As one of America’s most beloved performers, Ray Charles was soul personified. He crafted an eclectic style that blurred the often-stringent lines of jazz, blues, gospel, country and western, and more. The ease with which he assimilated these styles excited listeners, confounded record labels, and often baffled critics. But to him, his music was just an extension of all the sounds he loved. Never one to settle for the labels placed upon him, Ray Charles moved seamlessly throu