Visions of Genius: Remembering Ray Charles
Celebrate this 4th of July with a great American hero. Ray Charles' unique vision blended the best of jazz and R&B, gospel and soul, country and pop into distinctive music that forever changed the American soundscape. This two hour American Routes special includes our exclusive interviews with Ray and those closest to him, tracing the radiant arc of his life and music. Voices include: Atlantic Records producer, Jerry Wexler; saxophonist and bandleader, David “Fathead” Newman; singer and Raelette, Mable John; Ray's chauffeur and assistant of more than forty years, Vernon Troupe; his ex-wife and confidante, Della Bea; and producer-engineer, Terry Howard. Hear Ray's classics and the stories behind them, as well as his songs by Elvis, Percy Mayfield, Willie Nelson and others.

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"Song" Artist
Album Title (Record Label)

June 29-July 5, 2005
Hour One
Open Bed: "Rockhouse" Ray Charles
Genius & Soul (Rhino)
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"Hallelujah I Love Her So" Ray Charles
Genius & Soul (Rhino)
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SEGMENT: Early Experiences
- Ray Charles
- Atlantic Records founder, Ahmet Ertegun
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"Let the Good Times Roll" Ray Charles
Genius & Soul (Rhino)
"I Got a Woman" Elvis Presley
The King of Rock 'N' Roll (RCA)
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SEGMENT: Gospel
- Ray's wife, Della Bea Robinson
- Producer, Jerry Wexler
- Ray Charles
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"This Little Girl of Mine" Ray Charles
Genius & Soul (Rhino)
"Hit the Road Jack" Ray Charles
Genius & Soul (Rhino)
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Intstrumental: "Hit the Road Jack" David 'Fathead' Newman
I Remember Brother Ray (Highnote)
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SEGMENT: Raelettes
- Producer, Jerry Wexler
- Ray Charles
- Raelette, Mable John
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"Swanee River Rock" Ray Charles
Genius & Soul (Rhino)
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SEGMENT: "What'd I Say"
- Ray Charles
- Producer, Jerry Wexler
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SEGMENT: Live
- Ray Charles
"I Got A Woman" Ray Charles
Live (Atlantic)
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SEGMENT: The Road/Ray the Man
- Chauffeur & assistant, Vernon Troupe
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Instrumental: "Hallelujah I Love Her So" Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
Soul Meeting (Atlantic Jazz)
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SEGMENT: Della Bea and Ray
- Della Bea Robinson
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SEGMENT: Blindness
- Raelette, Mable John
- Saxophonist, David ‘Fathead’ Newman
- Engineer, Terry Howard
- Chauffeur and assisant Vernon Troupe
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SEGMENT: "America The Beautiful"
- Ray Charles
"America The Beautiful" Ray Charles
Genius & Soul (Rhino)
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End Bed: "Rockhouse" Ray Charles
Genius & Soul (Rhino)
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Hour Two
Open Bed: "Blue Genius" Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
Soul Brothers/Soul Meeting (Atlantic Jazz)
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"Side By Side" Ray Charles & Betty Carter
Dedicated to You (Rhino)
"Sinner's Prayer" Ray Charles & B.B. King
Genius Loves Company (Concord)
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SEGMENT: Ray in studio w/Blues Lab kids
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"Busted" Johnny Cash
Essential Johnny Cash (Columbia)
"You Are My Sunshine" Ray Charles
Genius & Soul (Rhino)
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Instrumental: "I Can't Stop Loving You" Grant Green
Goin' West (Blue Note)
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SEGMENT: Country
- Producer, Jerry Wexler
- Saxophonist, David "Fathead" Newman
- Ray Charles
"I'm Movin' On" Ray Charles
Genius & Soul (Rhino)
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"It Makes No Difference Now" Ray Charles
Genius & Soul (Rhino)
"Georgia on My Mind" Willie Nelson
Stardust (Columbia Legacy)
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SEGMENT: Drugs
- Producer, Jerry Wexler
- Engineer, Terry Howard
- Assistant, Vernon Troupe
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SEGMENT: Race
- Engineer, Terry Howard
"In The Heat of The Night" Ray Charles
Genius & Soul (Rhino)
Instrumental: "Georgia on My Mind" Tuts Washington
New Orleans Piano Professor (Rounder)
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SEGMENT: New Orleans
- Ray Charles
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"I Got a Woman" Kermit Ruffins & Rebirth Brass Band
Throwback (Basin St.)
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SEGMENT: Memories
- Saxophonist, David "Fathead" Newman
- Chauffeur and assistant, Vernon Troupe
- Engineer and friend, Terry Howard
- Raelette, Mable John
- Producer, Jerry Wexler
- Wife, Della Bea Robinson
- Ray Charles
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"Drown In My Own Tears" (Live) Ray Charles
Genius & Soul (Rhino)
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End Bed: "Come Rain or Come Shine" Modern Jazz Quartet & Branford Marsalis
A Celebration (Atlantic Jazz)