Ray Charles: the 100 most inspiring musicians of all time

Ray Charles: the 100 most inspiring musicians of all time

Ray Charles Robinson (b. Sept. 23, 1930, Albany, Ga., U.S.—d. June 10, 2004, Beverly Hills, Calif.) was an American pianist, singer, composer, and bandleader.

Ray Charles was a leading entertainer, often billed as “the Genius.” Charles was credited with the early development of soul music, a style based on a melding of gospel, rhythm and blues, and jazz music.

When Ray Charles was an infant, his family moved to Greenville, Florida, and he began his musical career at age five on a piano in a neighbourhood café. He began to go blind at six, possibly from glaucoma, completely losing his sight by age seven. He attended the St. Augustine School for the Deaf and Blind, where he concentrated on musical studies, but left school at age 15 to play the piano professionally after his mother died from cancer (his father had died when the boy was 10).

Ray Charles built a remarkable career based on the immediacy of emotion in his performances. After emerging as a blues and jazz pianist indebted to Nat King Cole’s style in the late 1940s, Charles recorded the boogie-woogie classic “Mess Around” and the novelty song “It Should’ve Been Me” in 1952–53. His arrangement for Guitar Slim’s “The Things That I Used to Do” became a blues million-seller in 1953.

By 1954 Charles had created a successful combination of blues and gospel influences and signed on with Atlantic Records. Propelled by Charles’s distinctive raspy voice, “I’ve Got a Woman” and “Hallelujah I Love You So” became hit records. “What’d I Say” led the rhythm-and-blues sales
charts in 1959 and was Charles’s own first million-seller.

ray charles free sheet music & pdf scores download

Ray Charles’s rhythmic piano playing and band arranging revived the “funky” quality of jazz, but he also recorded in many other musical genres. He entered the pop market with the bestsellers “Georgia on My Mind” (1960) and “Hit the Road, Jack” (1961). His album Modern Sounds in
Country and Western Music (1962) sold more than one million copies, as did its single, “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” Thereafter, his music emphasized jazz standards and renditions of pop and show tunes.

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Total Records Found in the Library: 12469, showing 120 per page
Artist or Composer / Score nameCoverList of Contents
Aebersold Phil Degreg – Jazz keyboard harmony – A practical method for all musicians Aebersold Phil Degreg - Jazz keyboard harmony--a practi jazz keyboard harmony
Aebersold RAPID REFERENCE Aebersold RAPID REFERENCE
Aebersold vol 1 Cómo improvisar y tocar JAZZ Spanish edition – Español SHEET MUSIC PDF Aebersold vol 1 Cómo improvisar y tocar JAZZ Spanish edition
Aebersold Vol. 01 – Jazz improvisation A New Approach To Jazz Improvisation Aebersold Vol. 01 – Jazz improvisation
Aebersold Vol. 60 Dan Haerle & Mark Levine – Jazz Piano Voicings sheet music
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – All complete Chick Corea
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 02 – Nothin’ But Blues Jazz Play Along Vol 002 – [Nothin’ But Blues]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 03 – The II-V7-I Progression Jazz Play Along Vol 003 – [The II-V7-I Progression]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 04 – Movin’ On Jazz Play Along Vol 004 – [Movin’ On]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 05 – Time To Play Music! Jazz Play Along Vol 005 – [Time To Play Music!]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 06 – Charlie Parker Jazz Play Along Vol 006 – [Charlie Parker – All Bird]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 07 – Miles Davis sheet music pdf Jazz Play Along Vol 007 – [Miles Davis]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 08 – Sonny Rollins Jazz Play Along Vol 008 – [Sonny Rollins]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 09 – Woody Shaw Jazz Play Along Vol 009 – [Woody Shaw]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 10 – David Baker Jazz Play Along Vol 010 – [David Baker]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 100 – St. Louis Blues Jazz Play Along Vol 011 – [Herbie Hancock]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 101 – Secret of the Andes Jazz Play Along Vol 012 – [Duke Ellington]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 102 – Jerry Bergonzi Jazz Play Along Vol 102 – [Jerry Bergonzi]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 103 – David Sanborn Jazz Play Along Vol 103 – [David Sanborn]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 104 – Kenny Werner Jazz Play Along Vol 104 – [Free Play – 13 Musical Landscapes]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 105 – Dave Brubeck Jazz Play Along Vol 105 – [Dave Brubeck]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 106 – Lee Morgan Jazz Play Along Vol 106 – [Lee Morgan]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 107 – STANDARDS FOR SINGERS Jazz Play Along Vol 109 [Fusion] Jazz Play Along Vol 110 [When i Fall in Love] Aebersold – Vol 107 – IT HAD TO BE YOU
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 108 – Joe Henderson Jazz Play Along Vol 108 – [Joe Henderson] – C-Bb
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 109 – Fusion Jazz Play Along Vol 109 [Fusion]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 11 – Herbie Hancock Jazz Play Along Vol 011 – [Herbie Hancock]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 111 – J.J. Johnson Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 111 – J.J. Johnson
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 112 – [Cole Porter] sheet music pdf Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 112 – [Cole Porter]_compressed
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – vol 115 – Ron Carter Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – vol 115 – Ron Carter
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 12 – Duke Ellington Jazz Play Along Vol 012 – [Duke Ellington]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 13 – Cannonball Adderley Jazz Play Along Vol 013 – [Cannonball Adderley]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 14 – Benny Golson Aebersold – Vol 14 – Benny Golson
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 15 – Payin’ Dues Aebersold – Vol 15 – Payin’ Dues
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 15 – Payin’ Dues – Complete Bass Lines Aebersold – Vol 15 – Payin’ Dues – Complete Bass Lines
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 16 -Turnarounds, Cycles & II V7’s Jazz Play Along Vol 016 – [Turnarounds, Cycles & II-V7’s]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 17 – Horace Silver Jazz Play Along Vol 017 – [Horace Silver]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 18 – Horace Silver Jazz Play Along Vol 018 – [Horace Silver]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 19 – David Liebman Jazz Play Along Vol 019 – [David Liebman]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 20 – Jimmy Raney Jazz Play Along Vol 020 – [Jimmy Raney]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 21 – Gettin’ It Together (& Supplement) Jazz Play Along Vol 021 – [Gettin It Together]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 22 – Favorite Standards Jazz Play Along Vol 022 – [Favorite Standards]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 23 – One Dozen Standards Jazz Play Along Vol 023 – [One Dozen Standards]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 24 – Major and Minor Jazz Play Along Vol 024 – [Major and Minor]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 25 – All Time Standards Jazz Play Along Vol 025 – [All Time Standards]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 26 – Scale Syllabus Jazz Play Along Vol 026 – [Scale Syllabus]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 27 – John Coltrane Jazz Play Along Vol 027 – [John Coltrane]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 28 Jazz Play Along Vol 028 – [Giant Steps] Jazz Play Along Vol 029 – [Play Duets With Jimmy Raney] Jazz Play Along Vol 028 – [Giant Steps]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 29 – Play Duets With Jimmy Raney Jazz Play Along Vol 029 – [Play Duets With Jimmy Raney]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 30 – Rhythm Section Workout Jazz Play Along Vol 030 – [Rhythm Section Workout]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 31 – Bossa Novas Jazz Play Along Vol 031 – [Bossa Novas]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 32 – Ballads Jazz Play Along Vol 032 – [Ballads]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 33 – Wayne Shorter Jazz Play Along Vol 033 – [Wayne Shorter]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 34 – Jam Session Jazz Play Along Vol 034 – [Jam Session]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 35 – Cedar Walton Jazz Play Along Vol 035 – [Cedar Walton]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 36 – Bebop & Beyond Jazz Play Along Vol 036 – [Bebop & Beyond]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 37 – Sammy Nestico Jazz Play Along Vol 037 – [Sammy Nestico]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 38 – Blue Note Jazz Play Along Vol 038 – [Blue Note]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 39 – Swing Swing Swing Jazz Play Along Vol 039 – [Swing, Swing, Swing]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 40 – ‘Round Midnight Jazz Play Along Vol 040 – [‘Round Midnight]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 41 – Body and Soul Jazz Play Along Vol 041 – [Body and Soul] Jazz Play Along Vol 041 – [Body and Soul – Jazz Piano Voicings]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 42 – Blues in All Keys Jazz Play Along Vol 042 – [Blues In All Keys]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 44 – [Autumn Leaves] Jazz Play Along Vol 044 – [Autumn Leaves]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 45 – Bill Evans – COMPLETE Jazz Play Along Vol 045 – [Bill Evans]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 46 – Out Of This World Jazz Play Along Vol 046 – [Out Of This World]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 47 – Rhythm changes in all keys Jazz Play Along Vol 047 – [I Got Rhythm Changes In All Keys]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 48 – In a Mellow Tone Jazz Play Along Vol 048 – [In A Mellow Tone]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 49 – Sugar Jazz Play Along Vol 049 – [Sugar]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 50 – The Magic Of Miles Jazz Play Along Vol 050 – [The Magic of Miles]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 51 – Night And Day Jazz Play Along Vol 051 – [Night and Day]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 52 – Collector’s Items Jazz Play Along Vol 052 – [Collector’s Items]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 53 – Clifford Brown Jazz Play Along Vol 053 – [Clifford Brown]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 54 – Maiden Voyage Jazz Play Along Vol 054 – [Maiden Voyage]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 55 – Yesterdays -Jerome Kern Jazz Play Along Vol 055 – [Yesterdays – Jerome Kern]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 56 – Thelonious Monk (Book Cd) Jazz Play Along Vol 056 – [Thelonious Monk]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 57 – Minor Blues in All 12 Keys Jazz Play Along Vol 057 – [Minor Blues In All Keys]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 58 – Unforgettable Standards Jazz Play Along Vol 058 – [Unforgettable Standards]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 59 – Invitation Jazz Play Along Vol 059 – [Invitation]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 60 – Freddie Hubbard Jazz Play Along Vol 060 – [Freddie Hubbard]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 61 – Burnin’!!! Jazz Play Along Vol 061 – [Burnin’]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 62 – Wes Montgomery Jazz Play Along Vol 062 – [Wes Montgomery]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 63 – Tom Harrel Jazz Play Along Vol 063 – [Tom Harrell]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 64 – Salsa, Latin Jazz Jazz Play Along Vol 064 – [Salsa, Latin Jazz]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 65 – Four & More Jazz Play Along Vol 065 – [Four and More]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 66 – Billy Strayhorn Jazz Play Along Vol 066 – [Billy Strayhorn]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 67 – Tune Up Jazz Play Along Vol 067 – [Tune Up]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 68 – Giant Steps Jazz Play Along Vol 069 – [Bird Goes Latin]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 69 – Bird Goes Latin Jazz Play Along Vol 069 – [Bird Goes Latin]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 70 – Killer Joe Jazz Play Along Vol 070 – [Killer Joe]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 71 – East of the Sun Jazz Play Along Vol 071 – [East Of The Sun]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 72 – Street of Dreams Jazz Play Along Vol 072 – [Street of Dreams]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 73 – Oliver Nelson – Stolen Moments Jazz Play Along Vol 073 – [Oliver Nelson (Stolen Moments)]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 74 – Latin Jazz Jazz Play Along Vol 074 – [Latin Jazz]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 75 – Countdown To Giant Steps Jazz Play Along Vol 075 – [Countdown to Giant steps]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 76 – How To Learn Tunes Jazz Play Along Vol 076 – [How to Learn Tunes]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 77 – Paquito D’Rivera Jazz Play Along Vol 077 – [Paquito D’Rivera]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 78 – Jazz Holiday Classics Jazz Play Along Vol 078 – [Jazz Holiday Classics]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 79 – Avalon Jazz Play Along Vol 079 – [Avalon]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 80 – Indiana Jazz Play Along Vol 080 – [Indiana]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 81 – Standards And Originals Jazz Play Along Vol 081 – [Contemporary Standards & Originals]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 82 – Dexter Gordon Jazz Play Along Vol 082 – [Dexter Gordon]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 83 – Brecker Brothers Jazz Play Along Vol 083 – [Brecker Brothers]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 84 – Dominant 7th Workout Jazz Play Along Vol 084 – [Dominant Seventh Workout]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 85 – Tunes You Thought You Knew Jazz Play Along Vol 085 – [Tunes You Though You Knew (Reharmonized Standards)]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 86 – Shoutin Out – Horace Silver Tunes (Book+CD) Jazz Play Along Vol 086 – Shoutin’ Out – Horace Silver Tunes
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 87 – When Lights Are Low – Benny Carter Jazz Play Along Vol 087 – [When Lights Are Low – Benny Carter]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 89 – Darn That Dream Jazz Play Along Vol 089 – [Darn That Dream]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 90 Odd Times Jazz Play Along Vol 090 – [Odd Times – Odd Time Signature Songs]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 91-Players Choice Jazz Play Along Vol 091 – [Player’s Choice]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 92-Lennie Neihaus Jazz Play Along Vol 092 – [Lennie Neihaus]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 93 What’s new Jazz Play Along Vol 093 – [What’s New]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 94 Hot Hhouse Jazz Play Along Vol 094 – [Hot House]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 95- 500 miles high Jazz Play Along Vol 095 – [500 Miles High]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 96-Latin Quarter Jazz Play Along Vol 096 – [Latin Quarter]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 97-Standards with strings Jazz Play Along Vol 097 – [Standards With Strings]
Aebersold, Jamey Jazz Play Along Book + Audio Mp3 – Vol 99 Tadd Dameron Jazz Play Along Vol 099 – [Tadd Dameron]
Aerith’s Theme – F.F. Vii エアリスのテーマ (Musescore File).mscz
Aerosmith – Amazing
Aerosmith – Angel
Aerosmith – Crazy
Aerosmith – Dream On

From 1955, Ray Charles toured extensively in the United States and elsewhere with his own big band and a gospelstyle female backup quartet called The Raeletts. He also appeared on television and worked in films such as Ballad in Blue (1964) and The Blues Brothers (1980) as a featured act and soundtrack composer. He formed his own custom recording labels, Tangerine in 1962 and Crossover Records n 1973.

The recipient of many national and international awards, he received 13 Grammy Awards, including a lifetime achievement award in 1987. In 1986 Charles was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received a Kennedy Center Honor. He published an autobiography, Brother Ray, Ray Charles’ Own Story (1978), written with David Ritz.

Download Ray Charles’ sheet music from our Library.

Ray Charles in Copenhagen 1973

Track List:

0:00 Intro 5:29 Hallelujah I Love Her So (Ray Charles) 9:08 Georgia On My Mind (Hoagy Carmichael & Stuart Gorrell) 15:09 You Made Me Love You (James V. Monaco & Joseph McCarthy) 18:12 Yesterday (Paul McCartney) 23:43 Feel So Bad (J. Johnson) 30:05 Goin’ Down Slow (“St. Louis” Jimmy Oden) 37:27 Goin’ Down Slow (Bis) 39:45 Intro Raelettes 44:16 Rocksteady (Aretha Franklin)

48:55 I Can’t Stop Loving You (Don Gibson) 54:48 Look What They Have Done To My Song, Ma (The New Seekers) 59:58 Indian Love Call (Nelson Eddy & Jeanette MacDonald) 1:14:40 Eleanor Rigby (Paul McCartney & John Lennon) 1:18:47 Introduction John Henderson 1:23:10 Shake (Ray Charles) 1:27:35 Ray introducing Raelettes by name; in call and response improv) 1:39:20 Leave My Man Alone (Vernita Moss) 1:42:54 Introduction band 1:43:41 So Soon (John Henderson) 1:48:30 What’d I Say (Ray Charles)

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