Ray Charles

Genius Loves Company

First released2004

Genius Loves Company, released in 2004, was Ray Charles's final studio album recorded during the last years of his life at various studios including Capitol Studios in Hollywood. The album was produced by Nigel Godrich, known for his work with Radiohead, who oversaw the recording of Charles's vocals and the subsequent collaboration process. The production involved a unique approach where Ray Charles recorded his vocal performances, which were then sent to various guest artists including B.B. King, Norah Jones, and Willie Nelson, who recorded their parts separately and were later mixed together. The album showcased advanced digital recording and mixing technology while maintaining the warmth of Charles's classic sound, and it became a critical and commercial success, winning the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2005, the year after Charles's death in June 2004.