Commencing an extensive Ray Charles reissue program for 2009, Concord Records will release a 21-song anthology of hits titled 'Ray Charles — Genius: The Ultimate Ray Charles Collection.' The volume, slated for a street date of April 7, 2009, presents Charles’ most influential recordings for the Atlantic and ABC-Paramount labels including 1955’s “I Got a Woman” plus “Busted,” “Georgia on My Mind,” “Hit the Road Jack” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” concluding with his signature 1972 rendition of “America the Beautiful.” All are digitally remastered from the original tapes.

'Ray Charles — Genius: The Ultimate Ray Charles Collection' chronicles the high points in Charles’ catalog. As noted jazz writer Don Heckman writes in his liner notes, “The first feeling that comes to mind after even a short glance at the titles included here is a sense of wonder. The diversity of the material is impressive in its own right — blues, of course, transformed gospel songs, country tunes, an American Songbook standard, a Beatles classic and a climactic American anthem. But more than that, it’s what he does with all these variegated numbers. Good singers can do great interpretations. Great singers like Charles possess the material in a way that makes a song their own, while remaining true to the essence of each.”

Ten of the tracks on this collection made it to #1 on the R&B charts and three songs hit #1 on the pop chart. “That may sound like nothing more than numbers,” says Heckman, “but it represents an extraordinary string of successes in which Charles released a Top 10 R&B single in almost every year between 1954-67, and a Top 10 pop single almost every year between 1959-67.”

So, if you would like to win one of these wonderful new CDs, and you think you know all there is to know about the great man, just answer this easy question: What was the name of the musical trio formed by Ray and some of his friends in 1948?!

Send us your answers and if you're correct you'll be in the running to win one of these new CDs! Just send us an e:mail here before June 1st with your answer and the subject title CONTEST: RAY CHARLES CDs to: exclusivemagazine@flash.net

CD Purchase Link

“Georgia On My Mind” Audio Stream

“Hit The Road Jack” Audio Stream