Muse/ique’s “According to Ray” concert reviewed

Legendary artist Ray Charles is often credited with inventing soul music, although the genre already existed before he came on the scene. The 1950s recordings of black R&B performers, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, and James Brown are commonly considered the beginnings of soul music.

MUSE/IQUE has kicked off their 2025 season with a series of concerts at the Mark Taper Forum in DTLA. This year’s theme is Make Some Noise: Music and Stories of American Defiance and Hope. Each concert features a superbly-arranged and performed evening of music, interspersed by Worby’s thoroughly researched mini-lectures that explain and contextualize the important contributions from significant musical artists throughout the 20th century.

Led by Artistic and Music Director Rachael Worby, MUSE/IQUE began their concert season with four performances of ACCORDING TO RAY: Ray Charles’s Message to America, at the Music Center, a part of an ongoing association with Center Theatre Group.

The electrifying concert was embellished by Worby’s well-researched and fascinating historical lectures. MUSE/IQUE explored how Ray Charles’ diverse musical genres, influences, and collaborations all culminated in his landmark recording of “America the Beautiful.” This concert featured the inimitable Brandon Victor Dixon and DC6 Singers Collective.

The curated slide-show enriches and enhances the experience. Below is an image of Ray Charles learning how to read music by reading braille.

About Ray Charles

Ray Charles was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, known for his pioneering contributions to multiple genres, including R&B, soul, jazz, blues, and gospel. He was born on September 23, 1930, in Albany, Georgia, and lost his sight by the age of 7 due to glaucoma. Despite his blindness, Charles’ musical genius shone through, and he became a master of piano, songwriting, and vocal performance.

Ray Charles was raised in poverty and faced numerous challenges, including the death of his younger brother when he was very young. His blindness also meant that he had to rely heavily on his other senses, especially his hearing, which he developed into an extraordinary musical ability.

He attended the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine, where he learned braille and learned to play the piano and started developing his musical skills.

Charles is often credited with inventing soul music by blending gospel, blues, jazz, and R&B. His style was characterized by a deep emotional connection to the music and a unique mix of secular and sacred sounds.

One of his most famous innovations was his ability to merge gospel rhythms with blues, creating a sound that was deeply rooted in church music but had a more secular, popular appeal. Songs like “I Got a Woman” (1954) and “What’d I Say” (1959) epitomized this fusion.

In the 1950s, Charles signed with Atlantic Records, where he released a series of hits, including the iconic “Georgia on My Mind” (1960), which became one of his signature songs and is still associated with him today.

His ability to cross genres was remarkable. He recorded everything from country (“I Can’t Stop Loving You”) to pop, often blending those influences into his own sound.

Ray Charles’ impact on music is immeasurable. He influenced a wide range of artists from Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder to Elton John and Billy Joel. He was known as “The Genius” for his unparalleled musicality and his ability to blend genres seamlessly.

His work was recognized with numerous accolades, including 17 Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

Despite his success, Charles battled with substance abuse throughout much of his life, particularly with heroin. He was arrested for drug possession multiple times, but eventually overcame his addiction and spoke openly about the struggles he faced.

Charles continued to perform and record into his later years, although his health began to decline. He passed away on June 10, 2004, at the age of 73, from liver disease.

Ray Charles is also remembered for breaking racial barriers in a time when segregation was widespread in the U.S. His musical contributions transcended race and genre, and his success proved that music was a universal language.

His life story was portrayed in the 2004 biographical film, Ray, starring Jamie Foxx, which won Foxx an Academy Award for Best Actor.

MUSE/IQUE‘s 2025 season continues with additional concerts with special focus on this year’s theme Make Some Noise: Music and Stories of American Defiance and Hope :

• WELCOME TO THE DREAM FACTORY (April 30, May 3-4) celebrates Hollywood and the immigrant composers behind its unforgettable film scores.
• THE UNAMERICANS (June 10-11, 15) revisits the 2024 concert about the Hollywood Blacklist.
• LIKE IT LIKE HARLEM (August 8-10) dives into salsa, boogaloo, and the vibrant cultural scene of New York City.
• MADE IN MEMPHIS (September 12-14) explores the revolution sparked by Stax, Soul, and black artists.
• HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF ETTA JAMES? (October 14-15, 19) honors the life and triumph of this American icon.
• The season wraps up with STAND BY ME: Season After Party in November 2025.

Concerts will take place at various iconic Los Angeles venues, including The Mark Taper Forum, The Huntington, Skirball Cultural Center, The Wallis, and Pasadena Memorial Park.

MUSE/IQUE is celebrating an extraordinary two-year exploration of pivotal musical moments in America—an exciting journey that continues in 2025, building on the themes introduced in 2024. This initiative is presented by LeeAnn and Ron Havner / JCS Family Foundation.

These concerts are made possible through a special partnership with Center Theatre Group, with generous support from the S. Mark Taper Foundation and contributions to the Artistic Director Discretionary Fund.

Reserve your seats now at muse-ique.com
To learn more about membership and attendance, please visit muse-ique.com/membership

MUSE/IQUE membership begins at $225 and MUSE/IQUE members receive complimentary admission to all MUSE/IQUE events. 

• Admission for non-members starts with a trial membership of $100, which includes three consecutive performances.