RAY CHARLES: THE GENIUS - 17 ORIGINAL ALBUMS (10 CDS)

Plain and simple “Ray” was the title of a film biography in which Jamie Foxx played the musician Ray Charles. Just as in the case of Elvis Presley the forename suffices and you know what we are talking about: about first-class songs from an excellent musician presented in this box on, believe it or not, 17 records made between 1957 and 1962. Success did not come easily to Ray Charles Robinson, his brother was drowned, his mother died early and he himself became blind in his boyhood years. Later in life he had problems with drugs. But being taught piano and his enormous talent helped him along the road to an international career. In 1963 he was considered the most popular artist in the USA. It is immaterial whether his music is stamped as Blues, Jazz or Soul. His famous and energy-packed songs such as “What’d I Say” are engrained in the listener’s ear, “I got a woman” by Ray Charles was covered by Elvis for his first record. Just how versatile Ray was as a singer and pianist is shown b