Ray Charles’ initial foray into standards is a career highlight. For the first half, Charles’ old friend Quincy Jones crafts hard-swinging big band arrangements that match Ray’s band made up of musicians from the Ellington and Basie camps. Ralph Burns arranges the jazz-meets-string-orchestra second half, which features “Just for a Thrill” and “Come Rain or Come Shine.” The album showcased Charles’ breakout from rhythm and blues and onto a broader musical stage. Atlantic Records gave him full support in production and arrangements. As originally presented, the A side of the album fea… read more
Ray Charles’ initial foray into standards is a career highlight. For the first half, Charles’ old friend Quincy Jones crafts hard-swinging big band a… read more
Ray Charles’ initial foray into standards is a career highlight. For the first half, Charles’ old friend Quincy Jones crafts hard-swinging big band arrangements that match Ray’s band mad… read more
Ray Charles (Ray Charles Robinson, Albany, Georgia, September 23, 1930 - Beverly Hills, California, June 10, 2004), was an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, and band leader. As a rock and roll, rhythm & blues, soul, blues, jazz, country and pop musician he helped to shape the sound of rhythm & blues. He brought a soulful sound to everything from country music ("I Can't Stop Loving You") to rock and roll ("Mess Around"), to pop standards to a now-iconic rendition of "America the Beautiful." Frank Sinatra called him "the … read more
Ray Charles (Ray Charles Robinson, Albany, Georgia, September 23, 1930 - Beverly Hills, California, June 10, 2004), was an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, and band leader. … read more
Ray Charles (Ray Charles Robinson, Albany, Georgia, September 23, 1930 - Beverly Hills, California, June 10, 2004), was an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, and band leader. As a rock and roll, rhythm & blues, soul,… read more