Genius Loves Company is the final studio album by rhythm and blues and soul musician Ray Charles, posthumously released August 31, 2004 on Concord Records.. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-11-15. Recording sessions for the album took place between June 2003 and March 2004.. All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved on 2008-11-15. The album consists of R&B, country, pop and blues standards performed by Charles and several guest musicians, such as Natalie Cole, Elton John, James Taylor, Norah Jones, B.B. King, Gladys Knight, Diana Krall, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson and Bonnie Raitt. Genius Loves Company was the last album recorded and completed by Charles before his death in June 2004.

The album was produced as a collaboration of Concord Records and Hear Music, the record label owned by the coffee chain Starbucks.. MSN Money. Retrieved on 2005-02-06. It served as the first original non-compilation release by Hear Music, as well as one of Ray Charles' most commercially successful albums. On February 2, 2005, Genius Loves Company was certified triple-platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America following sales of over three million copies in the United States.. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on 2008-15-08. The album featured an iconic image by photographer Norman Seeff on the cover.

Reception

Commercial performance

The release of Genius Loves Company was preceded by a period of mostly mediocre LP releases by Charles and critical slide after the massive success of his 1962 crossover opus Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2008-11-09.Hoard (2004), pp. 154–156. Genius Loves Company proved to be a comeback success, in terms of sales and critical response, quickly becoming Charles' first top-10 album in forty years and the best-selling record of his career.. NPR. Retrieved on 2008-11-08.. EMI Catalogue. Retrieved on 2008-11-08. The release of Genius Loves Company served as Charles' two-hundred fiftieth of his recording career, as well as his last recorded effort before his death on June 10, 2004.. Ray Charles Enterprise, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-11-08.

Within its first week of release, the album sold over 200,000 copies in the United States alone,. Business Wire. Retrieved on 2008-12-26. while it debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart, eventually ascending to #1 on March 05, 2005, becoming Charles' first #1 album since Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music in 1962. Genius Loves Company also received a significant amount of airplay on jazz, blues, R&B, urban contemporary and country radio stations, as well as critical praise from well-known publications and music outlets. By the first month of its release, the album had shipped over two million copies in the United States and shipped more than three million worldwide, receiving gold, silver and platinum certifications across North America, Europe and several other regions. The massive commercial success of the album (over 5.5 million copies were sold worldwide up to 2007). Chicago Tribune. 2007-03-17. was attributed in part to it being distributed and promoted via Starbucks coffeehouses, as well as the distribution and marketing relationship between Concord Records and the Starbucks Hear Music label. The Starbucks Coffee Company proved to be singularly responsible for nearly thirty-percent of the total domestic sales of the album. Following several certifications of gold, platinum and multi-platinum in the United States during the fall of 2004, Genius Loves Company earned a triple-platinum sales certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 2, 2005.

Grammy Awards

In December 2004, announcements were made that the album had earned ten Grammy Award nominations.. CBS Interactive, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-11-15. At the 47th Grammy Awards on February 13, 2005, Genius Loves Company lead the annual ceremony with a total of eight awards, including Album of the Year, while its hit single "Here We Go Again" won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Awards won are as listed below:. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved on 2008-11-15.

*Record of the Year: John Burk (producer), Terry Howard, Al Schmitt (engineers/mixers), Ray Charles & Norah Jones for "Here We Go Again"

*Album of the Year: John Burk, Don Mizell, Phil Ramone, Herbert Waltl (producers), Terry Howard (producer & engineer/mixer), Robert Fernandez, John Harris, Pete Karam, Joel Moss, Seth Presant, Al Schmitt, Ed Thacker (engineers/mixers), Robert Hadley, Doug Sax (mastering engineers)

*Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): Victor Vanacore (arranger) for "Over the Rainbow" performed by Ray Charles & Johnny Mathis

*Best Gospel Performance: Ray Charles & Gladys Knight for "Heaven Help Us All"

*Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals: Ray Charles and Norah Jones for "Here We Go Again"

*Best Pop Vocal Album: Ray Charles and various artists

*Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: Robert Fernandez, John Harris, Terry Howard, Pete Karam, Joel Moss, Seth Presant, Al Schmitt & Ed Thacker (engineers)

*Best Surround Sound Album: Al Schmitt (surround mix engineer), Robert Hadley & Doug Sax (surround mastering)

Chart history

Album

Singles

Personnel

*John Acevedo - Viola

*John Acosta - Cello

*Sai Ly Acosta - Violin

*Tawatha Agee - Vocals, Singer

*Abbey Anna - Design, Design Consultant

*Miguel Atwood - Ferguson Viola

*Briana Bandy - Viola

*Rick Baptist - Trumpet

*Michael Bearden - Keyboards

*Leanne Becknell- Oboe

*Brian Benning - Violin

*Brian Bennison - Copyist

*Robert Berg - Viola

*Wayne Bergeron - Trumpet

*David Blumberg - Arranger, String Arrangements

*Charles Boito - Clarinet

*Reverend Dave Boruff - Saxophone

*Ray Brinker - Drums

*Leslie Brown - Violin

*John Burk - Producer, Liner Notes, Executive Producer

*James Chip Burney - Choir, Chorus

*Rosemary Butler - Choir, Chorus

*Kristy Cameron - Design

*Ray Charles - Piano, Keyboards, Vocals, Author

*Daphne Chen - Violin

*Elenore Choate - Harp

*Tim Christensen - Double Bass

*Ronald Clark - Violin

*Janey Clewer - Choir, Chorus

*Reginald Clews - Violin

*Natalie Cole - Author, Guest Appearance

*Mark Converse - Percussion

*Larry Corbett - Cello

*Franklyn d'Antonio - Violin

*Charlie Davis - Trumpet

*Jill Dell'Abate - Production Coordination

*Greg Dennon - Assistant Engineer

*Joel Derouin - Violin

*Ken Desantis - Assistant Engineer

*Steve Deutsch - Digital Editing

*George Doering - Guitar

*Assa Dori - Concert Master

*Kevin Dorsey - Choir, Chorus

*Assa Drori - Concert Master

*DeAnte Duckett - Choir, Chorus

*Chris Dunn - A&R

*Clydene Jackson Edwards - Choir, Chorus

*Michael Eleopoulos - Assistant Engineer

*Alan Ellsworth - Violin

*Alicia Engley - Violin

*Charles Everett - Violin

*Dennis Farias - Trumpet

*Charles Fearing - Guitar

*Andrew Felluss - Assistant Engineer

*Robert Fernandez - Engineer

*Brandon Fields - Baritone Saxophone

*Kirstin Fife - Violin

*Stefanie Fife - Cello

*Mark Fleming - Engineer

*Ronald Folsom - Violin

*Samuel Formicola - Viola

*Bruce Fowler - Trombone

*Tom Fowler - Bass

*Walt Fowler - Trumpet

*James Gadson - Drums

*Armen Garabedian - Violin

*Berj Garabedian - Violin

*Steve Genewick - Assistant Engineer

*Jim Gilstrap - Choir, Chorus

*Suzanna Giordono - Viola

*Gary Grant - Trumpet

*Nick Grant - Violin

*Keith Gretlein - Assistant Engineer

*Ken Gruberman - Copyist

*Amy Wickman Guerra - Violin

*Robert Hadley - Mastering

*Larry Hall - Trumpet

*Trevor Handy - Cello

*John Harris - Engineer

*David Hayes - Bass

*Xiao Niu He - Violin

*Trey Henry - Bass, Double Bass

*Scott Higgins - Timpani

*Gerry Hilera - Violin

*Mary Hogan - A&R

*Matt Holland - Trumpet

*Terry Howard - Producer, Engineer

*Greg Huckins - Flute

*Alexander Isles - Trombone

*Danny Jacob - Guitar

*John Jennings - Photography

*Elton John - Author, Guest Appearance

*Bashiri Johnson - Percussion

*Norah Jones - Piano, Author, Guest Appearance

*Tony Kadleck - Trumpet

*Hardi Kamsani - Assistant Engineer

*Pete Karam - Engineer

*Suzie Katayama - Cello

*Leslie Brown Katz - Violin

*Bill Kaylor - Assistant Engineer

*Jim Keltner - Drums

*Jaroslav Kettner - Violin

*Jeff Kievit - Trumpet

*David Kilbride - Violin

*B.B. King - Guitar, Author, Guest Appearance

*Gladys Knight - Author, Guest Appearance

*Raymond Kobler - Violin

*Diana Krall - Author, Guest Appearance

*Irvin "Magic" Kramer - Rhythm Guitar

*Johana Krejci - Violin

*John Krovoza - Cello

*Armen Ksadjikian - Cello

*Steve Kujala - Flute

*Lisa Laarman - Creative Director

*Abraham Laboriel - Bass

*Michael Landau - Guitar

*Timothy Landauer - Cello

*Songa Lee - Violin

*Tricia Lee Violin

*David R. Legry - Liner Notes

*Martha Lippi - Cello

*Irene Madison - Choir, Chorus

*Paul Manaster - Violin

*Shawn Mann - Viola

*George Marinelli - Guitar, Photography

*Don Markese - Clarinet

*Edith Markman - Violin

*Michael Markman - Violin

*Andrew Martin - Trombone

*Fred Martin & the Levite Camp - Choir, Chorus

*Rob Mathes - Conductor

*Johnny "Country" Mathis - Author, Guest Appearance

*Robert Matsuda - Violin

*Bob McChesney - Trombone

*Clarence McDonald - Piano, Arranger

*Michael McDonald - Keyboards, Author, Guest Appearance

*Joe Meyer - French Horn

*Alethea Mills - Choir, Chorus

*Jeff Mironov - Guitar

*John Mitchell - Bassoon

*Don Mizell - Producer

*Dennis Molchan - Violin

*Suzette Moriarty - French Horn

*Charlie Morillas - Trombone

*Horia Moroaica - Violin

*Chavonne Morris - Choir, Chorus

*Seven Morris - Choir, Chorus

*Van Morrison - Author, Guest Appearance

*Joel Moss - Engineer

*Jennifer Munday - Violin

*Vitaliano Napolitano - Photography

*Willie Nelson - Guitar, Author, Guest Appearance

*Maria Newman - Viola

*Aminah Ofumbi - Choir, Chorus

*Igor Pandurski - Violin

*Alan Pasqua - Piano

*Todor Pelev - Violin

*Shawn Pelton - Drums

*Edward Persi - Viola

*Robert Peterson - Concert Master

*Casey Phariss - Assistant Engineer

*Darryl Phinnessee - Choir, Chorus

*Andrew Picken - Viola

*Charles Pillow - Tenor Saxophone

*Vladimir Polimatidi - Violin

*Seth Presant - Digital Editing

*Billy Preston - Hammond Organ

*Bonnie Raitt - Slide Guitar, Author, Guest Appearance

*Phil Ramone - Producer

*Shanti Randall - Viola

*Michele Richards - Violin

*Steve Richards - Cello

*David Riddles - Bassoon

*Carolyn Riley - Viola

*Kathleen Robertson - Violin

*John "4 Daddman" Robinson - Drums

*Julie Rogers - Violin

*Anatoly Rosinsky - Violin

*Nancy Roth - Violin

*Robert Sanders - Trombone

*Tom Saviano - Saxophone

*Doug Sax - Mastering

*Kenny Scharf - Trumpet

*Al Schmitt - Engineer, Mixing, String Engineer

*Norman Seeff - Photography

*Richard Shaw - Double Bass

*Bob Shepard - Saxophone

*Dennis Shirley - Photography

*Jaime Sickora - Assistant Engineer

*Joel Singer - Assistant Engineer

*Jamie Siskkora - Assistant Engineer

*Patricia Skye - French Horn

*Bill Airey Smith - Assistant

*Wally Snow - Percussion

*Kurt Snyder - French Horn

*Joe Soldo - Contractor

*Jay Spears - Assistant Engineer

*Edmund Stein- Violin

*Rudolph Stein - Cello

*David Stenske - Violin, Viola

*Dave Stone - Double Bass

*Joseph Stone - Horn (English), Oboe

*James "J.T." Taylor - Author, Guest Appearance

*Ed Thacker - Engineer

*Vaneese Thomas - Vocals, Singer

*Michael Thompson - Guitar

*Fonzi Thornton - Vocals, Singer

*Darrell Thorp - Assistant Engineer

*Raymond Tischer - Viola

*Richard Todd - French Horn

*Kevan Torfeh - Cello

*Mike Vaccaro - Contractor

*David Vanacore - Score Assistance

*Victor Vanacore - Arranger, Score Assistance

*Karl Vincent - Double Bass

*Irina Voloshina - Violin

*Randy Waldman - Piano, Arranger, Keyboards, Rhythm Arrangements

*David F. Walther - Viola

*Herbert Waltl - Producer

*Jennifer Walton - Violin

*Zheng Wang - Violin

*Clarissa Watkins - Choir, Chorus

*Dynell Weber - Violin

*John West - Choir, Chorus

*Ken Wild - Double Bass

*Martin Winning - Tenor Saxophone

*North Wood - Violin

*Terry Woods - Choir, Chorus

*Margaret Wooten - Violin

*Alwyn Wright - Violin

*Phil Yao - French Horn

*Ken Yerke - Violin

*Yang-Qin Zhao - Cello

Notes

References

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Artist/Band Information

Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930June 10, 2004), better known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records.Unterberger, Richie. . Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-11-26. He also helped racially integrate country and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, most notably with his Modern Sounds albums.. About.com. Retrieved on 2008-12-12.. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2008-11-09.Tyrangiel, Josh. . Time. Retrieved on 2009-07-21. While with ABC, Charles became one of the first African-American musicians to be given artistic control by a mainstream record company.VH1 (2003), p. 210. Frank Sinatra called Charles “the only true genius in show business.”