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Legendary musical icon Ray Charles could sing the kind of blues that make you curl up in a corner one minute, then switch into R&B mode and have you heading for the bedroom. Few performers can lay a claim to that kind of musical versatility and Frank Sinatra would frequently refer to Charles as "the only true genius in the business." Ray Charles grew up with the kind of hard life he'd come to sing about-his father Bailey Robinson was a drifter and had two other families to support as well. When Ray was five years old, his younger brother drowned in an outdoor bathtub. Following his brother's death, Ray began to go blind. It was never diagnosed, but doctors speculate the cause was glaucoma compounded by the stress of his brother's death. Ray went on to attend the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, where he learned to read braille and became interested in playing musical instruments. He signed with Atlantic Records in '53 and released his hit singles "Mess Around" and "It Should Have Been Me." Fans loved Charles' raw, soulful voice and fiery piano playing. He followed it up with the gospel influenced "I Got A Woman" and the next thing he knew he was playing sold out concert halls across the country. His 1959 live album Ray Charles At Newport captures the young Charles at the height of his powers and debuted his signature song "Night Time (Is the Right Time.)" After moving to ABC Records, Charles fought for greater artistic control and released his hits "Georgia On My Mind," "Hit the Road Jack," "You Don't Know Me" and "Unchain My Heart."

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