musician recording artist singer record producer Soul Blues Songwriter.
Known for performing in the Soul, Southern Soul, and Blues music genres, Charles is a Las Vegas Blues Hall of Fame Inductee and has won the Las Vegas Black Music award twice, in two different years (2009, 2013). He has performed as a musician with Soul Legend Johnny Taylor, The Temptations, Joe Williams, Al Wilson, Blue Mitchell, and The Fifth Dimension. Charles collaborators for much of his career were legendary songwriters and producers Jimmy Lewis and Richard Cason.
Billy Ray Charles Graduated from High School in Los Angelesm California and attended Los Angeles City College.
Charles began his music career during the 1970s, after serving in the U.S. Military during the Viet Nam War. Charles became a guitar-playing member of “The Hitmakers” an elite group of African American musicians similar to The Wrecking Crew and The Funk Brothers. Playing with Charles in the Hitmakers were such luminaries as James Gadson (Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band), Drums, James Ingram (famous smooth soul singer of hits like “Just Once”), Keyboards, Ray Parker Jr. (“Ghostbuster’s Theme Song”). Guitar, David T Walker Guitar, Tony Coleman Trombone, Keyboards, Piano, James Jamerson Jr., Bass.
