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Liner Notes
Ray Charles: Genius & Soul – The 50th Anniversary Collection
$69.98
Quotes
"I like this collection myself! I was knocked out by how much care went into putting it together. Rhino has done a great job of compiling my records from all the years and all the periods in one big package. They've gone first-class in every way. I appreciate it, and I believe my fans will appreciate it too."
-- Ray Charles
"Every music has its soul. If you're really sincere and surrender to it and explore it, it's all soulful."
-- Ray Charles
"Ray was one of my first idols. He changes the world by touching hearts. His music has universal appeal because it's music that matters -- music of the soul and the human condition. Ray Charles is a master."
-- Stevie Wonder
"Ray is a genuine genius, not only because he is an educated and brilliant musician, but because he can take his music in so many directions. I feel privileged to have played with him. He belongs in the same category as a Charlie Parker or a Charlie Christian. An original, a leader."
-- B.B. King
"Ray was bad before anyone knew what bad meant. He was born bad, stayed bad, and gets badder by the year. The man will tear your heart out with his voice and then do terrible things on the piano. Long live Brother Ray!"
-- Etta James
"His voice expresses a lot of things...a lot of things. It expresses pain, happiness, soul, blues, and joy. He can do so many things with that sound."
-- Billy Joel
From Ray Charles: The Genius Of Soul,
a documentary FEATUREd in the Masters of American Music Series
"They don't call him the 'high priest' for nothin'."
-- Dr. John
From Ray Charles: The Genius Of Soul,
a documentary FEATUREd in the Masters of American Music Series
"I think I learned how to be a saxophone player listening to him sing and how to express music with feeling rather than just playing."
-- Hank Crawford
"To be a 17-year-old, getting ready to be 18, going on a national tour and flying in a plane with Ray Charles -- one of the greatest entertainers in the world -- you couldn't ask for anything better than that."
-- Merry Clayton
(former Raelett)
From Ray Charles: The Genius Of Soul,
a documentary FEATUREd in the Masters of American Music Series
"He was signed by ABC in November of 1959, and they introduced me to him saying I would be his A&R producer. One day he called saying he wanted to do a country & western album. My first reaction was, well, what is he doing? That lasted about eight minutes, because I realized that he knew what he was doing. When I announced (it) to the executives, the president and vice president, they thought he was nuts!"
-- Sid Feller
Producer, ABC Records
"Sid was telling me he didn't think that was the right context to be in, trying to record country & western tunes. I remembered Ray telling him to go in the booth and sit down."
-- David "Fathead" Newman
From Ray Charles: The Genius Of Soul,
a documentary FEATUREd in the Masters of American Music Series
"When I listen to Ray Charles, he shows me how it's done, but at the same time, I can't do it. You know, if Mount Rushmore was about American music, Ray Charles would be up there with them."
-- Jimmie Vaughan
"I would daresay that he has genius qualities about him.... He would tell you exactly what to write, including rests, notes, and what line it would be on and everything...he had exceptional ears. He didn't have a sense of sight, but there was certainly nothing wrong with his ears."
-- David "Fathead" Newman
"Thanks Ray for sharing your genius, your music, and bringing such joy to so many."
-- Alan Paul
The Manhattan Transfer
"With his recording of 'I Can't Stop Loving You,' Ray Charles did more for country music than any other artist."
-- Willie Nelson
"Ray didn't just cross bridges...he built them! I never heard a song that Ray Charles couldn't sing and couldn't make his own."
-- Buck Owens
"Ray was older and wiser than his years. He was one of my gurus. He taught me how to arrange, how to voice horns and reeds. He was this amazing spirit -- strong, brilliant, and completely open-minded. At a time when you were either in this camp or that camp, either a bebopper or a bluesman or whatever, Ray was in every camp. 'It's all music, man,' he'd say. 'We can play it all.' And we did."
-- Quincy Jones
From Ray Charles: The Genius Of Soul,
a documentary featured in the Masters of American Music Series
