Ray Charles

Acting

Ray Charles

Born 1930-09-23 · Albany, Georgia, USA

Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004), better known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records. He also helped racially integrate country and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, most notably with his Modern Sounds albums. While with ABC, Charles became one of the first African-American musicians to be given artistic control by a mainstream record company. Frank Sinatra called Charles “the only true genius in show business.” Rolling Stone ranked Charles number 10 on their list of "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" in 2004, and number two on their November 2008 list of "100 Greatest Singers of All Time". In honoring Charles, Billy Joel noted: "This may sound like sacrilege, but I think Ray Charles was more important than Elvis Presley. I don't know if Ray was the architect of rock & roll, but he was certainly the first guy to do a lot of things . . . Who the hell ever put so many styles together and made it work?"

Acting credits

The Blues Brothers poster
7.7

Jake Blues, just released from prison, puts his old band back together to save the Catholic home where he and his brother Elwood were raised.

The Blues Brothers

1980

Spy Hard poster
5.4

The evil Gen. Rancor has his sights set on world domination, and only one man can stop him: Dick Steele, also known as Agent WD-40. Rancor needs to obtain a computer circuit for the missile that he is planning to fire, so Steele teams up with Veronique Ukrinsky, a KGB agent whose father designed the chip. Together they try to locate the evil mastermind's headquarters, where Veronique's father and several other hostages are being held.

Spy Hard

1996

The Greatest Night in Pop poster
7.9

On a January night in 1985, music's biggest stars gathered to record "We Are the World." This documentary goes behind the scenes of the historic event.

The Greatest Night in Pop

2024

Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration poster
8.0

Celebrating the 30 year anniversary of Michael Jackson's solo career, this legendary performance took place on September 10, 2001.

Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration

2001

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song poster
8.3

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song is a documentary which examines how the song was written, how producer Quincy Jones and songwriters Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie persuaded some of the most popular performers in America to donate their services to the project, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the marathon recording session that produced the single.

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song

1985

Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love poster
8.3

Paying tribute to a beloved national icon for her birthday, NBC celebrates Carol Burnett's illustrious career with a star-studded event featuring an A-list lineup of musical performances and special guests who come together to share their love for one of the most cherished comediennes in television history.

Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love

2023

Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues poster
6.7

Never-before-heard personal recordings and archival footage tell the story of Louis Armstrong's life from his perspective. From musical phenom to civil rights activist to world-renowned artist, this illuminating film shows sides of Armstrong few have seen.

Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

2022

Love Affair poster
5.5

Ex-football star Mike Gambril meets Terry McKay on a flight to Sydney, which is forced to land on a small atoll. They become romantic on board a ship sent to take them to a larger island. They agree to meet in New York three months later to see if the attraction is real. One shows up but the other doesn't. However, a chance meeting brings them together again.

Love Affair

1994

Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration poster
7.0

Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration is a special produced for the beloved series' 25th anniversary. Released in a slightly different form on video in October 1993, the special was shelved for its broadcast premiere on PBS until 1994, during pledge drive season, and in many markets, aired as part of a marathon block with three show episodes.

Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration

1993

Blue's Big Musical Movie poster
8.3

Get ready for lots of musical fun in this first full-length movie based on the popular Nick Jr. TV series for preschoolers. Just as friendly cartoon pup Blue and her friends are ready for their big backyard music show, Tickety loses her voice... which means Blue needs a new singing partner! Where will she find one? Sit in your thinking chair, play along and see.

Blue's Big Musical Movie

2000

Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! poster
7.0

Sesame Street All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! was a 1994 TV special that aired on ABC to celebrate Sesame Street's 25th anniversary. It was originally broadcast on May 18, 1994. The show featured Joe Pesci (as Ronald Grump), Corbin Bernsen (as real estate attorney, Arnie), Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman (as a Worm TV hosts), John Goodman (as Tough Guy Helpline operator), Charles Grodin (as Chaz), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (as reporter Kathie Lee Kathie), Rosie O'Donnell (as the Good Hope Fairy), Susan Sarandon (as Bitsy), Barbara Walters (reporting for 25/25), and Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford (as themselves).

Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!

1994

Lynda Carter's Celebration poster
9.0

Lynda Carter's third musical TV special.

Lynda Carter's Celebration

1981

2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony poster
8.2

The 37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony take place on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. This year’s Performer Inductees are Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, and Carly Simon. Judas Priest and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis will receive the Musical Excellence Award, Harry Belafonte and Elizabeth Cotten the Early Influence Award, and Allen Grubman, Jimmy Iovine, and Sylvia Robinson the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

2022

The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson poster
6.8

While the Muppets prepare a tribute to the late Jim Henson, they learn about the life and career of the renowned puppeteer/film maker.

The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson

1990

The World of Jim Henson poster
7.4

In this episode of PBS' Great Performances, the history and legacy of puppeteer Jim Henson is explored, from his six-second commercial beginnings to a five-season run on ABC of The Muppet Show to several theatrically released films, including five Muppet movies, The Dark Crystal, and Labyrinth.

The World of Jim Henson

1994

Piano Blues poster
6.5

Director — and piano player — Clint Eastwood explores his life-long passion for piano blues, using a treasure trove of rare historical footage in addition to interviews and performances by such living legends as Pinetop Perkins and Jay McShann, as well as Dave Brubeck and Marcia Ball.

Piano Blues

2003

The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years poster
6.1

For the first time in their careers, all the Muppets (except the ones that couldn't make it, like the Doozers, Gorgs and most of the Fraggles) have gathered together in one place to celebrate their thirtieth anniversary and honor the one who brought them together: Kermit the Frog (and by doing so, Jim Henson).

The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years

1986

Fats Domino: Walking to New Orleans poster
7.0

1. Introduction 2. I'm Walking 3. Blueberry Hill 4. MyBlue Heaven 5. Blue Monday 6. Hello Josephine 7. I Want To Walk You Home 8. I'm Ready 9. Oh Wee 10. Walking To New Orleans 11. Shake, Rattle And Roll 12. I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday 13. Ain't That A Shame 14. I Hear You Knocking 15. My Blue Heaven 16. Your Cheatin' Heart 17. When The Saints Go Marching In 18. Sentimental Journey - INSTRUMENTAL

Fats Domino: Walking to New Orleans

2007

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music poster
7.7

Untold stories behind the culture-defining and newsmaking musical performances, sketches and cameos of the past 50 years.

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

2025

Jazz Evolution poster
6.0

No synopsis available yet.

Jazz Evolution

2008

Sinatra: 80 Years My Way poster
NR

'Ol' Blue Eyes' eightieth birthday celebration; star-studded entertainment, tributes by a diverse company of guests, songs closely associated with Sinatra sung by vocalists and groups from the early days of rock and roll to the 90's. A living legend toasted by legends of the music world and of Hollywood.

Sinatra: 80 Years My Way

1995

Rat Pack poster
9.0

In the 1950s, a small group of artists monopolized the attention of the cameras and the public. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford together form the "rat pack": they sing the most popular hits of the moment, star in the most profitable Hollywood films and are already making a splash on television . This documentary, produced by a recognized specialist in the history of Hollywood, recounts the exceptional destiny of this informal group which flirted with the greats of this world, notably through Sinatra, personal friend of American President Kennedy.

Rat Pack

2022

Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan poster
6.9

Ed Sullivan broke barriers by booking Black artists on his Sunday night variety show. This documentary spotlights the TV pioneer's legacy of equality.

Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan

2023

No artwork available
NR

Straight from the magnificent Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, come vaulting gospel sounds that will warm your heart and have you "bearing witness" in no time. This release includes performances from such legendary singers as Ray Charles, Andre Crouch, Glen Campbell and many others. Tracks include "Save the People," "A Few Good Men" and "He."

Hallelujah Gospel

1983