Ray Charles (1930-2004) is a legend. A pioneer of rhythm and blues, inventor of soul music, jazz virtuoso, country singer, gospel singer, and orchestral ballad singer, he single-handedly embodies 20th-century American music. But behind the myth of the Genius lies a colossal discography spanning more than fifty years. For the first time, this entire collection has been compiled, analyzed, annotated, and organized in a 516-page catalog raisonné, the result of several decades of research. This unique work is the brainchild of Joël Dufour, the undisputed expert on Ray Charles, who has brought together all of the recorded studio sessions and concerts, classified by label, period, band, and medium. Ray Charles did not just revolutionize music; he also played a decisive role in the civil rights movement, using his fame to fight against segregation and promote equality. This book finally brings Ray Charles into the pantheon of artists studied with the same rigor as the great classical composers or modern painters. Patrick FRÉMEAUX Joël Dufour is a French journalist specializing in black music, recognized as one of the world's leading experts on Ray Charles. A regular contributor to Soul Bag magazine, he has produced several box sets for the Frémeaux & Associés label, including “Ray Charles - The ABC Paramount Years 1959-1962.”