Ray Charles, often called 'The Genius,' was a pioneer of soul music, a genre he helped create by merging rhythm and blues with gospel music. Blind from the age of seven due to glaucoma, Charles never let his disability hinder his musical development. His 1954 hit 'I Got a Woman' is considered one of the first true soul records, though it was controversial at the time for using sacred gospel sounds in a secular, 'sinful' context. Charles was a master of crossing genres; in 1962, he surprised the world by releasing 'Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music,' proving that a Black artist could find massive success in the white-dominated country music market. His rendition of 'Georgia on My Mind' eventually became the official state song of Georgia. His technical proficiency on the piano and raspy, emotive vocals made him one of the most recognizable voices in history.