Ray Charles

Personal Info

Birthday

September 23, 1930

Day of Death

2004-06-10

(73 years old)

Place of Birth

Albany, Georgia USA

Ray Charles

Biography

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.

Known For

The Nanny

Moonlighting

Wings

The John Larroquette Show

The Blues Brothers

Spy Hard

Limit Up

Blue's Big Musical Movie

Filmography

2025
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
as Self
Merci Dorothée !
as Self (archive footage)
2024
The Greatest Night in Pop
as Self (archive footage)
2023
They All Came Out to Montreux
as Self
Sunday Best
as Self (archive footage)
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2022
Piano Greats at the BBC
as Self (archive footage)
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
as Self (archive footage)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
as Self (archive footage)
Rat Pack
as Self (archive footage)
2021
Like A Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres
as Self (archival footage)
2017
I Am Not Your Negro
as Self (archive footage)
2014
Face of Unity
as Self
2012
Jazzline - Ray Charles & Orchestra
as Self
2011
Ray Charles - Live in France 1961
as Self
2009
O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar
as Self (archive footage)
2008
Ray Charles: Live At Montreux 1997
as Self
Jazz Evolution
as Self - Piano, Vocals
Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On
as Self
2007
Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built
as Self
Glen Campbell | Good Times Again
as Self
Fats Domino: Walking to New Orleans
as Self
2006
Ray Charles: Live at the Olympia
as Self
Ray Charles with the Voices of Jubilation Choir
as Self
Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976
as Self
2005
The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music
as Self (archive footage)
2004
Ray Charles: Soul of the Holy Land
as Self
Ray Charles: O-Genio - Live In Brazil 1963
as Self
Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company
as Self
Tom Dowd & The Language of Music
as Self
Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues
as Self (archive footage)
Rockin' Pianos
as Self
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
as Self (archive footage)
2003
Piano Blues
as Self
Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'
as Self
2002
The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles
as Self
Ray Charles: Live: Montreux Jazz Festival
as Self
2001
Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration
as Self
Ray Charles - In Concert
as Self
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
as Self (archive footage)
2000
Blue's Big Musical Movie
as G-Clef (voice)
1998
Quincy Jones...The First 50 Years
as Self
1996
Spy Hard
as Busdriver
1995
Sinatra: 80 Years My Way
as Self - Performer
The History of Rock 'n' Roll
as Self
1994
The World of Jim Henson
as Self (archive footage)
Love Affair
as Self
Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
as Self (archive footage)
1993
Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O
as Self
1990
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
as Self
Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones
as Self
1989
Limit Up
as Julius
Legends of Rock 'n' Roll
as Ray Charles
1988
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
as Self
1987
The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki
as Self
1986
Billy Joel: Building the Bridge
as Self
WrestleMania 2
as Self
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
as Self (archive footage)
1985
The Statue of Liberty
as Self - Composer
We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song
as Self
1984
I Love Quincy
as Self
1983
Hallelujah Gospel
as Self
1981
Lynda Carter's Celebration
as Self
Ray Charles Live - In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony
as Self
1980
Ray Charles At The North Sea Jazz Festival
as Self
The Blues Brothers
as Ray
1978
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
as Self
The Second Barry Manilow Special
as Self
1977
The Beatles Forever
as Self
1973
Barbra Streisand... and Other Musical Instruments
as Self
1968
Ray Charles - La Salle Pleyel, Paris
as Self
1965
The Big T.N.T. Show
as Self
Ballad in Blue
as Himself
1961
Swingin' Along
as Self