Ray Charles' New Duets Album...

Concord Records and Starbucks Coffee Company announced plans yesterday to release a new recording featuring duet performances with the legendary Ray Charles. The CD is slated for release at the end of the summer, and marks the beginning of an ongoing relationship between the two companies to produce and distribute new recordings under the Concord and Starbucks Hear Music brands.

The recently completed CD features Ray Charles performing handpicked songs with a plethora of well-known artists, such as Elton John, Norah Jones, BB King, Diana Krall, Michael McDonald, Johnny Mathis and Willie Nelson.

“The duets project has been a tremendous experience,” Charles said. “I am working with some of the best artists in the business, as well as some of my dearest friends.”

During a career that spans nearly six decades, Charles—a 13-time Grammy Award-winner and an original inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—has appeared on more than 250 recordings. While he has performed with various artists in the past, this new release will be his first full album of duets.

Also scheduled for release in October is a movie based on Charles’ life story, “Unchain My Heart: The Ray Charles Story,” starring Jamie Foxx in the title role.

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