This episode outlines the life and professional journey of Ray Charles, a legendary American musician who integrated blues, gospel, and jazz to pioneer the soul genre. It chronicles his upbringing in Georgia and Florida, where he lost his sight at a young age and faced significant personal hardships before finding success in Seattle and Los Angeles. The document details his historic tenure at Atlantic Records and his transition to ABC-Paramount, where he gained unprecedented artistic control as a Black artist and released groundbreaking country-pop crossover albums. Beyond his seventeen Grammy Awards and induction into various Halls of Fame, the source discusses his complex personal life, including his struggles with heroin addiction ...