Editing Ray Charles (section)

==Legacy==
===Influence on music industry===
Charles possessed one of the most recognizable voices in American music. In the words of musicologist [[Henry Pleasants (music critic)|Henry Pleasants]]:

{{blockquote|Sinatra, and Bing Crosby before him, had been masters of words. Ray Charles is a master of sounds. His records disclose an extraordinary assortment of slurs, glides, turns, shrieks, wails, breaks, shouts, screams and hollers, all wonderfully controlled, disciplined by inspired musicianship, and harnessed to ingenious subtleties of harmony, dynamics and rhythm... It is either the singing of a man whose vocabulary is inadequate to express what is in his heart and mind or of one whose feelings are too intense for satisfactory verbal or conventionally melodic articulation. He can't tell it to you. He can't even sing it to you. He has to cry out to you, or shout to you, in tones eloquent of despair—or exaltation. The voice alone, with little assistance from the text or the notated music, conveys the message.<ref>{{cite book|first= Henry|last= Pleasants|author-link= Henry Pleasants (music critic)|date= 1974|title= The Great American Popular Singers|publisher= Simon and Schuster|location= New York City|isbn= 978-0-671-21681-8|url= https://archive.org/details/greatamericanpop00pleas}}</ref>}}

Pleasants continues, "Ray Charles is usually described as a baritone, and his speaking voice would suggest as much, as would the difficulty he experiences in reaching and sustaining the baritone's high E and F in a popular ballad. But the voice undergoes some sort of transfiguration under stress, and in music of gospel or blues character he can and does sing for measures on end in the high tenor range of A, B flat, B, C and even C sharp and D, sometimes in full voice, sometimes in an ecstatic head voice, sometimes in falsetto. In falsetto he continues up to E and F above high C. On one extraordinary record, 'I'm Going Down to the River'...he hits an incredible B flat...giving him an overall range, including the falsetto extension, of at least three octaves."

His style and success in the genres of rhythm and blues and jazz had an influence on a number of highly successful artists, including, as Jon Pareles has noted, [[Elvis Presley]], [[Aretha Franklin]], [[Stevie Wonder]], [[Van Morrison]], and [[Billy Joel]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Pareles|first=Jon|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/10/arts/music/ray-charles-who-reshaped-american-music-dies-at-73.html|title=Ray Charles, Who Reshaped American Music, Dies at 73|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 10, 2004|access-date=September 23, 2018|archive-date=September 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917012919/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/10/arts/music/ray-charles-who-reshaped-american-music-dies-at-73.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Other singers who have acknowledged Charles' influence on their own styles include [[James Booker]],<ref name="russell">{{cite book| first= Tony| last= Russell| date= 1997| title= The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray| publisher=Carlton Books | location= Dubai| page= 94| isbn= 1-85868-255-X}}</ref> [[Steve Winwood]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Buckley |first=Michael |url=https://www.stevewinwood.com/news/6062 |title=A Chat With Steve Winwood: June 10, 2005 |publisher=The Annapolis Capital |access-date=September 23, 2018 |archive-date=June 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606052238/https://www.stevewinwood.com/news/6062 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Richard Manuel]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Viney |first=Peter |url=http://theband.hiof.no/articles/viney_ray_charles_band.html |title=Influences on The Band: Ray Charles |publisher=theband.hiof.no |access-date=September 23, 2018 |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525151804/http://theband.hiof.no/articles/viney_ray_charles_band.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Gregg Allman]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Lynskey|first=John|url=https://www.greggallman.com/music/back-to-macon/|title=Gregg Allman Live: Back to Macon|date=December 5, 2016|publisher=greggallman.com|access-date=September 23, 2018|archive-date=September 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915101925/https://greggallman.com/music/back-to-macon/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Joe Levy, a music editor for ''Rolling Stone'', "The hit records he made for Atlantic in the mid-1950s mapped out everything that would happen to rock 'n' roll and soul music in the years that followed."<ref name="times" /> Charles was also an inspiration to [[Pink Floyd]] member [[Roger Waters]], who told the Turkish newspaper ''[[Hürriyet]]'': "I was about 15. In the middle of the night with friends, we were listening to jazz. It was "[[Georgia on My Mind]]", Ray Charles' version. Then I thought 'One day, if I make some people feel only one-twentieth of what I am feeling now, it will be quite enough for me.{{'"}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Oskay|first=Cinar|url=http://kelebekgaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/galeridetay/71812/2368/23/roger-waters-cinar-oskay-roportaji|title=Roger Waters, Cinar Oskay roportaji: 'Muziginizin hatirlanmasi sizin icin onemli mi?'|language=tr|newspaper=[[Hürriyet]]|access-date=August 4, 2013|archive-date=November 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106143709/http://kelebekgaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/galeridetay/71812/2368/23/roger-waters-cinar-oskay-roportaji|url-status=live}}</ref>

''[[Ray (film)|Ray]]'', a biopic portraying his life and career between the mid-1930s and 1979, was released in October 2004, starring [[Jamie Foxx]] as Charles. Foxx won the [[77th Academy Awards|2005]] [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] for the role.

===Awards and honors===
{| class="wikitable"
|'''Year'''
|'''Award/Honor'''
|'''Category/Recognition'''
|'''Notable Works or Details'''
|-
|'''1959'''
|"What'd I Say"
|Major Crossover Hit
|#1 on R&B charts, #6 on  Billboard Hot 100
|-
|'''1960'''
|[[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]]
|Best Rhythm & Blues Performance
|Song: "Let the Good Times Roll"
|-
|'''1960'''
|Grammy Award
|Best Male Vocal Performance, Pop
|Song:  "Georgia on My Mind"
|-
|'''1960'''
|Grammy  Award
|Best  Performance by a Pop Single Artist
|Song: "Georgia on My Mind"
|-
|'''1961'''
|Grammy Award
|Best Male Vocal Performance,  R&B
|Song:  "Hit the Road Jack"
|-
|'''1961'''
|Playboy  Award
|Best  Male Vocalist, Jazz and Pop
|Recognition  from Playboy magazine
|-
|'''1962'''
|Grammy Award
|Best Male Solo Vocal Performance
|Song:  "I Can't Stop Loving You"
|-
|'''1962'''
|Grammy  Award
|Best  Rhythm & Blues Recording
|Song: "I Can't Stop Loving You"
|-
|'''1962'''
|Grammy Award
|Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
|Song:  "I Can't Stop Loving You"
|-
|'''1963'''
|Grammy  Award
|Best  Rhythm & Blues Recording
|Song: "Busted"
|-
|'''1963'''
|Grammy Award
|Best Vocal Performance, Male
|Song:  "Busted"
|-
|'''1965'''
|Playboy  Award
|Best  Male Vocalist, Jazz
|Recognition  from Playboy magazine
|-
|'''1967'''
|Grammy Award
|Best R&B Solo Vocal  Performance, Male or Female
|Song:  "Crying Time"
|-
|'''1971'''
|Playboy  Award
|Best  Pop and R&B Vocalist
|Recognition  from Playboy magazine
|-
|'''1973'''
|Academy of Country Music (ACM)  Awards
|Duo of the Year (with Willie  Nelson)
|Collaboration on "Seven  Spanish Angels"
|-
|'''1975'''
|[[Academy  of Achievement]]'s Golden Plate Award
|For  distinguished career in music
|Celebrated  for career achievements
|-
|'''1976'''
|[[Country Music Association Awards|Country Music Association (CMA)  Awards]]
|Album of the Year (with Willie  Nelson)
|Ray Charles & Willie Nelson: Best of Friends
|-
|'''1981'''
|[[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
|[[Hollywood Walk of Fame|Star on Walk of Fame]]
|Recognized  for his contributions to entertainment
|-
|'''1986'''
|Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
|Inductee (Inaugural Class)
|One of the first musicians  inducted
|-
|'''1986'''
|Medal of Commander
|The Order of Arts and Letters
|Commander of Fine Arts and Letters
<ref>{{Cite web |title=1980s |url=https://raycharles.com/legacy/1980s/#:~:text=The%20French%20Government%20honored%20Ray%20Charles%20when%20he%20was%20made%20a%20%E2%80%9CCommander%20of%20Fine%20Arts%20and%20Letters,%E2%80%9D%20the%20second%20time%20the%20Republic%20of%20France%20has%20selected%20Charles%20for%20a%20distinguished%20honor. |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=Ray Charles |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|'''1986'''
|Kennedy Center Honors
|Lifetime Achievement in Arts
|Celebrated  as a cultural icon and pioneer in music
|-
|'''1987'''
|President's  Merit Award
|Recognition  by the Recording Academy
|Honored  for contributions to music
|-
|'''1988'''
|[[Grammy Lifetime Achievement  Award]]
|Lifetime Achievement
|Celebrated for career  achievements
|-
|'''1990'''
|Grammy Award
|Best Jazz Vocal Performance,  Male
|Song:  "I'll Be Good to You" (with Chaka Khan)
|-
|'''1990'''
|Honorary  Doctorate - University of South Florida
|Doctor  of Fine Arts
|Recognized  for his influence on arts and culture
|-
|'''1991'''
|Rhythm & Blues Foundation  Pioneer Award
|Inductee
|Recognized for contributions to  R&B music
|-
|'''1991'''
|George  and Ira Gershwin Award
|Lifetime  Musical Achievement Award at UCLA Spring Sing
|Honored  for his lasting musical legacy
|-
|'''1993'''
|National Medal of Arts
|Presented by President [[Bill Clinton]]
|Highest U.S. award for artistic  achievement
|-
|'''1993'''
|Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
|Lifetime  Achievement
|Recognition  of his lifetime contributions
|-
|'''1998'''
|Polar Music Prize
|Awarded with [[Ravi Shankar]]
|Sweden's most prestigious award,  presented by the King & Queen
|-
|'''2001'''
|Candle  Award from Morehouse College
|Lifetime  Achievement in Arts and Entertainment
|Recognized  for his contributions to arts and education
|-
|'''2001'''
|Honorary Doctorate - Morehouse  College
|Doctor of Humane Letters
|$2 million donation to fund  music education
|-
|'''2003'''
|Honorary  Doctorate - Dillard University
|Doctor  of Humane Letters
|Endowed  a professorship in African-American culinary history
|-
|'''2004'''
|Grammy Award
|Best Gospel Performance
|Song:  "Heaven Help Us All" (with Gladys Knight)
|-
|'''2004'''
|Grammy Award
|Best  Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists
|Song: "Here We Go Again" (with Norah Jones)
|-
|'''2004'''
|Grammy Award
|Record of the Year
|Song:  "Here We Go Again" (with Norah Jones)
|-
|'''2004'''
|Grammy Award
|Album  of the Year
|Album: Genius Loves Company
|-
|'''2004'''
|Grammy Award
|Best Pop Vocal Album
|Album: Genius Loves Company
|-
|'''2004'''
|Google Doodle Tribute
|Commemorated  on his 74th birthday
|
|-
|'''2004'''
|National Black Sports &  Entertainment Hall of Fame
|Inductee
|Honored for achievements in  entertainment
|-
|'''2005'''
|Grammy  Awards Dedication
|Grammy  Awards dedicated to Charles
|Tribute  after his passing
|-
|'''2010'''
|Ray Charles Performing Arts  Center
|Facility named at Morehouse  College
|$20 million facility established  for arts education
|-
|'''2013'''
|USPS  Forever Stamp
|Part  of the Musical Icons series
|Recognized  as an American music icon
|-
|'''2013'''
|Rolling Stone
|#10 on "100 Greatest Artists of  All Time"
|Recognized among music legends
|-
|'''2013'''
|Rolling  Stone
|#2 on "100 Greatest Singers of All Time"
|Praised  for vocal prowess and influence
|-
|'''2015'''
|Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of  Fame
|Inductee
|Honored for his influence on  R&B music
|-
|'''2016'''
|"A Tribute to Ray Charles: In Performance at the White House"[https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-pbss-tribute-ray-charles-performance-the-white-house][https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/ray-charles-returns-white-house-180958135/]
|Statement on "America the Beautiful" and performance by [[Usher (musician)|Usher]] "Georgia on My Mind"
|A Smithsonian Salute broadcast on [[PBS]]. Obama praised his rendition as deeply patriotic
|-
|'''2022'''
|[[Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum|Country Music Hall of Fame]]
|Inductee (Posthumous)
|Third African-American inducted,  honored for country influence
|}
[[File:Ray Charles star on Hollywood Blvd IMG 6636 photo 2023.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Star honoring Charles on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]], at 6777 Hollywood Boulevard]]

[[File:Nagoya Walk of Fame.jpg|upright|thumb|Star honoring Charles on the Nayoya Walk of Fame in Japan]]

In 1975, Ray Charles was inducted into the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]] and presented with the Golden Plate Award and the Academy of Achievement gold medal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement|website=Achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/|access-date=September 21, 2020|archive-date=December 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215023909/https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Photo: Two Academy members, William J. Clinton, 42nd President of the United States, and Ray Charles at the 2003 Banquet of the Golden Plate Award gala ceremonies.|publisher= [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]]|url= https://achievement.org/summit/2003/|access-date= September 21, 2020|archive-date= November 3, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211103061128/https://achievement.org/summit/2003/|url-status= live}}</ref>

In 1979, Charles was one of the first musicians born in the state to be inducted into the [[Georgia Music Hall of Fame]].<ref name="gamusichall1979">{{cite news|title=List of Inductees |date=1979–2007 |publisher=Georgia Music Hall of Fame|url=http://www.gamusichall.com/inducteelist.html|access-date=November 25, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015013823/http://www.gamusichall.com/inducteelist.html |archive-date=October 15, 2006}}</ref> His version of "Georgia on My Mind" was also made the official state song of the state of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]].<ref name="State Song">{{cite news|title=State Song|year=1979|publisher=Georgia Secretary of State|url=http://sos.georgia.gov/archives/state_symbols/state_song.html|access-date=September 22, 2010|archive-date=October 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002050640/http://www.sos.georgia.gov/archives/state_symbols/state_song.html}}</ref>

In 1981, he was given a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ray Charles |publisher=Hollywood Walk of Fame |url=https://walkoffame.com/ray-charles/ |access-date=November 25, 2006 |archive-date=February 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204012452/http://www.walkoffame.com/ray-charles |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1986, he was one of the first inductees to the [[Rock & Roll Hall of Fame]] at its inaugural ceremony.<ref>{{cite news |title=Inductees |publisher=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum |url=http://www.rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=76|access-date=November 25, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061123064050/http://www.rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=76 |archive-date=November 23, 2006}}</ref> He also received the [[Kennedy Center Honors]] in 1986.<ref>{{cite news|title=List of Kennedy Center Honorees|year=1986|publisher=Kennedy Center|url=http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/honors/history/home.html|access-date=November 25, 2006|archive-date=September 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918212215/http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/honors/history/home.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Charles won 17 [[Grammy Award]]s from his 37 nominations.<ref name=":1" /> In 1987, he was awarded the [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]].<ref name=":1" />

In 1991, he was inducted to the [[Rhythm & Blues Foundation]] and was presented with the [[UCLA Spring Sing The George and Ira Gershwin Award|George and Ira Gershwin Award]] for Lifetime Musical Achievement during the 1991 [[UCLA Spring Sing]].<ref name="UCLA" />

In 1990, he was given an honorary doctorate of fine arts by the [[University of South Florida]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ALADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22|title=Jet|date=May 28, 1990|page=22|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|access-date=October 25, 2018|via=Google Books|archive-date=May 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508044546/https://books.google.com/books?id=ALADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1993, he was awarded the [[National Medal of Arts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nea.gov/honors/medals/medalists_year.html#93|title=Lifetime Honors—National Medal of Arts |publisher=Nea.gov |access-date=September 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721054307/http://www.nea.gov/honors/medals/medalists_year.html#93 |archive-date=July 21, 2011 }}</ref> In 1998 he was awarded the [[Polar Music Prize]], together with [[Ravi Shankar]], in [[Stockholm]], Sweden. In 2004 he was inducted to the National Black Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hall of Fame|year=2004|publisher=National Black Sports & Entertainment|url=http://www.harlemdiscover.com/halloffame|access-date=November 25, 2006  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309231808/http://www.harlemdiscover.com/halloffame/|archive-date=March 9, 2007}}</ref> The [[Grammy Awards of 2005]] were dedicated to Charles.

In 2001, [[Morehouse College]] honored Charles with the Candle Award for Lifetime Achievement in Arts and Entertainment,<ref name="honorees morehouse">{{cite web|url=https://cfr.morehouse.edu/document.doc?id=156|title=Morehouse College Bennie and Candle Recipients 1989–2013|date=2013|publisher=Morehouse College|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317143705/https://cfr.morehouse.edu/document.doc?id=156|archive-date=March 17, 2017|access-date=March 16, 2017}}</ref> and later that same year granted him an honorary doctor of humane letters.<ref name="RC-Morehouse">{{cite web|url=http://www.raycharles.com/RC/RC-Morehouse.html|title=Ray Charles Performing Arts Center|year=2015|publisher=Raycharles.com|access-date=March 16, 2017|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216073809/http://www.raycharles.com/RC/RC-Morehouse.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Charles donated $2 million to Morehouse "to fund, educate and inspire the next generation of musical pioneers".<ref name="RC-Morehouse" />

In 2003, Charles was awarded an honorary degree by [[Dillard University]], and upon his death he endowed a professorship of African-American culinary history at the school, the first such chair in the nation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E0D91F3AF930A15751C0A9639C8B63&sec=&spon= |title=A Gift to Black Cuisine, from Ray Charles |first=Mimi |last=Read |work=The New York Times |date=February 23, 2005 |access-date=October 11, 2010 |archive-date=May 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508044329/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/23/dining/a-gift-to-black-cuisine-from-ray-charles.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On September 22, 2004, Ray Charles was honored with a [[Google Doodle]] on what would have been his 74th birthday.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ray Charles' 74th Birthday|url=https://doodles.google/doodle/ray-charles-74th-birthday/|access-date=January 2, 2023|website=Google|language=en|archive-date=January 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103054426/https://www.google.com/doodles/ray-charles-74th-birthday|url-status=live}}</ref> It was one of the first Doodles for one's birthday.

In 2010, a $20 million, {{convert|76,000|sqft|abbr=on}} facility named the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center and Music Academic Building, opened at Morehouse.<ref name="ribbon">{{cite press release|url=http://www.morehouse.edu/communications/archives/002313.html|title=Morehouse Cuts the Ribbon on the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center and Music Academic Building|last=Seymour|first=Add Jr.|date=September 29, 2010|access-date=March 16, 2017|publisher=Morehouse College|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317143513/https://www.morehouse.edu/communications/archives/002313.html|archive-date=March 17, 2017}}</ref>

The [[United States Postal Service]] issued a forever stamp honoring Charles, as part of its Musical Icons series, on September 23, 2013.<ref>[http://www.usstampgallery.com/view.php?id=fca5bb93c833ad71742675dcdc2af79bd3169ce0 Ray Charles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406021826/http://www.usstampgallery.com/view.php?id=fca5bb93c833ad71742675dcdc2af79bd3169ce0 |date=April 6, 2023 }} US Stamp Gallery</ref>

In 2015, Charles was inducted into the [[Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wdet.org/posts/2015/06/24/80845-rb-music-hall-of-fame-comes-to-detroit/|title=R&B Music Hall of Fame Comes to Detroit|website=Wdet.org|access-date=November 6, 2018|archive-date=January 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128145235/https://wdet.org/posts/2015/06/24/80845-rb-music-hall-of-fame-comes-to-detroit/}}</ref>

In 2016, U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] wrote via his press secretary, "Ray Charles's version of "[[America the Beautiful]]" will always be in my view the most patriotic piece of music ever performed."<ref>Quoted in David Remnick (2016), [http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/04/04/aretha-franklins-american-soul "Soul Survivor: The Revival and Hidden Treasure of Aretha Franklin"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923201513/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/04/04/aretha-franklins-american-soul |date=September 23, 2023 }}. ''The New Yorker''. April 4, 2016. Retrieved on April 4, 2016.</ref>

In 2022, Charles was posthumously inducted into the [[Country Music Hall of Fame]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/judds-ray-charles-inducted-country-hall-fame-84428449|title=The Judds, Ray Charles join the Country Music Hall of Fame|author=Kristin M. Hall, AP Entertainment Writer|publisher=ABC News|date=May 1, 2022|access-date=May 1, 2022|archive-date=May 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501190826/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/judds-ray-charles-inducted-country-hall-fame-84428449|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/judds-inducted-country-hall-fame-ceremony-medallion-wynonna-naomi-1235255555/|title=Judds Inducted Into Country Hall of Fame in Tearful Ceremony a Day After Naomi's Death|first=Chris|last=Williams|publisher=Variety|date=May 1, 2022|access-date=May 1, 2022|archive-date=May 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502012521/https://variety.com/2022/music/news/judds-inducted-country-hall-fame-ceremony-medallion-wynonna-naomi-1235255555/|url-status=live}}</ref> the third [[African-American]] to be inducted after [[Charley Pride]] (2000) and [[Deford Bailey]] (2005). He was also the 13th person to be inducted into both the Country and Rock Halls of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/ray-charles-the-judds-to-join-country-music-hall-of-fame/ |title=Ray Charles, The Judds to join Country Music Hall of Fame |work=The Seattle Times |last=Hall |first=Kristin M. |agency=Associated Press |date=August 16, 2021 |access-date=August 23, 2021 |archive-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816211739/https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/ray-charles-the-judds-to-join-country-music-hall-of-fame/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Contribution to civil rights movement===
On March 15, 1961, shortly after the release of the hit song "Georgia on My Mind" (1960), the [[Albany, Georgia]]-born musician was scheduled to perform at a dance at Bell Auditorium in [[Augusta, Georgia|Augusta]], but cancelled the show after learning from students of [[Paine College]] that the larger auditorium dance floor was restricted to whites, while blacks would be obliged to sit in the Music Hall balcony. Charles left town immediately after letting the public know why he would not be performing, but the promoter went on to sue Charles for breach of contract, and Charles was fined $757 in Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on June 14, 1962. The following year, Charles did perform at a desegregated Bell Auditorium concert together with his backup singers, [[the Raelettes]], on October 23, 1963, as depicted in the 2004 film, ''[[Ray (film)|Ray]]''.<ref>{{cite web|work=augustaciviccenter.com|url=http://augustaciviccenter.com/auditorium.html|title=William B. Bell Auditorium|access-date=June 8, 2012|archive-date=August 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812005801/http://augustaciviccenter.com/auditorium.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=The Augusta Chronicle|url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2004/07/01/rho_420829.shtml|date=July 1, 2004|author=Rhodes, Don|title=Ray Charles gave country music his own touch|access-date=May 4, 2013|archive-date=February 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223012606/http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2004/07/01/rho_420829.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=about.com |title=How did racism affect Ray Charles? |first1=Robert |last1=Fontenot |url=http://oldies.about.com/od/rbandblues/f/rayracism.htm |access-date=June 9, 2012 |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402055654/http://oldies.about.com/od/rbandblues/f/rayracism.htm  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=AtlantaMagazine.com|url=http://www.atlantamagazine.com/flashback/Story.aspx?id=1372656 |title=32 Years Ago This Month: Ray Charles Serenades the Legislature|access-date=January 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311013724/http://www.atlantamagazine.com/flashback/story.aspx?ID=1372656 |archive-date=March 11, 2013 | last1=Burns | first1=Rebecca }}</ref> On December 7, 2007, Ray Charles Plaza was opened in Albany, Georgia, with a revolving, lighted bronze sculpture of Charles seated at a [[piano]].<ref name="UCLA">{{cite web |title=Calendar & Events: Spring Sing: Gershwin Award |publisher=UCLA |url=http://www.uclalumni.net/CalendarEvents/springsing/Gershwin/winners.cfm |access-date=April 11, 2015 |archive-date=August 17, 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817021611/http://www.uclalumni.net/calendarevents/springsing/Gershwin/winners.cfm  }}</ref>

===The Ray Charles Foundation===
[[File:RayCharlesStatue.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Statue by Andy Davis in Ray Charles Plaza in Albany, Georgia]]Founded in 1986, the Ray Charles Foundation maintains the mission statement of financially supporting institutions and organizations in the research of hearing disorders.<ref name="Ray Charles Foundation:Mission Statement">{{cite web|title=Mission Statement|url=http://www.theraycharlesfoundation.org/RCF_FoundationMissionStatement.html |publisher=Theraycharlesfoundation.org |access-date=December 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222191513/http://theraycharlesfoundation.org/RCF_FoundationMissionStatement.html|archive-date=February 22, 2015 }}</ref> Originally known as The Robinson Foundation for Hearing Disorders, it was renamed in 2006 and has provided financial donations to numerous institutions involved in hearing loss research and education.<ref name="Benedict College receives $500,000 gift from the Ray Charles Foundation">{{cite web|title=Benedict College receives $500,000 gift?|url=http://www.benedict.edu/cms/?q=node/1150 |publisher=Benedict.edu |access-date=December 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016235443/http://www.benedict.edu/cms/?q=node%2F1150|archive-date=October 16, 2014 }}</ref> The purpose of the foundation has been "to administer funds for scientific, educational and charitable purposes; to encourage, promote and educate, through grants to institutions and organizations, as to the causes and cures for diseases and disabilities of the hearing impaired and to assist organizations and institutions in their social educational and academic advancement of programs for the youth, and carry on other charitable and educational activities associated with these goals as allowed by law."<ref name="Ray Charles Foundation">{{cite web |title=About the Foundation |url=http://www.theraycharlesfoundation.org/RCF_AboutTheFoundation.html|publisher=Theraycharlesfoundation.org|access-date=December 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222105537/http://theraycharlesfoundation.org/RCF_AboutTheFoundation.html|archive-date=February 22, 2015 }}</ref>

Recipients of donations include [[Benedict College]], [[Morehouse College]], and other universities.<ref name="Morehouse gets $3 million gift from Ray Charles Foundation">{{cite news |title=Morehouse Gets $3 Million Gift from Ray Charles Foundation |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/morehouse-gets-million-gift-from-ray-charles-foundation/FhyAhoAU09wDLnC9BUADFJ/ |publisher=Ajc.com |access-date=June 8, 2021 |last1=Jeffries |first1=Fran |archive-date=June 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608225847/https://www.ajc.com/news/morehouse-gets-million-gift-from-ray-charles-foundation/FhyAhoAU09wDLnC9BUADFJ/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The foundation has taken action against donation recipients who do not use funds in accordance with its mission statement, such as the [[Albany State University]], which was made to return a $3 million donation after not using the funds for over a decade.<ref name="Daily News">{{cite web |title=Ray Charles Foundation wants $3 million gift back from Albany State University - NY Daily News |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/ray-charles-foundation-3-million-gift-back-albany-state-university-article-1.1022939 |website=New York Daily News |access-date=December 16, 2018 |date=February 15, 2012 |archive-date=April 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408015540/https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/ray-charles-foundation-3-million-gift-back-albany-state-university-article-1.1022939 |url-status=live }}</ref> The foundation houses its executive offices at the historic RPM International Building, originally the home of Ray Charles Enterprises and now also home to the Ray Charles Memorial Library on the first floor, which was founded on September 23, 2010 (what would have been his 80th birthday). The library was founded to "provide an avenue for young children to experience music and art in a way that will inspire their creativity and imagination", and is not open to the public without reservation, as the main goal is to educate mass groups of underprivileged youth and provide art and history to those without access to such documents.<ref name="Ray Charles Memorial Library">{{cite web|title=About the Library|url=http://www.theraycharlesfoundation.org/RCF_AboutTheLibrary |publisher=Theraycharlesfoundation.org |access-date=December 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093827/http://www.theraycharlesfoundation.org/RCF_AboutTheLibrary |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref>