When you think of Ray Charles, country music doesn’t usually come to mind. But, it should! The man who was a founding father of soul music also helped shape country music as well.

Willie Nelson said that Ray “did more for country music than any other living human being.” He’s speaking about the soul singer’s album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. “I Can’t Stop Loving You” from that album topped the pop charts in 1962.

ABC Records Executives discouraged Charles from recording country music, believing it would alienate his fans. Instead, it introduced country to more fans than ever before!

You can watch Ray Charles perform “I Can’t Stop Loving You” in the video below.

Ray said he didn’t believe his music would alienate anyone. “There’s only two kinds of music as far as I’m concerned: good and bad,” Charles said. Isn’t that the truth!

Share if you love Ray Charles and his country music!

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