Ray Charles 1959 〈480p – FHD〉

This was not just another collection of singles; it was a cohesive artistic statement. Up until this point, Charles had recorded with his tight, touring road band—the Ray Charles Orchestra. They were explosive, raw, and undeniably funky. But for this album, Charles made a radical left turn. He hired a full string orchestra and utilized brass sections arranged by Ralph Burns and Quincy Jones.

In the history of American music, 1959 belongs in no small part to a blind pianist from Georgia who, with a shaking electric piano and a voice that sounded like a broken heart shouting for joy, invented the future. ray charles 1959

Before 1959, Ray Charles was a successful R&B artist. After 1959, he was a cultural force. He proved that you didn't have to choose between the "sacred" sounds of the church and the "secular" sounds of the street—you could have both. Going Down That Rabbit Hole: My 1000 Favorite Albums, Day 1 This was not just another collection of singles;