Ray Charles Records 'What'd I Say' — A Landmark of American Music

Ray Charles recorded 'What'd I Say' in February 1959, releasing a record that became one of the best-selling and most culturally significant singles in American history, fusing gospel call-and-response with electric blues and jazz improvisation. The record reached number one on the R&B charts and broke into the pop top ten, crossing racial lines on radio. Music historians consistently rank it among the most important recordings of the twentieth century.