearing a Ray Charles song or, more likely, a glorious string of Ray Charles songs, as they come to terms with the ...

There is one person who has worked with Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles. He wrote dozens of scores for film and TV, and eventually produced movies and TV shows, and got megastars ...

Fifty-seven years ago, Charles released two albums that helped extend the reach of country music. Though initially perceived as a novelty, a... 'Modern Sounds' Re-Release Revives Ray Charles' 1962 ...