According to Charles' biographer David Ritz, "Ray didn't love the song at first. It's a patriotic song, coming from a place of pain and struggle. He was reluctant to tackle it unless he could infuse it with his singular bluesy style. He took an American classic composition, found its essential soul, changing it in such a radical way that most people now think of his version first before all others."
Last year, Concord Music Group announced it had entered into an exclusive arrangement with the Ray Charles Foundation to develop the artist's post-1960 catalog, which contains his classic work for the ABC and Tangerine labels. In 2009 the masters will be made available digitally for the first time ever, including such iconic recordings as "Georgia on My Mind," "Hit the Road Jack" and "Crying Time" among many others.
In April, Concord will release Genius: The Ultimate Ray Charles Collection, a definitive retrospective volume featuring 21 chart-topping Ray Charles hits. As 2009 progresses, several other titles will also see the light. Among the highlights are a Starbucks Opus Anthology, to be available at the coffee retailer; Modern Sounds in Country Western Music, Vol. 1 & 2; The Genius Hits the Road; Genius + Soul = Jazz; Berlin, 1962. The Spirit of Christmas was released digitally in December, 2008.
Preview and Purchase Ray Charles CDs
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