Ray Charles American Singer Born 1930 in Albany
Ray Charles · pianist and composer · American
Known for
Biography
Ray Charles (1930–2004) was an American singer from Albany. His death was on 10 June 2004, at the age of 73. Ray Charles was part of Ray Charles and His Orchestra.
Ray Charles’s releases on record are 110 albums and 22 singles between 1946 and 2021. He released Let the Good Times Roll (1946) early on, and True Genius (2021) is the latest entry. The style on record is jazz and soul. Ray Charles played piano. Record labels on file include Swing Time.
Ray Charles had 12 screen credits too, including American Masters (1986) and The Nanny (1993). The records name Georgia on My Mind / Carry Me Back to Old Virginny among his notable work.
In total, he received 11 awards. He won star on Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1981, the earliest award on record. The most recent win on record is Blues Hall of Fame in 2019 for I've Got a Woman.
Groups and bands
- Ray Charles and His Orchestra
Discography
132 releases| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | True Genius | Album |
| 2010 | Rare Genius | Album |
| 2008 | Original American Classics: Ray Charles | Album |
| 2008 | The Legend Lives On | Album |
| 2007 | At the Olympia | Album |
| 2007 | Everlasting Memories | Album |
| 2007 | Forever Gold: Ray Charles | Album |
| 2006 | Definitive Gold: Ray Charles | Album |
| 2006 | Golden Legends: Ray Charles Live | Album |
| 2006 | Live at Montreux 1997 | Album |
| 2006 | Ray Sings, Basie Swings | Album |
| 2006 | What'd I Say: In Concert | Album |
| 2005 | 50 Years in Music | Album |
| 2005 | Anthology | Album |
| 2005 | Genius & Friends | Album |
Show all 132 releases
| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | In Concert: I Can't Stop Loving You | Album |
| 2005 | Pure Genius: Complete Atlantic Recordings 1952-1959 | Album |
| 2005 | Ray Charles Live | Album |
| 2005 | Surrender to Love | Single |
| 2005 | The Dick Cavett Show: Ray Charles Collection | Album |
| 2004 | Angels Keep Watching Over Me | Album |
| 2004 | Concert of November 22nd 2000 at the Olympia | Album |
| 2004 | Genius Loves Company | Album |
| 2004 | Ô-Genio: Live in Brazil, 1963 | Album |
| 2004 | Ray | Album |
| 2004 | Ray Charles Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony | Album |
| 2004 | Soul of the Holy Land: August 1973 | Album |
| 2004 | The Best of Ray Charles: Live | Album |
| 2004 | This Is Gold | Album |
| 2003 | Ray Charles Celebrates a Gospel Christmas with the Voices of Jubilation! | Album |
| 2003 | Ray Charles in Concert | Album |
| 2003 | Ray Charles with the Voices of Jubilation | Album |
| 2003 | Ray, Rare and Live | Album |
| 2002 | Genius of Soul Live | Album |
| 2002 | Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival | Album |
| 2002 | Thanks for Bringing Love Around Again | Album |
| 2002 | Times of Genius | Album |
| 2001 | In Concert | Album |
| 1997 | Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection | Album |
| 1997 | I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now | Album |
| 1996 | Live in Berlin, 1962 | Album |
| 1996 | Strong Love Affair | Album |
| 1995 | It's a Blues Thing | Album |
| 1993 | My World | Album |
| 1993 | The World of Ray Charles | Album |
| 1992 | Evening with Ray Charles | Album |
| 1992 | Live 1991 | Album |
| 1991 | The Birth of Soul | Album |
| 1990 | Would You Believe? | Album |
| 1988 | Just Between Us | Album |
| 1986 | Baby Grand | Single |
| 1986 | From the Pages of My Mind | Album |
| 1985 | The Spirit of Christmas | Album |
| 1984 | Do I Ever Cross Your Mind | Album |
| 1984 | Friendship | Album |
| 1984 | Seven Spanish Angels | Single |
| 1983 | Wish You Were Here Tonight | Album |
| 1981 | Ballad in Blue | Album |
| 1980 | Brother Ray Is at It Again | Album |
| 1979 | Ain't It So | Album |
| 1978 | Love & Peace | Album |
| 1977 | True to Life | Album |
| 1975 | My Kind of Jazz Part 3 | Album |
| 1975 | My Kind of Jazz, Part 3 | Album |
| 1975 | Renaissance | Album |
| 1974 | Come Live With Me | Album |
| 1973 | Jazz Number II | Album |
| 1972 | A Message from the People | Album |
| 1972 | Through the Eyes of Love | Album |
| 1971 | Volcanic Action of My Soul | Album |
| 1970 | Love Country Style | Album |
| 1970 | My Kind of Jazz | Album |
| 1970 | The Best of Ray Charles | Album |
| 1969 | Doing His Thing | Album |
| 1969 | I'm All Yours Baby | Album |
| 1968 | A Portrait of Ray | Album |
| 1968 | I'm All Yours Baby! | Album |
| 1967 | In the Heat of the Night | Single |
| 1967 | Ray Charles Invites You to Listen | Album |
| 1966 | Crying Time | Single |
| 1966 | Crying Time | Album |
| 1966 | I Don't Need No Doctor | Single |
| 1966 | Let's Go Get Stoned | Single |
| 1966 | Ray's Moods | Album |
| 1965 | Together Again | Album |
| 1964 | Have a Smile with Me | Album |
| 1964 | Sweet & Sour Tears | Album |
| 1963 | Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul | Album |
| 1962 | Greatest Hits | Album |
| 1962 | Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music | Album |
| 1962 | Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume Two | Album |
| 1962 | Spotlight on Ray Charles | Album |
| 1961 | Dedicated to You | Album |
| 1961 | Do the Twist! with Ray Charles | Album |
| 1961 | Genius + Soul = Jazz | Album |
| 1961 | Hit the Road Jack / The Danger Zone | Single |
| 1961 | Ray Charles and Betty Carter | Album |
| 1961 | Soul Meeting | Album |
| 1961 | The Genius After Hours | Album |
| 1961 | The Genius Sings the Blues | Album |
| 1961 | Unchain My Heart | Single |
| 1960 | Georgia on My Mind / Carry Me Back to Old Virginny | Single |
| 1960 | Ray Charles in Person | Album |
| 1960 | Ruby | Single |
| 1960 | The Genius Hits the Road | Album |
| 1959 | The Genius of Ray Charles | Album |
| 1959 | What'd I Say | Album |
| 1958 | Ray Charles at Newport | Album |
| 1958 | Soul Brothers | Album |
| 1958 | Talkin' 'bout You / What Kind of Man Are You | Single |
| 1958 | Yes Indeed! | Album |
| 1957 | Ray Charles | Album |
| 1957 | The Great Ray Charles | Album |
| 1956 | Drown in My Own Tears | Single |
| 1956 | Hallelujah I Love Her So / What Would I Do Without You | Single |
| 1956 | Lonely Avenue | Single |
| 1956 | Mary Ann | Single |
| 1955 | A Fool for You | Single |
| 1955 | This Little Girl of Mine | Single |
| 1954 | I've Got a Woman / Come Back | Single |
| 1954 | It Should've Been Me | Single |
| 1953 | Mess Around | Single |
| 1946 | Let the Good Times Roll | Single |
| A Man and His Soul | Album | |
| America the Beautiful | Album | |
| Blues | Album | |
| Live | Album | |
| Live at the Olympia 2000 | Album | |
| Live in Concert | Album | |
| Live in Japan | Album | |
| Ray Charles Anthology | Album | |
| The Definitive Ray Charles | Album |
Awards and nominations
11 won, 0 nominated| Year | Award | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Blues Hall of Fame | I've Got a Woman | Won |
| 1998 | Polar Music Prize | Won | |
| 1993 | lifetime achievement award | Won | |
| 1993 | National Medal of Arts | Won | |
| 1992 | Florida Artists Hall of Fame | Won | |
| 1988 | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award | Won | |
| 1986 | Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres | Won | |
| 1986 | Kennedy Center Honors | Won | |
| 1986 | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | Won | |
| 1981 | star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Won | |
| Library of Congress Living Legend | Won |
Filmography
15 credits| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | I Am Not Your Negro | Film | |
| 2013 | 20 Feet from Stardom | Film | |
| 2004 | Ray | Film | |
| 2003 | Piano Blues | Film | |
| 2000 | Blue's Big Musical Movie | Film | |
| 1996 | Spy Hard | Film | |
| 1994 | Love Affair | Film | |
| 1993–1999 | The Nanny | TV series | |
| 1990 | Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones | Film | |
| 1989 | Limit Up | Film | |
| 1986– | American Masters | TV series | |
| 1985 | The Statue of Liberty | Film | |
| 1980 | The Blues Brothers | Film | |
| 1965 | Ballad in Blue | Film | |
| PopStory | TV series |
Personal life
Marriages on record are to Della Beatrice Howard Robinson (1955 to 1977, divorced) and Eileen Williams (1971, ended by death). Education on record includes Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, finishing in 1945.
Ray Charles on Social Media
Ray Charles Photos
Frequently asked questions
How old was Ray Charles at the time of death?
Ray Charles died on 10 June 2004 at the age of 73. He was born on 23 September 1930.
What is Ray Charles known for?
Ray Charles was known as a former member of Ray Charles and His Orchestra.
What is Ray Charles’s nationality?
Ray Charles was American, born in Albany.
Who was Ray Charles married to?
Ray Charles’s marriages on record are to Della Beatrice Howard Robinson (1955 to 1977) and Eileen Williams (1971).
Has Ray Charles won any awards?
Yes. 11 awards are on record, including Blues Hall of Fame (2019) for I've Got a Woman.
Sources
- Wikidata (Q544387), accessed October 2026
- Photo: William Morris Agency (management)/Photo by Maurice Seymour, New York. · Public domain
Last checked by the Wiki of Celebs editorial team
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