Ray Cherles

Influence by the music industry
People used to call him the “genius” or the “father of soul”.
He combines worlds as diverse as jazz, country, rhythmand blues.
His “cool” sound was heavily influenced by the popular Nat “King” Cole, but he was beginning to find his style with a throatier, unrestrainedsound reminiscent of gospel music.

In 1950 he moved to Los Angeles , and by 1954 had his first big hit with Atlantic Records. “I Got A Woman,” combinedthe blues of greats like Guitar Slim with the sounds of gospel. This recording would make Charles famous and mark the beginning of a new genre, “soul.”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnI_LuCJ4Ek&feature=fvwrel
Charles spent the rest of the 1950s continuing to combine blues, gospel, and jazz in suchhits as “In My Own Tears,” “What’d I Say,” “Unchain My Heart,” “Hit the Road Jack,” and “Georgia on My Mind.” With these dynamic compositions and hisincredible popularity, Charles single-handedly changed the face of contemporary music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rEsVp5tiDQ
Probably his skin color madein ancient times that his popularity grow even more. Or even his blindness was observed as an strategy of publicity. But the truth is that none of thosefacts really matter, because what has made that Ray Charles still is one of the most important influences on popular music. Is his passionate singing andintelligent melding of different genres remains the ideal by which many musicians continue to gauge their work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8lAgwrxndk