10 Greatest Keyboardists Of All Time
9. Ray Charles
Ray Charles was the first true pop music revolutionary. After losing his eyesight at an early age, Charles turned to the piano and started to create absolute magic. Originating in the 1950's as a bluesy belter, Charles' music took wild turns as he veered into pop and country & western styles.
As time has gone on, Charles was a pioneer for what became known as R&B and funk with the way he attacked his piano. The shuffle behind a song like "What I'd Say" is incredibly bluesy, but it still has the swing that instantly makes you want to move. When Charles eventually opened his mouth to sing, the magic in his voice tapped into the spirit of a man who remains resilient in the face of hard times.
Up until his death in 2004, it always seemed as if Ray Charles was doing something that he had to do every time he performed. After many years of performing, the music that Ray Charles had created shaped what we think of as modern 20th century music. When it comes to Ray Charles, music seems as essential a part of his life as the air he breathed.