Ray Charles 1930-2004: Part 1 of 4

by C. Michael Bailey
June 15, 2004

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 This is an off-the-cuff homage to an American original, not that unlike the recently passed Ronald Reagan (regardless of what our political inclinations may be). There is no other musician, American or not, who can be compared to Ray Charles. Period. Ray Charles' death is as monumental a loss to American culture as any that we have had in the past ten years. There is no need ...

Ray Charles: Live At Montreaux

by Mike Perciaccante
September 1, 2002

This is a superb live performance. Ray and The Raelettes are at their best on this electrifying set recorded in 1997. Ray Charles Live at Montreaux delivers everything anyone ever asked for in a Ray Charles CD. It is clean, crisp, exhilarating, thrilling, the band is superb, Brother Ray's voice is in fine form, the song selection is excellent and most of all it is LIVE!

With a set list that reads like a greatest hits album, Ray ...

Ray Charles: Genius+Soul=Jazz/My Kind of Jazz

by Joel Roberts
July 1, 1997

During his creative peak in the late '50s and early '60s, Ray Charles put his soulful imprint on virtually every genre of American popular music. After he laid the foundation for the future of soul with his seminal Atlantic albums, and just before he bridged the gap between rhythm 'n' blues and country with “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music," Charles also recorded a series of often overlooked instrumental jazz albums. The most blisteringly soulful of ...