Ray Charles’s recordings are major landmarks in American culture. By combining Gospel with R&B, he pioneered soul music, and his groundbreaking move into Country music during the heart of the Civil Rights Movement broke racial barriers, while elevating Country music to world-wide popularity for the very first time. Ray Charles uniquely succeeded in recording and blending virtually every genre of music including soul, R&B, jazz, blue country, rock and pop in unique and unprecedented ways. This visionary singer, songwriter, pianist and composer brought his expansive musical vision to a worldwide audience and forever changed the face of American Music. Charles’ staggering achievements include 17 GRAMMY Awards, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Lifetime Achievement and the President’s Merit Award, the Presidential Medal for the Arts, France’s Legion of Honor, the Kennedy Center Honors, the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame Award, and numerous other music Halls of Fame.