Berklee Announces Inspired By Ray: the Ray Charles Symposium September 23, 2012

No other artist in history understood the connections between America's great musical styles - blues, jazz, gospel, and country - better than Ray Charles. On September 21-23, the Berklee American Roots Music Program presents Inspired By Ray: the Ray Charles Symposium, an artistic and academic conference that will study Charles's singular genius and his contributions to American music. The event concludes September 23 on what would have been Charles's 82nd birthday.

On Saturday, September 22, a concert celebrating Charles's music will be held at the Berklee Performance Center featuring legendary crooner Johnny Mathis; jazz guitarist John Scofield; blind singer-songwriter Raul Midón; Grammy-winning composer and Charles's former music director Victor Vanacore; guitarist/songwriter Doug Wamble; Tracy Bonham and Margaret Glaspy with the Wayfaring Strangers; and other acts to be announced this summer.

Though a series of panels, presentations, and concerts, the conference will explore a variety of topics that any serious consideration of Charles raises: his singing, piano playing, and arranging; the songs he performed; the relationship between jazz, blues, gospel, and country music in the U.S.; his business savvy; and his identity as a blind artist. For the full schedule of events, visit: http://berklee.edu/events/inspired-by-ray/schedule

Inspired By Ray: the Ray Charles Symposium is presented by the Berklee American Roots Music Program in collaboration with the Ray Charles Foundation. Registration is $100 and includes access to all panels and the concert at the Berklee Performance Center. To register, visit: http://berklee.edu/events/inspired-by-ray/registration