A new collection of duets by Ray Charles will hit store shelves in September. Genius and Friends was started for Warner Music six years before the late singer recorded Genius Loves Company, the Concord Records set that sold more than three million copies and won eight Grammy awards. The new, 13-track album, will hit store shelves September 20 via Rhino Records.
The new release, which makes good on a deathbed promise that Ahmet Ertegun made to Charles, features Charles performing with Angie Stone, Mary J. Blige, Chris Isaak, Diana Ross, Ruben Studdard an the Harlem Gospel Singers, George Michael.
Also included on the new set is Alicia Keys’s performance of “America the Beautiful” at this year’s Super Bowl, where she sang the song alongside a video of Charles singing the song in 2001. Charles’ 1991 performance of “Busted” with Willie Nelson is also included.
In related news, the post office at 4960 West Washington Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, was renamed the Ray Charles Post Office Building Tuesday.