Ray Charles

Ray Charles was the musician most responsible for developing soul music, merging 1950s R&B with gospel-powered vocals and adding jazz, blues, and country influences. Blind from age six due to glaucoma, he studied at the St. Augustine School for the Deaf and the Blind. After his parents died, he moved to Seattle in 1947. His first Top Ten R&B hit came in 1951 with "Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand." His pivotal 1955 song "I Got a Woman" showcased his gospel-ish moan. He left Atlantic Records for ABC, ...Read more