Hoagy Carmichael composed “Georgia on My Mind” in 1930, and Ray Charles popularized it in 1960 with his blues rendition. The song became the official state song of Georgia in 1979. Its origins are unclear, with some sources suggesting it was written for a sister named Georgia, while others claim it was suggested by saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer. Many artists have recorded the song, including James Brown and Willie Nelson, and it has been featured in films and television shows. Ray Charles performed the song for Georgia state officials before it became the state song.
The state of Georgia owes a debt of gratitude to composer and pianist Hoagy Carmichael, lyricist Stuart Gorrell, and singer Ray Charles for his state song, “Georgia on My Mind.” Indiana-born Hoagy Carmichael composed the song in 1930 and recorded it the same year in New York. Georgia-born Ray Charles, who also recorded in New York, brought him to a wider modern audience in 1960 with his memorable and haunting blues rendition, which became a hit and reached the top of the charts. It became the official state song of Georgia in 1979.
The ballad’s lyrics and title lead people to believe that Hoagy Carmichael, who also acted in films, wrote it especially for the southern state. Some sources say he actually wrote it for a sister named Georgia. Her brother and sister were close and he missed being with her while he worked in New York.
Other sources state that “Georgia on My Mind” was composed specifically for the state of Georgia, thanks to a suggestion made by Frankie Trumbauer, saxophonist and band leader, to Hoagy Carmichael. He suggested Georgia as a topic because songs about the southern areas of the United States tended to be successful. Frankie Trumbauer recorded the song in 1931 and it reached the top 10 of the record charts.
Ray Charles, whose full name was Ray Charles Robinson, was born in Albany, Georgia in 1930, the same year Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell wrote “Georgia on My Mind.” He was fond of the song and it brought him recognition long before it became the state song of Georgia. His recording of “Georgia on My Mind,” from the album The Genius Hits the Road, brought him his first hit on a trio of consecutive hit records and a pair of Grammy awards in 1960, one for best pop performance and the other for Best Male Vocal Recording. Music legend has it that he recorded the song because he sang it so often that his chauffeur suggested he take it to the recording studio. The song was so closely linked to Ray Charles that another artist, country star Willie Nelson, performed it in 2004 at the singer’s funeral.
Many artists have recorded the Georgia state song, including Willie Nelson. Other recording artists include another Georgia-born singer, James Brown, as well as Michael Bolton, Django Reinhardt, Anita O’Day, Gene Krupa, and Louis Armstrong. He has been featured in numerous films and television shows, including the theme for “Designing Women” and as a signature for Georgia Public Television. Ray Charles performed the song himself in 1979 for Georgia state officials in Atlanta about six weeks before lawmakers approved “Georgia on My Mind” as the official state song of Georgia.
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