Ray Charles: The Country Music Hall of Fame

Ray Charles brought increased attention and respect to country music with his widely popular renditions of classic country songs. Though known as the “Genius of Soul,” Charles made country songs a significant part of his repertoire from the 1960s onward.

He revealed his deep love for country music with the album “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music,” which he recorded in 1962. The album defied expectations by spending a month at the top of the pop album chart. Charles returned to country music throughout his career, including the album “Friendship” (1984), which featured duets with country music giants Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, George Jones, and Willie Nelson.

Dig deeper into Ray Charles’s story on the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's website: Watch.CountryMusicHallofFame.org.