I don't know if you knew this about Ray Charles (it wasn't in the short bio you read), but he started to lose his eyesight around 4 or 5 years old, and was blind by age 7. So all the music he had written was while blind, much like Stevie Wonder, who lost his eyesight at 6 weeks old.
If you ever have the opportunity to watch the film Ray, you won’t be sorry. It’s a fantastic film and Jamie Foxx’s portrayal of Ray Charles is amazing. The music will live with you a long time.
The masterpiece that Ray is so well known for. So much feeling. Ray had a part in the BLUES BROTHERS movie. Check it out if you have not yet had the pleasure, especially if you love great music.
Ray Charles is Soul; he created soul music -as a legendary musician who pioneered the genre of soul music during the 1950s. Often called the "Father of Soul," Charles combined blues, gospel, and jazz to create groundbreaking hits such as "Unchain My Heart," "Hit the Road Jack," and "Georgia on My Mind" (The State Song of Georgia). He is the most talented singer ever. He even released a Country & Western album, "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music," which is considered a genre masterpiece. He is beyond an Icon. His version of Paul Simon's "Still Crazy After All These Years" will stop you in your tracks. There will never be anybody close to Ray Charles ever. They should teach about him in school. The Kindg of Soul - Nuff Said!
A concert I will never forget, he came to my hometown Edmonton, Alberta 🇨🇦 about 44 yrs ago 🥰 Ray Charles has many hits for you to discover ‘Mess Around’ ‘ You Don’t Know Me’ ‘The Right Time’ ‘Unchain My Heart’ ‘Seven Spanish Angels with Willie Nelson’, ‘Fever ‘ with Natalie Cole, ‘ What’d I Say’ ‘The Nighttime is the Right Time’, ‘ Hit The Road Jack - a big hit, *** and especially ‘ I Can’t Stop Loving You’ are just a few of his hits!! Just pick a Ray Charles Greatest Hits to enjoy 🥰💜☮️
My mother’s name was Georgia Mae and she always loved this song; she passed in 2013 at age 78 from cancer and we played this at her funeral. Not a dry eye in the church. Love you, Mom.
So many nuances in each note, the feelings pour out of each word. You should check out his classic rendition of "America the Beautiful" and his 1962 song "Hit the Road Jack" for an upbeat gem. RIP Ray. Blessings all.
Don't sleep on the fact that he's not only singing, but he's playing the piano throughout and its his arrangements. This was part of his "country" album.
One of the most influential musicians ever - period. This shows Ray's slow, smooth side, playing a Hoagy Carmichael standard. You can hear echoes of this down through soul and even to people like Paul Simon (whose "Tenderness" was heavily influenced by this recording). For another side of Ray, I'd recommend "What'd I Say (Part 1)", which was pretty much the invention of Soul Music (and influenced songs like The Beatles' "I'm Down", too). I'd also recommend watching the biopic "Ray" with Jamie Foxx, which captures Charles's career and life very well.
As I told you before I have all-time favorite artists. But 5 all-time artists that will always reign over all my all-time artists in the music world are: Stevie Wonder. David Bowie. Sting. Ray Charles. Nancy Wilson. This song among others are just Masterpieces to me. 🎉🎉🎉🎉 So, glad you enjoyed Ray. Good reaction.
OMG !!! There are soooo many greats by this man! I still have my parents original albums he recorded , and I'm 67 years old! Hit the Road, Jack, Unchain my Heart (also done by Joe Cocker) What'd I Say, America the Beautiful, He also played with Stevie Wonder and Billy Joel.
You've probably seen and heard Ray Charles in the Blues Brothers movie where he plays the owner of Ray's Music Store . He sells the Brothers some equipment and takes a shot at young shoplifter . He was always a cool cat .
To me, this song will always remind me of the original "Quantum Leap" episodes "M.I.A." and "Mirror Image". Such sad scenes that never fail to bring tears to my eyes.
Ray Charles was blind from an early age. You didn’t mention it so not sure if you were aware. He performed at the piano with his signature dark sunglasses. 🕶️
Such a great song! Ray Charles was a great singer, songwriter, pianist & composer. He pioneered the soul music genre during the 50's by combining blues, jazz, R&B & gospel styles. He had so many hit songs such as "Hit The Road Jack", "Mess Around", "It Should've Been Me", "Don't You Know", "Midnight Hour", "Sinner's Prayer", "I've Got A Woman", "This Little Girl Of Mine", "A Fool For You", "What'd I Say", "Busted", "Take These Chains From My Heart", "Crying Time" etc.
This is such a beautiful song and you can hear the old-old-old school sound in the composition and the chorus. It reminds me of some of the Big Band music records I remember my Grandpa playing and him saying how they sounded "really keen".
I found Ray Charles in 1960 when I was 13 years old and he instantly became my favorite artist. By 15 I owned every album and knew all the words to every song. Ray introduced a 14 year old Stevie Wonder to the world and I remember that so clearly. He was beloved globally and has a rich and diverse catalog to explore.
Alright. Believe it or not, had never listened to this song, completely. Wow. Just, wow. One of the most beautiful voices ever. You patiently allowed us to listen, and you so obviously listened, as well. With no interruptions. Hello from Tel Aviv Israel.
I always thought it was very sad when Ray sang about such beautiful things as moonlight through the trees and he never got to see it. Does anyone know, was Ray blind all of his life or was it an accident or illness that caused his blindness? Thank you in advance for anything you can tell me! Deb
debbers...omg...I NEVER thought of the tragic irony....behind the most beautiful line (to me) in this song. So glad you pointed out this. This changes the song completely. I always thought that line, had a mysterious sadness to it. But THAT reference to his inability to truly see light...had never occurred to me.
Hey Marvin, I'm glad that you are now thinking of this in a different way! I think it's beautiful that Ray even thinks about these things, so that's why I wondered if he was always blind, do you know? Deb
Someone has probably already mentioned this, but the person singing the sample on the Kanye song you mentioned actually isn’t Ray Charles. It’s Jamie Foxx, who played Ray Charles in the biopic “Ray.” It’s probably the best music biopic out there and Jamie’s performance in it is absolutely masterful.
It's great, but this 1931 version by Mildred Bailey is also great, and includes an introductory verse nobody sings anymore. It's closer, of course, to what Carmichael intended: ua-cam.com/video/8i-QMFWnGdY/v-deo.htmlsi=QKTlc8e4M4R5diPO
If you want to see to see Hoagie, there's no better way than watching To Have and Have Not. It's set on Martinique during the French Occupation in 1942. It's best known for being where Humphrey Bogart and Lauren met. If you've ever heard," The screen sizzled " here's where you see it in action. It's a dramedy adventure the main characters are staying in a local hotel. Hoagie plays Cricket, the piano player and band leader in the hotel's bar. It's a great story.🧓🎭📽️💖
If you were to watch him do it live, it wouldn't be much different. It's one of those songs other people probably shouldn't even bother trying to do because he did it so well.
Nobody touches my soul with their singing like Brother Ray. My favorite song!
I don't know if you knew this about Ray Charles (it wasn't in the short bio you read), but he started to lose his eyesight around 4 or 5 years old, and was blind by age 7. So all the music he had written was while blind, much like Stevie Wonder, who lost his eyesight at 6 weeks old.
If you ever have the opportunity to watch the film Ray, you won’t be sorry. It’s a fantastic film and Jamie Foxx’s portrayal of Ray Charles is amazing. The music will live with you a long time.
The masterpiece that Ray is so well known for. So much feeling.
Ray had a part in the BLUES BROTHERS movie. Check it out if you have not yet had the pleasure, especially if you love great music.
Ray Charles is Soul; he created soul music -as a legendary musician who pioneered the genre of soul music during the 1950s. Often called the "Father of Soul," Charles combined blues,
gospel, and jazz to create groundbreaking hits such as "Unchain My Heart," "Hit the Road Jack," and "Georgia on My Mind" (The State Song of Georgia). He is the most talented singer ever.
He even released a Country & Western album, "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music," which is considered a genre masterpiece. He is beyond an Icon. His version of Paul Simon's
"Still Crazy After All These Years" will stop you in your tracks. There will never be anybody close to Ray Charles ever. They should teach about him in school. The Kindg of Soul - Nuff Said!
A concert I will never forget, he came to my hometown Edmonton, Alberta 🇨🇦 about 44 yrs ago 🥰 Ray Charles has many hits for you to discover ‘Mess Around’ ‘ You Don’t Know Me’ ‘The Right Time’ ‘Unchain My Heart’ ‘Seven Spanish Angels with Willie Nelson’, ‘Fever ‘ with Natalie Cole, ‘ What’d I Say’ ‘The Nighttime is the Right Time’, ‘ Hit The Road Jack - a big hit, *** and especially ‘ I Can’t Stop Loving You’ are just a few of his hits!! Just pick a Ray Charles Greatest Hits to enjoy 🥰💜☮️
I've lived in Georgia almost my entire life, Ray Charles' version of this song became the "official" state song in 1979.
Written and recorded first by Hoagy Carmichael in 1930, Ray covered it in 1960.
My mother’s name was Georgia Mae and she always loved this song; she passed in 2013 at age 78 from cancer and we played this at her funeral. Not a dry eye in the church. Love you, Mom.
Hey Shawn, you GOTTA react to Ray Charles "Hit the Road Jack," the lighter, fun side of Ray.
So many nuances in each note, the feelings pour out of each word. You should check out his classic rendition of "America the Beautiful" and his 1962 song "Hit the Road Jack" for an upbeat gem. RIP Ray. Blessings all.
Don't sleep on the fact that he's not only singing, but he's playing the piano throughout and its his arrangements. This was part of his "country" album.
One of the most influential musicians ever - period. This shows Ray's slow, smooth side, playing a Hoagy Carmichael standard. You can hear echoes of this down through soul and even to people like Paul Simon (whose "Tenderness" was heavily influenced by this recording). For another side of Ray, I'd recommend "What'd I Say (Part 1)", which was pretty much the invention of Soul Music (and influenced songs like The Beatles' "I'm Down", too). I'd also recommend watching the biopic "Ray" with Jamie Foxx, which captures Charles's career and life very well.
As I told you before I have all-time favorite artists. But 5 all-time artists that will always reign over all my all-time artists in the music world are: Stevie Wonder. David Bowie. Sting. Ray Charles. Nancy Wilson. This song among others are just Masterpieces to me. 🎉🎉🎉🎉 So, glad you enjoyed Ray. Good reaction.
OMG !!! There are soooo many greats by this man! I still have my parents original albums he recorded , and I'm 67 years old! Hit the Road, Jack, Unchain my Heart (also done by Joe Cocker) What'd I Say, America the Beautiful, He also played with Stevie Wonder and Billy Joel.
I was lucky enough to him live not long before he passed. He still had it
You've probably seen and heard Ray Charles in the Blues Brothers
movie where he plays the owner of Ray's Music Store . He sells the
Brothers some equipment and takes a shot at young shoplifter . He
was always a cool cat .
Ooooohhh wow i saw him live at The Cave in Vancouver the 70s. It was magical ❤
To me, this song will always remind me of the original "Quantum Leap" episodes "M.I.A." and "Mirror Image". Such sad scenes that never fail to bring tears to my eyes.
Ray Charles was blind from an early age. You didn’t mention it so not sure if you were aware. He performed at the piano with his signature dark sunglasses. 🕶️
Such a great song! Ray Charles was a great singer, songwriter, pianist & composer. He pioneered the soul music genre during the 50's by combining blues, jazz, R&B & gospel styles. He had so many hit songs such as "Hit The Road Jack", "Mess Around", "It Should've Been Me", "Don't You Know", "Midnight Hour", "Sinner's Prayer", "I've Got A Woman", "This Little Girl Of Mine", "A Fool For You", "What'd I Say", "Busted", "Take These Chains From My Heart", "Crying Time" etc.
This is such a beautiful song and you can hear the old-old-old school sound in the composition and the chorus. It reminds me of some of the Big Band music records I remember my Grandpa playing and him saying how they sounded "really keen".
I’d like to recommend Baby Grand which is a duet by Ray Charles & Billy Joel. It’s a love song to their pianos. Melancholy blues. ❤😊
I found Ray Charles in 1960 when I was 13 years old and he instantly became my favorite artist. By 15 I owned every album and knew all the words to every song. Ray introduced a 14 year old Stevie Wonder to the world and I remember that so clearly. He was beloved globally and has a rich and diverse catalog to explore.
I've got a double album by him -on vinyl. I've been listening to him since I was a kid in the early 60s. A true great.
Alright. Believe it or not, had never listened to this song, completely. Wow. Just, wow. One of the most beautiful voices ever. You patiently allowed us to listen, and you so obviously listened, as well. With no interruptions. Hello from Tel Aviv Israel.
You can't fake that smile. So glad that you get it, it's perfect.
A Classic !!!!!
Check out his “Hallelujah I love her so”. Great song!
Check out Billy Joel and Ray on "Baby Grand"
You may hear pieces of this in the Master's Golf TV coverage from Georgia.
Gotta hear his version of "Hit The Road Jack". Love It!
My favorite Ray song is "YOU DONT KNOW ME", a crusher.
I always thought it was very sad when Ray sang about such beautiful things as moonlight through the trees and he never got to see it. Does anyone know, was Ray blind all of his life or was it an accident or illness that caused his blindness? Thank you in advance for anything you can tell me!
Deb
debbers...omg...I NEVER thought of the tragic irony....behind the most beautiful line (to me) in this song. So glad you pointed out this. This changes the song completely. I always thought that line, had a mysterious sadness to it. But THAT reference to his inability to truly see light...had never occurred to me.
Hey Marvin, I'm glad that you are now thinking of this in a different way! I think it's beautiful that Ray even thinks about these things, so that's why I wondered if he was always blind, do you know? Deb
Thank you Shawn, I just love your channel. You are teaching me things that I didn’t know about singers from years back…I appreciate you! 💙
"Moonlight through the pines" favors the state interpretation. Do cover more of Ray's works. One of his most successful was "Hit the Road Jack."
Best version of this Song!!!
Someone has probably already mentioned this, but the person singing the sample on the Kanye song you mentioned actually isn’t Ray Charles. It’s Jamie Foxx, who played Ray Charles in the biopic “Ray.” It’s probably the best music biopic out there and Jamie’s performance in it is absolutely masterful.
Yes Kanye covered -I Got A Woman with Gold Digger.
Check out Ray and Willie Nelson, Seven Spanish Angels!!
♥♥♥
Check out Walking Back to Georgia by Jim Croce... again"double" meaning of Georgia...
No need to apologize. You're catching up fast. :)
Shawn , if you would like a more modern version check out Michael Bolton's version of this song
Became Georgia state song many years after state lifted its ban on Ray Charles because of his protest of Jim Crow laws.
Georgia State song, dude.
It's great, but this 1931 version by Mildred Bailey is also great, and includes an introductory verse nobody sings anymore. It's closer, of course, to what Carmichael intended: ua-cam.com/video/8i-QMFWnGdY/v-deo.htmlsi=QKTlc8e4M4R5diPO
P.S. Some great Ray Charles tracks among many dozens: Hallelujah, I Love Her So; You Don't Know Me; Greenbacks; The Night Time Is the Right Time.
Too bad all 50 states can't have a song this good about them.
If you want to see to see Hoagie, there's no better way than watching To Have and Have Not. It's set on Martinique during the French Occupation in 1942. It's best known for being where Humphrey Bogart and Lauren met. If you've ever heard," The screen sizzled " here's where you see it in action. It's a dramedy adventure the main characters are staying in a local hotel. Hoagie plays Cricket, the piano player and band leader in the hotel's bar. It's a great story.🧓🎭📽️💖
geogia state song
What I Say...
If you were to watch him do it live, it wouldn't be much different. It's one of those songs other people probably shouldn't even bother trying to do because he did it so well.