Ray Charles (musician, born 1918)
Ray Charles (born Charles Raymond Offenberg; September 13, 1918 – April 6, 2015) was an American musician, singer, songwriter, vocal arranger and conductor who was best known as organizer and leader of the Ray Charles Singers who were featured on Perry Como's records and television shows for 35 years[1][2] and were also known for a series of 30 choral record albums produced in the 1950s and 1960s for the Essex, MGM, Decca and Command labels.[3]
This article is about the leader of the Ray Charles Singers. For the rhythm and blues singer, see Ray Charles.
Ray Charles
Charles Raymond Offenberg
September 13, 1918
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
April 6, 2015 (aged 96)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Musician, singer, songwriter, arranger, conductor
Vocals
1942–2015
As a vocalist, Charles, along with Julia Rinker Miller, sang the theme song to the television series Three's Company ("Come and Knock on Our Door").[4][5] As a songwriter, Charles was best known for the choral anthem "Fifty Nifty United States" in which he set the names of the states to music in alphabetical order. It was originally written for The Perry Como Show.[5] He is also known for "Letters, We Get Letters",[6] also originally written for Como's show and later used on the Late Show with David Letterman.[6]
In his later years, he continued to serve as a musical consultant to television programs, most notably for 31 years on the Kennedy Center Honors. Charles was acknowledged as an authority on American popular music.[7]
Death[edit]
Charles died of cancer at the age of 96 on April 6, 2015, in Beverly Hills, California. He was survived by two sons, Michael (born 1941) and Jonathan (born 1946). His wife Bernice (1916–2002) and daughter Wendy (1950–2004) predeceased him.[19][20]
Charles donated a collection of his personal papers, including his scripts and musical arrangements for the Kennedy Center Honors galas, to the Great American Songbook Foundation shortly before his death.