Ray Charles recordings are major landmarks in American culture. By combining Gospel with Rhythm & Blues, he pioneered Soul Music. His ability to seamlessly blend virtually every genre - Soul, Jazz, Pop, and Country - in unique and unprecedented ways, was why Frank Sinatra dubbed him the only True Genius in music. This visionary singer, songwriter, pianist and composer brought his expansive musical vision to a worldwide audience and forever changed the landscape of American music.

In 1962, Ray Charles defied expectations and further cemented his reputation as a genius when he unexpectedly released an album of country songs. Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music was an immediate critical and commercial success. Arguably one of Charles most iconic and important records, his integration of soul and country challenged racial barriers in popular music at the height of the Civil Rights movement and changed popular music forever.

The first country album ever recorded by a Black artist, it became one of the best-selling albums of all time. It topped the Billboard Pop Album Chart for a month, and spawned four hit singles. I Cant Stop Loving reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, R&B, and the Adult Contemporary Charts, was nominated for Record Of The Year, and won the GRAMMY for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording at the 5th Annual Grammy Awards in 1963. You Dont Know Me met with similar success.

Ray Charles remains the first and only Black performer to earn a GRAMMY Award and a #1 Billboard Pop Chart Hit with a country and western song as he did with l Cant Stop Loving You.