Résumé: Ray Charles was one of the true pioneers of soul music. Born in Georgia in 1930 he was one of the first performers to mix gospel, R & B and jazz to create a new form of black pop music that would come to be known as soul. His voice and delivery were strikingly different and instantly recognisable. He had his first hits in the early 50’s and was still hitting the charts into the 21st century. His death in June 2004 from liver disease was front page news around the world.