Ray Charles (musician, born 1918)

Ray Charles
Charles on June 3, 1975
Background information
Birth name	Charles Raymond Offenberg
Also known as	Ray Charles
Born	(1918-09-13)September 13, 1918 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	April 6, 2015(2015-04-06) (aged 96) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Years active	1942–2015
Labels	Essex MGM Decca Command Atlantic Records

For the better-known R&B recording artist, see Ray Charles.

Charles Raymond Offenberg (September 13, 1918 – April 6, 2015), better known as Ray Charles, was an American singer, songwriter, musician, conductor, and vocal arranger. He was best known as the organizer and leader of the Ray Charles Singers (who were featured on Perry Como's television series, radio shows, and records for 35 years^[1][2]).

On April 6, 2015, Charles died in Beverly Hills, California of natural causes at the age of 96.^[3]

References

1. FMS: Feature ASMAC salutes Lalo Schifrin and "the other" Ray Charles
2. Grudens, Richard, ed. (1986), The Italian Crooners Bedside Companion, Celebrity Profiles Publishing, pp. 63–69, ISBN 0-9763877-0-0, retrieved 14 April 2010
3. "Ray Charles, Leader of Ray Charles Singers, Who Backed Perry Como, Dies at 96". 7 April 2015.