Ray Charles
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?"
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Acted in
The Greatest Night in Pop
2024
as Self (archive footage)
They All Came Out to Montreux
2023
as Self
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
2023
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Piano Greats at the BBC
2022
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022
as Self (archive Footage)
Rat Pack
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Disclosure
2020
as Self (archive footage)
I Am Not Your Negro
2017
as Self (archive footage)
Face of Unity
2014
as Self
Cachitos de hierro y cromo
2013
as Self (archive footage)
Jazzline - Ray Charles & Orchestra
2012
as himself
Ray Charles - Live in France 1961
2011
as Himself
Ray Charles: Live At Montreux
2008
as Self
Jazz Evolution
2008
as Self - Piano, Vocals
Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On
2008
as Himself
Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built
2007
as Self
Fats Domino: Walking to New Orleans
2007
as Himself
Glen Campbell: Good Times Again
2007
as himself
Ray Charles: Live at the Olympia
2006
Ray Charles with the Voices of Jubilation Choir
2006
as himself
Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976
2006
as Self
The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music
2005
as Self - Archive Footage
Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music
2005
as Self
Ray Charles: O-Genio - Live In Brazil 1963
2004
Ray Charles: Soul of the Holy Land
2004
as Himself
Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company
2004
as Self
Tom Dowd & The Language of Music
2004
as Himself
Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues
2004
as Self (archive footage)
Rockin' Pianos
2004
as Himself
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
as Self (archive footage)
Piano Blues
2003
as Self
The Blues
2003
Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'
2003
as Self
The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles
2002
as Himself
CMT Crossroads
2002
as Self
Ray Charles: Live: Montreux Jazz Festival
2002
Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration
2001
as Self
Star Academy
2001
as Self
Ray Charles - In Concert
2001
as Himself
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 years of Laughter Volume 1
2001
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 years of Laughter Volume 2
2001
as Self (archive footage)
Blue's Big Musical Movie
2000
as G-Clef (voice)
Quincy Jones...The First 50 Years
1998
as Self
Spy Hard
1996
as Busdriver
Sinatra: 80 Years My Way
1995
as Self - Performer
The History of Rock 'n' Roll
1995
as Self
The World of Jim Henson
1994
as Self (archive footage)
Love Affair
1994
as Self
Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
1994
as Self (archive footage)
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice
1994
The Nanny
1993
as Sammy
The John Larroquette Show
1993
as Ray Charles
Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O
1993
as Self
Montreux Jazz Festival 1991
1991
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
1990
as Self
Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones
1990
as Self
Wings
1990
as Ray Charles
Limit Up
1989
as Julius
Legends of Rock 'n' Roll
1989
as Ray Charles
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
1988
The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki
1987
as Self
Billy Joel: Building the Bridge
1986
as Self
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
1986
as Self (archive footage)
Victoires de la musique
1985
as Self
The Statue of Liberty
1985
as Self - Composer
Moonlighting
1985
as Ray Charles
We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song
1985
as Self
Who's the Boss?
1984
I Love Quincy
1984
as Self
Ray Charles: A Man & His Soul
1983
St. Elsewhere
1982
Lynda Carter's Celebration
1981
as Self
Ray Charles Live - In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony
1981
as Himself
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
1980
as Self
John Schneider: Back Home
1980
Ray Charles At The North Sea Jazz Festival
1980
as himself
The Blues Brothers
1980
as Ray
Ray Charles: Angels Keep Watching Over Me
1979
The Kennedy Center Honors
1978
as Self
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
1978
as Self
The Second Barry Manilow Special
1978
as Himself
The Beatles Forever
1977
as Self
Cher
1975
as Self
Barbra Streisand... and Other Musical Instruments
1973
as Himself
Musikladen
1972
as Self
The Midnight Special
1972
as Host / Self
The Midnight Special
1972
as Self
The Flip Wilson Show
1970
as Self
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
1969
as Self
Ray Charles - La Salle Pleyel, Paris
1968
as himself
The Carol Burnett Show
1967
as Self - Guest
The Big T.N.T. Show
1966
as Self
Ballad in Blue
1965
as himself
Shindig!
1964
as Self - Singer
The Hollywood Palace
1964
as Self - Singer
Swingin' Along
1961
as Himself
Kraft Music Hall
1958
as Self
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
as Self