219: Ray Charles records “Modern Sounds of Country Music”
There was a point when country music, R&B, soul, gospel, and blues were separate genres. Then there was Ray Charles. His 1962 release, “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music,” has been names one of the best albums of all times by Rolling Stone and VH1. With arrangements by jazz composer Gerald Wilson, Charles mixed original songs with popular songs of the times by artists like The Everly Brothers and Hank Williams. The album became an unlikely smash hit, sitting at #1 on the Billboard pop charts for 12 weeks. “I Can’t Stop Lovin You,” one of the three Top Ten hits off the album, reached #1 on the singles charts and won Charles a Grammy for best R&B Male Vocal Performance. Outside of Charley Pride, country music lovers are often hard-pressed to name an African American country singer; the genius of Ray Charles knew no boundaries.