Maybe this is a very old topic and I couldn't find it in the archives... (ok shoot me I'm lazy ) but I have often stated Ray Charles was one of my favorite artists.

And when they call this guy "the Genius", they weren't really whistling Dixie, this guy was a musical and vocal beast! Though I feel the guy don't get enough credit (even with what he did after leaving Atlantic Records in 1959), I do feel that alongside James, Chuck Berry and the Motown artists, Ray changed the course of popular music forever.

What are your favorite Ray joints?

Here's mine:
Come Back Baby
This Little Girl of Mine
What I Say?
I Got a Woman
A Fool for You
Hallelujah I Love Her So
Drown In My Own Tears
I'm Movin' On
Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)
Sinner's Prayer
Mess Around
Don't You Know
Leave My Woman Alone

When I was younger I never cared for Ray Charles. I was very stuburn as a young child, it was either Jackson 5 or James Brown or nothing. Some artist I listen to like Dramatics and O'Jays but I had never even given Ray a chance (or Prince to, ha). My pops had his music but I never even was curious about it. When I got older, I stareted to really get into his music nd others (like Prince) and brother was bad.


Here is a performance I liked with Billy Preston and Ray on the piano doing Edwin Star's Agent Double "O" Soul.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4SiqmoZq47I

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Thanks! Wow... Billy was a great dancer... I always loved how Ray conducted his band. There's a YouTube special with Ray playing a lead saxophone solo. You have to take heed the man was blind but he was able to compose music and actually play two, three instruments. I can see why Stevie looked up to him IMMENSELY! Billy also looked up to him too. I think the video you showed me was when Billy was in Ray's band at the time or was produced by Ray.

I believe this the saxophone video you were thinking of

http://www.youtube.com/wa...2l7GraYFhI

He was classically trained on saxophone, oboe and clarinet as far as I remember, and I think he dabbled in other instruments as well.

"Hit The Road Jack !"

jacktheimprovident said:

Yep, sure was.

I had to find evidence about that though because I've seen pictures of Ray with the sax but I had never saw him actually play it, he played pretty well, I might add.