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Ray Charles

Ray Charles

Acting

Born: September 23, 1930Albany, Georgia, USA

Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004), better known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records. He also helped racially integrate country and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, most notably with his Modern Sounds albums. While with ABC, Charles became one of the first African-American musicians to be given artistic control by a mainstream record company. Frank Sinatra called Charles “the only true genius in show business.” Rolling Stone ranked Charles number 10 on their list of "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" in 2004, and number two on their November 2008 list of "100 Greatest Singers of All Time". In honoring Charles, Billy Joel noted: "This may sound like sacrilege, but I think Ray Charles was more important than Elvis Presley. I don't know if Ray was the architect of rock & roll, but he was certainly the first guy to do a lot of things . . . Who the hell ever put so many styles together and made it work?"

Known For
Filmography
Quincy Jones | Music Man

Quincy Jones | Music Man

Self (archive footage)

2025
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

Self (archive footage)

2025
Merci Dorothée !

Merci Dorothée !

Self (archive footage)

2025
The Greatest Night in Pop

The Greatest Night in Pop

Self (archive footage)

2024
They All Came Out to Montreux

They All Came Out to Montreux

Self (archive footage)

2023
Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan

Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan

Self (archive footage)

2023
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love

Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

2023

Piano Greats at the BBC

Self (archive footage)

2022
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Self (archive footage)

2022
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

Self (archive footage)

2022
Rat Pack

Rat Pack

Self (archive footage)

2022
Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres

Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres

Self (archival footage)

2021
Face of Unity

Face of Unity

Self

2014

Jazzline - Ray Charles & Orchestra

Self

2012
Ray Charles - Live in France 1961

Ray Charles - Live in France 1961

Self

2011
O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar

O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar

Self (archive footage)

2009
Ray Charles: Live At Montreux 1997

Ray Charles: Live At Montreux 1997

Self

2008
Jazz Evolution

Jazz Evolution

Self - Piano, Vocals

2008
Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On

Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On

Self

2008
Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built

Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built

Self

2007
Rolling With the Blues

Rolling With the Blues

Self (archive footage)

2007
Fats and Friends

Fats and Friends

Self

2007
Fats Domino: Walking to New Orleans

Fats Domino: Walking to New Orleans

Self

2007
Glen Campbell | Good Times Again

Glen Campbell | Good Times Again

Self

2007
Ray Charles: Live at the Olympia

Ray Charles: Live at the Olympia

Self

2006
Ray Charles with the Voices of Jubilation Choir

Ray Charles with the Voices of Jubilation Choir

Self

2006
Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976

Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976

Self

2006
The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music

The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music

Self (archive footage)

2005
Ray Charles: Soul of the Holy Land

Ray Charles: Soul of the Holy Land

Self

2004
Ray Charles: O-Genio - Live In Brazil 1963

Ray Charles: O-Genio - Live In Brazil 1963

Self

2004

Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company

Self

2004
Tom Dowd & The Language of Music

Tom Dowd & The Language of Music

Self

2004
Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues

Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues

Self (archive footage)

2004
Rockin' Pianos

Rockin' Pianos

Self

2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

Self (archive footage)

2004
Piano Blues

Piano Blues

Self

2003

Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'

Self

2003
The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles

The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles

Self

2002
Ray Charles: Live: Montreux Jazz Festival

Ray Charles: Live: Montreux Jazz Festival

Self

2002
Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration

Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration

Self

2001
Ray Charles - In Concert

Ray Charles - In Concert

Self

2001
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2

The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2

Self (archive footage)

2001
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1

The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1

Self (archive footage)

2001
Blue's Big Musical Movie

Blue's Big Musical Movie

G-Clef (voice)

2000

Quincy Jones...The First 50 Years

Self

1998
Spy Hard

Spy Hard

Busdriver

1996
Sinatra: 80 Years My Way

Sinatra: 80 Years My Way

Self - Performer

1995
The World of Jim Henson

The World of Jim Henson

Self (archive footage)

1994
Love Affair

Love Affair

Self

1994
Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!

Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!

Self (archive footage)

1994
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

1994
Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration

Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration

Self (segment "Monster in the Mirror")

1993
Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O

Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O

Self

1993
Montreux Jazz Festival 1991

Montreux Jazz Festival 1991

Self

1991
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson

The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson

Self

1990
Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones

Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones

Self

1990
Limit Up

Limit Up

Julius

1989
Legends of Rock 'n' Roll

Legends of Rock 'n' Roll

Ray Charles

1989
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration

Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration

Self

1988
The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki

The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki

Self

1987

Billy Joel: Building the Bridge

Self

1986
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years

The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years

Self (archive footage)

1986
The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty

Self - Composer

1985
We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song

Self

1985
I Love Quincy

I Love Quincy

Self

1984

Ray Charles: A Man & His Soul

Ray Charles

1983

Hallelujah Gospel

Self

1983
Lynda Carter's Celebration

Lynda Carter's Celebration

Self

1981
Ray Charles Live - In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony

Ray Charles Live - In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony

Self

1981

John Schneider: Back Home

Self

1980

Ray Charles At The North Sea Jazz Festival

Self

1980
The Blues Brothers

The Blues Brothers

Ray

1980
Ray Charles: Angels Keep Watching Over Me

Ray Charles: Angels Keep Watching Over Me

Self

1979
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney

NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney

Self

1978
The Second Barry Manilow Special

The Second Barry Manilow Special

Self

1978
The Beatles Forever

The Beatles Forever

Self

1977
Barbra Streisand... and Other Musical Instruments

Barbra Streisand... and Other Musical Instruments

Self

1973
Ray Charles - La Salle Pleyel, Paris

Ray Charles - La Salle Pleyel, Paris

Self

1968
The Big T.N.T. Show

The Big T.N.T. Show

Self

1965
Ballad in Blue

Ballad in Blue

Self

1965
Swingin' Along

Swingin' Along

Self

1961