Ray Charles: Country Western Star?

14:04

Updated February 22, 2019

Chris Citorik
Eve Zuckoff

In this Sept. 23, 2010 photo, a visitor to The Ray Charles Memorial Library looks at a display during the library's official opening in Los Angeles. The library is located on the ground floor of the Los Angeles building Charles designed for his offices and recording studio. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Ray Charles is well known for his soulful blend of blues, jazz, gospel, and R&B, but in 1962 he released a different kind of album, titled "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music."

The first and second volumes were reissued by Concord Records on Friday, so we're looking back at Charles' musical legacy and discussing how he brought his own sound to country western.

Guest

Renée Graham, associate editor and columnist for the Boston Globe and a WBUR contributor. She tweets @reneeygraham.

This article was originally published on February 22, 2019.

This segment aired on February 22, 2019.

Ray Charles: Country Western Star?

Guest

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