Blues singer funds black culture

Charles was awarded an honorary degree by Dillard this year

Ray Charles has donated $1m (£598,261) to a US university to create a course about black culture.

Dillard University in New Orleans received the money from the blues singer to fund a teaching position and set up a designated programme.

The course will be devoted to the musical, culinary and linguistic contributions of black Americans.

Charles, 73, donated the cash in the name of the hearing disorders clinic he founded in 1987.

The star received an honorary degree in May from Dillard, which is a predominately black college associated with the United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ.

Charles, who has been blind since the age of six, is considered a pioneer of soul music with hits including Georgia on My Mind and I Can't Stop Loving You.