
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?"
Description above from the Wikipedia article Ray Charles, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Known For | Acting |
---|---|
Most Rating | 3.728 |
Birthday | 1930-09-23 |
Place of Birth | Albany, Georgia USA |
Also Known As |

1980

The Blues Brothers
7.732/4231
Jake Blues, just released from prison, puts his old band back together to save the Catholic home where he and his brother Elwood were raised.
Watch Now
The Blues Brothers

1990

The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
6.7/20
While the Muppets prepare a tribute to the late Jim Henson, they learn about the life and career of the renowned puppeteer/film maker.
Watch Now
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson

1968

Ray Charles - La Salle Pleyel, Paris
7/2
On October 8th, 1968, Ray Charles, the Raelettes and accompanying musicians performed a televised concert at the Salle Playel, in Paris. The performan...
Watch Now
Ray Charles - La Salle Pleyel, Paris

2023

Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
8.3/10
Paying tribute to a beloved national icon for her birthday, NBC celebrates Carol Burnett’s illustrious career with a star-studded event featuring an A...
Watch Now
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love

1977

The Beatles Forever
0/0
A musical salute to The Beatles.
Watch Now
The Beatles Forever

2008

Ray Charles: Live At Montreux
6.9/4
The unforgettable Ray Charles swings and sings with the best of them in this finger-snapping live performance at the 1997 Montreux Jazz Festival. The...
Watch Now
Ray Charles: Live At Montreux

1995

The History of Rock 'n' Roll
10/1
The history of rock n' roll and pop music are explored are explored via interviews and footage of well-known music stars.
Watch Now
The History of Rock 'n' Roll

2022

Piano Greats at the BBC
7.667/3
A collection of songs from the kings and queens of the keyboards, whose performances have captivated audiences over the decades and across a selection...
Watch Now
Piano Greats at the BBC

1965

Ballad in Blue
6.9/7
Ray Charles plays himself in this film where he helps blind boy David in his struggle to regain his sight. David’s over-protective mother Peggy is afr...
Watch Now
Ballad in Blue

2002

Ray Charles: Live: Montreux Jazz Festival
0/0
Watch Now
Ray Charles: Live: Montreux Jazz Festival

1965

The Big T.N.T. Show
7/1
Live performances by some of the top rock-and-roll acts of the mid 60s. Includes Ray Charles, The Byrds, Joan Baez, Ike and Tina Turner, Donovan, The...
Watch Now
The Big T.N.T. Show

2003

Piano Blues
6.5/10
Director — and piano player — Clint Eastwood explores his life-long passion for piano blues, using a treasure trove of rare historical footage in addi...
Watch Now
Piano Blues

2004

Ray Charles: O-Genio - Live In Brazil 1963
4.2/2
Watch Now
Ray Charles: O-Genio - Live In Brazil 1963

2001

Ray Charles - In Concert
0/0
The name Ray Charles stands for superstar worldwide. He is an icon in the music world, has a star on Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame, a bronze bust...
Watch Now
Ray Charles - In Concert

1984

I Love Quincy
0/0
Documentary profile of musician and producer Quincy Jones
Watch Now
I Love Quincy

2003

Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'
10/1
Country music legend and American icon Willie Nelson is joined on stage by some of the biggest names in music for a once-in-a-lifetime concert event t...
Watch Now
Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'

2006

Ray Charles: Live at the Olympia
0/0
Legendary musician Ray Charles turned the lemons of transportation trouble into the sweet lemonade of an unplugged concert. With his band stranded at...
Watch Now
Ray Charles: Live at the Olympia

2000

Blue's Big Musical Movie
8/9
Get ready for lots of musical fun in this first full-length movie based on the popular Nick Jr. TV series for preschoolers. Just as friendly cartoon p...
Watch Now
Blue's Big Musical Movie

2007

Glen Campbell | Good Times Again
9/0
In the late 60s Glen Campbell had the world on a string or better yet strings. It was his smooth vocals and warm personality on his hits like Wichita...
Watch Now
Glen Campbell | Good Times Again

1988

Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
0/0
The life, career, and music of Irving Berlin are celebrated live on stage with musical performances.
Watch Now
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration

2022

Rat Pack
9/2
In the 1950s, a small group of artists monopolized the attention of the cameras and the public. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bish...
Watch Now
Rat Pack

2005

The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music
0/0
A look at Dan and John's partnership and the music
Watch Now
The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music

2024

The Greatest Night in Pop
7.9/231
On a January night in 1985, music's biggest stars gathered to record "We Are the World." This documentary goes behind the scenes of the historic event...
Watch Now
The Greatest Night in Pop

1989

Legends of Rock 'n' Roll
9/2
Are you ready for some old-time rock and roll?! Then you are ready for the masters, the originators, the men who made the music, the "Legends of Rock...
Watch Now
Legends of Rock 'n' Roll

1995

Sinatra: 80 Years My Way
0/0
'Ol' Blue Eyes' eightieth birthday celebration; star-studded entertainment, tributes by a diverse company of guests, songs closely associated with Sin...
Watch Now
Sinatra: 80 Years My Way

1998

Quincy Jones...The First 50 Years
0/0
The composer-arranger-producer is honored in a tribute taped in 1997.
Watch Now
Quincy Jones...The First 50 Years

1987

The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki
0/0
Enjoy the Beach Boys in a 90 minute concert celebrating their 25 year anniversary with guest artists like Glen Campbell, Ray Charles, The Everly Broth...
Watch Now
The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki

2022

2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
8.1/7
The 37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony take place on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California....
Watch Now
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

2004

Rockin' Pianos
0/0
1. Introduction 2. The Fat Man - Fats Domino 3. Walking To New Orleans - Fats Domino 4. Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino 5. Shake, Rattle And Roll - F...
Watch Now
Rockin' Pianos

2022

Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
6.7/23
An intimate and revealing look at the world-changing musician, presented through a lens of archival footage and never-before-heard home recordings and...
Watch Now
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

2014

Face of Unity
0/0
Face Of Unity is the definitive Nelson Mandela documentary feature and first retrospective to be released since the president's death in late 2013. It...
Watch Now
Face of Unity

1981

Ray Charles Live - In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony
7/1
This DVD was recorded on January 27, 1981 in Edmonton, Alberta at Jubilee Auditorium. It captures Ray Charles at his finest as a live performer, and i...
Watch Now
Ray Charles Live - In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony

2023

They All Came Out to Montreux
9/1
Utilizing a wealth of archival footage featuring Prince, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis and more, They All Came Out to Montreux is an affectionate story...
Watch Now
They All Came Out to Montreux

1996

Spy Hard
5.383/672
The evil Gen. Rancor has his sights set on world domination, and only one man can stop him: Dick Steele, also known as Agent WD-40. Rancor needs to ob...
Watch Now
Spy Hard

1978

NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
0/0
Walt Disney Presents, Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color, Disney’s Wonderful World, Walt Disney, The Disney Sunday Movie, The Magical World of Dis...
Watch Now
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney

2004

Tom Dowd & The Language of Music
7.364/11
Tom Dowd & the Language Of Music profiles the extraordinary life and legendary work of music producer/recording engineer Tom Dowd. Historical footage,...
Watch Now
Tom Dowd & The Language of Music

2007

Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built
7/2
This American Masters episode showcases the wonderful influence of Ahmet Ertegun, the founder of Atlantic Records. Since the label's founding in 1947,...
Watch Now
Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built

2007

Fats Domino: Walking to New Orleans
7/1
1. Introduction
2. I'm Walking
3. Blueberry Hill
4. MyBlue Heaven
5. Blue Monday
6. Hello Josephine
7. I Want To Walk You Home
8. I'm Ready
9....
Watch Now
Fats Domino: Walking to New Orleans

2004

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
4/1
Discover how television has reflected the African American experience in this retrospective of the medium's first half-century. Actors, writers and hi...
Watch Now
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

1973

Barbra Streisand... and Other Musical Instruments
8/8
A mulitcultural musical potpourri, Barbra's fifth television spectacular is her most adventurous. Performing a startling array of new songs and classi...
Watch Now
Barbra Streisand... and Other Musical Instruments

2008

Jazz Evolution
6/1
Watch Now
Jazz Evolution

1989

Limit Up
3/2
Casey is the assistant of commodity trader Peter Oak, but wants to get a license herself. When the diabolic Nike appears and promises to make her succ...
Watch Now
Limit Up

1990

Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones
6/1
The extraordinary life of Quincy Jones -- one of the 20th century's most influential and talented composers, musicians and music producers -- provides...
Watch Now
Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones

1979

Ray Charles: Angels Keep Watching Over Me
6/1
The Voices of Jubilation present Ray Charles. Region 0 Ray Charles was a pioneering American pianist and soul musician who shaped the sound of rhythm...
Watch Now
Ray Charles: Angels Keep Watching Over Me

2004

Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues
6/1
The authoritative documentary on Country Music's most influential figure.
Watch Now
Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues

2012

Jazzline - Ray Charles & Orchestra
0/0
Watch Now
Jazzline - Ray Charles & Orchestra

2006

Ray Charles with the Voices of Jubilation Choir
0/0
Watch Now
Ray Charles with the Voices of Jubilation Choir

2002

The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles
8.5/2
Recorded in 1984, Willie Nelson, one of the most influential musical figures of the past quarter century performs on this DVD for the first time with...
Watch Now
The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles

2008

Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On
0/0
American R&B icon Ray Charles lets loose on this collection of electrifying live performances from throughout his legendary career.
Watch Now
Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On

2004

Ray Charles: Soul of the Holy Land
0/0
Ray Charles' 1973 tour of the Holy Land is memorialized in this inspiring concert documentary, highlighting his sold-out performance in Tel Aviv, and...
Watch Now
Ray Charles: Soul of the Holy Land

1991

Montreux Jazz Festival 1991
0/0
Watch Now
Montreux Jazz Festival 1991

2006

Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976
0/0
Live performances from a television music show that aired late night on the NBC-TV network the U.S.
Watch Now
Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976

2011

Ray Charles - Live in France 1961
7.2/73
Lost for 50 years, these newly discovered concerts were filmed at the 1961 Antibes Jazz Festival in France and show Ray Charles in his prime period wi...
Watch Now
Ray Charles - Live in France 1961

1986

The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
5/1
For the first time in their careers, all the Muppets (except the ones that couldn't make it, like the Doozers, Gorgs and most of the Fraggles) have ga...
Watch Now
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years

1985

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song
8.5/12
We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song is a documentary which examines how the song was written, how producer Quincy Jones and songwriters Michae...
Watch Now
We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song

1994

The World of Jim Henson
7.3/6
In this episode of PBS' Great Performances, the history and legacy of puppeteer Jim Henson is explored, from his six-second commercial beginnings to a...
Watch Now
The World of Jim Henson

2001

Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration
8/60
The Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special was a 2001 New York City revue show by Michael Jackson. It took place on September 7, 2001 and September...
Watch Now
Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration

1961

Swingin' Along
5/1
An amateur tunesmith and a con man pool their resources in order to win first prize in a songwriting contest.
Watch Now
Swingin' Along

1985

The Statue of Liberty
6.7/12
For more than 100 years, the Statue of Liberty has been a symbol of hope and refuge for generations of immigrants. In this lyrical, compelling and pro...
Watch Now
The Statue of Liberty

1993

Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O
0/0
Willie Nelson and friends celebrate his sixtieth birthday in a star-studded concert event.
Watch Now
Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O

2001

The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
0/0
This Bob Hope Special called “Highlights of a Quarter Century” begins his 26th year with NBC in 1975 (he began with NBC radio in 1937) celebrating 25...
Watch Now
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1

2001

The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
0/0
This Bob Hope Special called “Highlights of a Quarter Century” begins his 26th year with NBC in 1975 (he began with NBC radio in 1937) celebrating 25...
Watch Now
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2

2017

I Am Not Your Negro
7.726/478
Working from the text of James Baldwin’s unfinished final novel, director Raoul Peck creates a meditation on what it means to be Black in the United S...
Watch Now
I Am Not Your Negro

1980

Ray Charles At The North Sea Jazz Festival
0/0
Live Concert: Northsea Jazz Festival, Prins Willem Alexanderzaal, Congresgebouw, The Hague – July 13, 1980.
Period: The Tangerine/Crossover/Atlantic...
Watch Now
Ray Charles At The North Sea Jazz Festival

2004

Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company
0/0
DVD that accompanied the CD release. Has behind the scenes and rehearsal footage.
Watch Now
Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company

1986

Billy Joel: Building the Bridge
0/0
In 1986, Billy Joel released the album titled The Bridge on July 29th on Columbia Records. Go behind the scenes with Billy and learn about the songwri...
Watch Now
Billy Joel: Building the Bridge

1994

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice
0/0
Ray investigates the murder of a psychiatrist.
Watch Now
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

1983

Ray Charles: A Man & His Soul
0/0
A special celebrating Ray Charles' 40 years in show business, taped at the Cocoanut Grove club in LA in the early summer of 1983.
Watch Now
Ray Charles: A Man & His Soul

1980

John Schneider: Back Home
0/0
John Schneider stars in a musical tribute to his home state of Georgia with guest stars Ray Charles and Barbara Mandrell
Watch Now
John Schneider: Back Home

1981

Lynda Carter's Celebration
9/1
Lynda Carter's third musical TV special.
Watch Now
Lynda Carter's Celebration

1994

Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
7/3
Sesame Street All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! was a 1994 TV special that aired on ABC to celebrate Sesame Street's 25th anniversary....
Watch Now
Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!

1978

The Second Barry Manilow Special
0/0
Barry's second TV special aired on ABC in 1978.
Watch Now
The Second Barry Manilow Special

1994

Love Affair
5.4/59
Ex-football star Mike Gambril meets Terry McKay on a flight to Sydney, which is forced to land on a small atoll. They become romantic on board a ship...
Watch Now
Love Affair

2009

O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar
0/0
Watch Now
O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar

1983

Hallelujah Gospel
0/0
Straight from the magnificent Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, come vaulting gospel sounds that will warm your heart and have you "beari...
Watch Now
Hallelujah Gospel

2025

Merci Dorothée !
8.5/2
A spectacular evening hosted by Nikos Aliagas to honor the legendary Dorothée, who shaped the childhood of millions in France. Today’s stars, who grew...
Watch Now
Merci Dorothée !

2025

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
8/6
Untold stories behind the culture-defining and newsmaking musical performances, sketches and cameos of the past 50 years.
Watch Now