Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Last Ray Charles Album
Soul mates: With last CD, Charles shared `Genius'
In a moving set of duets, the late singer radiates joy
By Steve Morse, Boston Globe Staff August 29, 2004
Critics who assume that artists make their best work when they are young
just haven't been paying attention lately. Johnny Cash, Warren Zevon,
and Joe Strummer made exceptional music in the last years of their lives,
and joining that list is Ray Charles.
His final album is a tantalizing collection of duets with old and young admirers, from B.B. King and Willie Nelson to Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, and James Taylor.
Charles's "Genius Loves Company," completed before he died of
complications from liver disease at age 73 on June 10, is a true musical event that
confirms his status as the "Genius of Soul." Due for release Tuesday, it
is his first full-length duets CD, and he sounds positively fabulous with
so many soul mates around him.
In a moving set of duets, the late singer radiates joy
By Steve Morse, Boston Globe Staff August 29, 2004
Critics who assume that artists make their best work when they are young
just haven't been paying attention lately. Johnny Cash, Warren Zevon,
and Joe Strummer made exceptional music in the last years of their lives,
and joining that list is Ray Charles.
His final album is a tantalizing collection of duets with old and young admirers, from B.B. King and Willie Nelson to Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, and James Taylor.
Charles's "Genius Loves Company," completed before he died of
complications from liver disease at age 73 on June 10, is a true musical event that
confirms his status as the "Genius of Soul." Due for release Tuesday, it
is his first full-length duets CD, and he sounds positively fabulous with
so many soul mates around him.
