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Ray Charles

Ray Charles

The Stars Shine: A Newport Jazz Festival Special

Ray Charles performs at The Newport Jazz Festival in 1968. Newport Festivals Foundation hide caption

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Newport Festivals Foundation

Jazz Night In America: The Radio Program

The Stars Shine: A Newport Jazz Festival Special

Jazz at Lincoln Center

Hear historic music from the Newport Jazz Festival, hand-picked by Christian McBride. Tune in to rare sets from Ray Charles, Cannonball Adderley, Sarah Vaughan, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.

The Stars Shine: A Newport Jazz Festival Special

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The Cuban Roots Of Rock And Roll

Chuck Berry is one of the early rock and roll artists who were inspired by Latin music. Terry Fincher/Getty Images hide caption

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Terry Fincher/Getty Images

Alt.Latino

The Cuban Roots Of Rock And Roll

Can you hear the cha-cha-cha in "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"? Or the mambo in "What I'd Say"? Dive into early rock and roll's Cuban DNA.

The Cuban Roots Of Rock And Roll

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On 'Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music Vol. 1 & 2', Ray Charles Broke Ground

Ray Charles' Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Vol. 1 & 2 is due out Feb. 22 on Concord Music Group. Courtesy of The Ray Charles Foundation hide caption

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Courtesy of The Ray Charles Foundation

Review

First Listen

On 'Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music Vol. 1 & 2', Ray Charles Broke Ground

Charles laid claim to the center of American popular music on these 1962 classics, and ended up with some of the brashest and best-selling music of his career.

Guest DJ: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Hop Across An Eclectic Playlist

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. Brantley Gutierrez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Brantley Gutierrez/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Guest DJ: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Hop Across An Eclectic Playlist

Rateliff and Night Sweats band member Mark Shusterman take us on a tour of their favorite music and the historical standouts that influenced them.

Guest DJ: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Hop Across An Eclectic Playlist

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Guest DJ Randy Newman

Randy Newman, performing at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Ross Gilmore/Redferns hide caption

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Ross Gilmore/Redferns

All Songs Considered

Guest DJ Randy Newman

In this 2008 interview Randy Newman talks about his musical family, how Ray Charles has influenced his work over the years and what it was like hearing The Beatles for the first time.

Guest DJ Randy Newman

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Music Interviews

A Raelette On Ray Charles

As a backup singer, Angela Workman was one of Weekend Edition host Liane Hansen's first music interviews. For Hansen's 20th anniversary show, Workman spoke about the legacy of Ray Charles, and what she's been up to since.

A Raelette On Ray Charles

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All Songs Considered

Guest DJ Ray Davies

Ray Davies, former frontman for The Kinks, shares some of the songs that have inspired him over the years with All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen. Hear music from Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie, Chuck Berry and more, as well as selections from Ray Davies' latest solo album, Working Man's Cafe.

Guest DJ Ray Davies

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Ray Charles On Piano Jazz

Ray Charles and Marian McPartland. Courtesy of Vanguard hide caption

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Courtesy of Vanguard

Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz

Ray Charles On Piano Jazz

Ray Charles was one of those rare musicians whose musical style blended many genres, drawing on jazz, rhythm and blues, gospel, country, and rock 'n' roll, to create a unique and soulful sound. Hear Charles play "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" before joining McPartland for "The Man I Love."

Listen: Ray Charles On Piano Jazz

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Music News

Ray Sings and Basie Swings

A new album features the late Ray Charles playing with the Count Basie Orchestra, but Charles never actually recorded with the group. The tracks were mashed together by an audio engineer who used to play with Charles.

Ray Sings and Basie Swings

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Review

Music Lists

Jazz 2005: Kevin Whitehead's Top 10

Fresh Air

For lovers of jazz music, the year 2005 brought a wealth of reissues by critical artists from Jelly Roll Morton to John Coltrane. The music, the result of exhaustive archival and restoration work, adds new details to one of America's richest musical traditions.

Jazz 2005: Kevin Whitehead's Top 10

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World Cafe

Scofield Plays Ray Charles: 'That's What I Say'

XPN

On his new album, That's What I Say, John Scofield pays tribute to the late master: Ray Charles. And he has some help, ranging from Mavis Staples and John Mayer to Dr. John and David "Fathead" Newman.

Scofield Plays Ray Charles: 'That's What I Say'

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Music Interviews

Producer Phil Ramone Looks Back

The legendary music producer Phil Ramone's vast discography includes the likes of Bob Dylan, Stan Getz, Madonna, Billy Joel and Ray Charles. Ramone speaks with NPR's Scott Simon about his work.

Producer Phil Ramone Looks Back

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77th Annual Academy Awards

Taylor Hackford Takes On a Legend with 'Ray'

NPR's Alex Chadwick talks to filmmaker Taylor Hackford about his new movie Ray, a biographical feature about the life and music of Ray Charles. Jamie Foxx's performance as the legendary musician, who died last June of liver disease, is already generating Oscar buzz.

Taylor Hackford Takes On a Legend with 'Ray'

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77th Annual Academy Awards

Playing a 'Genius': Jamie Foxx Takes on Ray Charles

When Ray Charles died in June of this year, Hollywood was already at work on his film biography. NPR's Michele Norris talks with actor and comedian Jamie Foxx, who portrays the musical legend in Ray.

Playing a 'Genius': Jamie Foxx Takes on Ray Charles

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