Description
Ray Charles, who died in June of the same year, earned his first platinum album. “Genius Loves Company,” released in September, sold more than one million copies.
Related events
- Ray Charles' album "Genius Loves Company" was released posthumously by Concord Records. It was the last album Charles recorded and completed before his death in June 2004. It featured recordings with guest musicians including Natalie Cole, Elton John, James Taylor, Norah Jones, B. B. King, Gladys Knight, Diana Krall, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson and Bonnie Raitt. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and won eight Grammy Awards in 2005, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year.
- Stevie Wonder, Usher, Mary J. Blige, and Reba McEntire performed at the Staples Center in Los Angeles at a memorial concert dedicated to the late Ray Charles.
- A post office near the Los Angeles studio where Ray Charles recorded much of his music was renamed in his honor. The federal bill renaming the post office was signed by US President George W. Bush.
- Ray Charles performed at the opening of the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, singing his famous version of “America The Beautiful.”
- Ray Charles was honored in a special Fox television program, “Ray Charles: 50 Years Of Music.” Highlights included Charles performing “Living For The City” with Stevie Wonder and “Busted” with Willie Nelson.
- Ray Charles reached No. 1 on the R&B chart with “Hit the Road, Jack.”
- Ray Charles reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Pop chart with “Hit the Road Jack.”
- “A Fool for You” by Ray Charles and his group reached No. 1 on the R&B chart.
- Atlantic Records bought Ray Charles's contract from Swingtime Records. He thereby moved to a label that began steering him toward harder rhythm and blues rather than the polished pop and West Coast blues in which he had previously recorded.