LOS ANGELES — Ray Charles, an Emmy-winning choral director, lyricist and composer who worked with Perry Como for three decades, sang the theme song for the television sitcom “Three’s Company” and didn’t mind being known as “the other Ray Charles,” died Monday at his Beverly Hills home. He was 96.

His death was confirmed by his son, Michael, who said his father had cancer.

During a career that spanned radio, television, films and records, Charles was known for his ability to create melodies and meld voices in an intimate, easy-listening style that was well-suited to TV musical revues of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. He arranged and composed music for such shows as “Your Hit Parade,” “Sha-Na-Na,” The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour” and “The Muppet Show,” and worked with Sid Caesar, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Julie Andrews, Tony Bennett and other stars.

Known as an authority on American popular music, Charles also was a consultant for “The Kennedy Center Honors” for 31 years.

The Ray Charles Singers recorded more than 30 of their own albums.

His name often caused confusion despite obvious differences from the black, blind soul singer.

Once during the Reagan administration, the white Charles was invited to join the line of Kennedy Center Honors guests allowed to meet the president. When Reagan was handed a card with Charles’ name on it, he did a double-take and quipped, “I didn’t know you came in two colors.”

Born Charles Raymond Offenberg in Chicago on Sept. 13, 1918, Charles won a radio singing contest at 13 and had his own 15-minute program by 16. He went on to study at Chicago Musical College and Central YMCA College.

He moved to New York in 1942 and began working in radio.

Charles’ wife, Bernice, died in 2002, and a daughter, Wendy, died in 2004. Besides his son Michael, he is survived by son Jonathan and four grandchildren.

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