Ray Charles was an American singer, songwriter, musician and composer…..who preferred to be called Brother Ray among friends and fellow musicians….but was often referred to as “The Genius”…..for he pioneered the soul music genre during the 1950’s by combining blues, rhythm and blues and gospel styles into the music he recorded for Atlantic Records…..while he contributed to the integration of country music, rhythm and blues and pop music during the 1960’s with his crossover success on ABC Records….notably with his two Modern Sounds albums. While he was with ABC, Ray Charles became one of the first black musicians to be granted artistic control by a mainstream record company….after which he placed multiple singles and albums in the Top 10 of the Top 40 on various Billboard charts …. while having 44 on the US R&B singles charts….11 on the Hot 100 singles charts….2 on the US Country singles charts….8 on the Billboard 200 album charts….and one on the US Country Album charts.
