Ray Charles within the studio in Los Angeles in 1961. Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Photos
European audiences had been a little bit gradual to choose up on the genius of the person who got here to be generally known as simply that, The Genius. However on October 21, 1961, Ray Charles started his first climb in direction of the U.Ok. High 10 with “Hit The Road Jack.”
Brother Ray’s first huge U.S. crossover success began in the summertime of 1959, when the infectious, impromptu R&B sound of “What’d I Say” began its voyage to the American pop High 10. The music missed the worldwide (and specifically the British) charts altogether.
In November 1960, he was No.1 on the U.S. pop listings once more, along with his definitive model of the Hoagy Carmichael/Stuart Gorrell customary “Georgia On My Mind.” That grew to become his U.Ok. chart debut, nevertheless it might solely make No.24. The primary half of 1961 introduced one other High 10 pop single along with his cowl of the Clovers’ “One Mint Julep.” That additionally missed out on abroad consideration.
Brother Ray’s playful energy
However in autumn 1961, Charles – by now on ABC-Paramount within the U.S., however launched on HMV within the U.Ok. – landed on a preferred worldwide sound. The week after it grew to become his second American chart-topper, “Hit The Road Jack” entered the British chart on its option to a No.6 peak. The music, written by Louisiana soul man Percy Mayfield – additionally identified for recordings of his personal such because the R&B chart-topper “Please Send Me Someone To Love” — would go on to be recorded by everybody from the Animals to the Residents. However nobody fairly matched the playful energy of Charles’ interplay with the Raelettes’ Margie Hendricks.
Now the singer-organist was on his manner. “I Can’t Stop Loving You” adopted it by going all the way in which to No.1 after which “You Don’t Know Me” made it three High 10 singles in a row. Ray had cracked the British code.
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