Marty Stuart added, "People remember the big hits and the visual image of him, but they forget what an innovator he was in the 1950s as a jazz musician."

The BBC has a nice collection of tributes:

Soul legend Stevie Wonder called Charles an "incredible musician, singer, writer and a great man" whose life should be celebrated.

Michael Jackson said he was sad to hear of the death of his friend, calling him an "American treasure".

He said: "His music is timeless, his contribution to the music industry unequalled, unparalleled." Charles died of acute liver disease on Thursday.

Jackson added: "He paved the way for so many of us, and I will forever remember him in my heart."

And Stevie Wonder also said: "He was just incredible because he was a great musician, he was a genius in the true meaning of the word genius. He was able to bring various genres of music together."

Former Manfred Mann singer Paul Jones told BBC News Online Charles was a big influence on the band in its formative days.

Jones - who sang 1960s hits such as Pretty Flamingo and Do Wah Diddy Diddy - said: "In common with all the true greats, he committed his whole personality into the performance of the song.

"He wrote some fantastic things, but his brilliance also comes through in his interpretation of pop songs and standards."

....Neil Sedaka described Charles as "my idol".

"I bought all of the R&B records and songs," he said. "I am shaken by it... he was a great spokesperson not only for black America but for all of America."

Former Doobie Brothers singer Michael McDonald reminisced about his memories of listening to Charles' music.

"For me personally, my earliest, some of my fondest memories are before I could even see over the dashboard of my father's Ford," McDonald said.

"He and I would crank the radio every time Ray Charles came on - Born to Lose and I Can't Stop Loving You and all of Ray's stuff - it seemed that the whole world would fill up with Ray Charles in that old Ford and it was for me such an incredible inspiration.

You can hear Ray speak directly to you on his website here.