Ray Charles

Another Pianist to wind up the week, Ray Charles.

"Hit the Road Jack" was released in 1961, and went to #1 on both the Pop and R & B chart. So this video must be from some time in the early 60's.



"Seven Spanish Angels"—a duet with Willie Nelson—went to #1 on the country charts in the mid 80's.



His rendition of "America the Beautiful" might be the most popular version of that song. Here is a video of it from 1972.

The words to this song were written by Katharine Lee Bates, and first published in 1895. The music that the song is performed with today was written by Samuel A. Ward, and first published with the text as "America the Beautiful" in 1910. So the song we currently know is about to turn 100. All the more reason to include it in this post.