Hired for a car commercial, he actually drove a car without assistance - in the Death Valley desert. He said that it was one of the most exciting experiences of his life.
His best known hit in America was his 1962 pop hit "I Can't Stop Loving You," which spent five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 charts.
In 1981 he was heavily criticized for touring South Africa.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 as part of the institution's inaugural 10-member class that included Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, James Brown and Jerry Lee Lewis. He also received the Recording Academy's lifetime achievement award at the 1987 Grammy Awards.
Legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives to award him the Congressional Gold Medal. (February 2005)
Not to be confused with the choral director, Ray Charles, of The Ray Charles Singers on "Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall" (1948) (1955-1963).
One of the few black performers to have a No. 1 song on Billboard magazine's country charts, that being a 1985 duet with Willie Nelson called "Seven Spanish Angels".
One of the first singers to own his own master recordings.
Performed at Ronald Reagan's second inauguration in 1985 and also at Bill Clinton's first inauguration in 1993.
Voted the second greatest singer of the rock era in a Rolling Stone magazine poll in 2008.
Was an admirer of singer Nat 'King' Cole and even imitated his style in his early performances, which guaranteed him continued work before perfecting his own style.
Was the first artist to combine both R&B and Gospel together.