Thu 9/23 @ 7-8PM

Singer/pianist/composer Ray Charles, who passed away in 2005 at the age of 73, would have turned 91 on September 23. To mark the occasion, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is hosting a virtual panel discussion of Charles’ groundbreaking music, his label Tangerine Records and the new collection, True Genius, that it’s just released.

True Genius is a six-CD set that includes 90 songs from across Charles’ long career. Among them are eight previously unreleased tracks that were recorded live in Stockholm in 1972. Charles was inducted into the Rock Hall in its first class in 1986, a sign of his influence and importance.

Panelists include John Burk, who produced Charles’ final album Genius Loves Company, a duets album released just after he died; and David Ritz, who wrote the 1978 Charles’ biography Brother Ray. The moderators for the discussion are Jason Hanley, the Rock Hall’s Vice President of Education and Visitor Engagement, and Andy Leach, the Rock Hall’s Senior Director of Museum & Archival Collections. 

The discussion will take place on the Rock Hall’s Facebook page. It’s free and no registration is required.