Georgia On My Mind

Album: The Genius Hits The Road (1960)
Charted: 24 1
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Songfacts®:

  • This was written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell in 1930. Carmichael was an actor, performer, and popular songwriter - some of his other compositions include "Stardust" and "Winter Moon." Gorrell was a banker living in New York City, and he wrote the lyrics.
  • It's possible that this was written about a woman, not the state. Carmichael and Gorrell didn't live in Georgia, but Carmichael did have a sister named Georgia.
  • This was a #10 hit for a jazz saxophone player named Frankie Trumbauer in 1931. Many artists have recorded it over the years, including Louis Armstrong, James Brown (a Georgia native), Django Reinhardt, and Willie Nelson. Charles' version is by far the most famous.
  • Charles decided to record this song after his driver suggested it, since Ray kept singing it while riding in the car.
  • Ray Charles was born in Albany, Georgia. His family moved to Florida when he was still a baby.
  • The orchestra was arranged by Ralph Burns, Woody Herman's pianist.
  • This was recorded quickly in New York City - it took only four takes to complete (compared to Charles' usual 10-12 takes).
  • This won Grammy awards for Best Male Vocal Recording and Best Pop Song Performance. The album also won for Best Male Vocal Performance Album, and another song on the album, "Let the Good Times Roll," won for Best R&B Performance, giving Charles a total of four Grammys in 1960.
  • Five different versions of this song have made the US Hot 100. Here the four that came after Charles' recording:

    Righteous Brothers (#62, 1966)
    Georgia Pines Candymen (#81, 1967)
    Wes Montgomery (#91, 1968)
    Willie Nelson (#84, 1978)
    Michael Bolton (#36, 1990)
  • This was the first of three #1 singles on the US Hot 100 for Ray Charles. "Hit the Road, Jack" and "I Can't Stop Loving You" are his others.
  • On April 24, 1979, this became the official state song of Georgia, replacing a song title "Georgia." Ray Charles performed the song the ceremony that day, where it was decreed:

    The song "Georgia on My Mind," with lyrics by Mr. Stuart Gorrell and music by Mr. Hoagy Carmichael, has an enduring quality that has made it one of the best loved songs in America for many years.

    Although "Georgia on My Mind" describes a Georgian's love for his state, its beautiful melody and lyrics have given the song a worldwide appeal.

    "Georgia on My Mind" has been recorded by many outstanding artists, but the rendition by Mr. Ray Charles, a native Georgian, which was first recorded in 1958, has been greatly enjoyed by music lovers throughout the world.

    It is appropriate that the official State song should be a beautiful song that has wide appeal throughout the country, and "Georgia on My Mind" is an outstanding example of these qualities.
  • Willie Nelson sang this at Charles' funeral in 2004.
  • Charles won eight awards at the 2005 Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Album of the Year (for Genius Loves Company). He was honored throughout the show; Alicia Keys and Jamie Foxx performed this as part of the tribute. Foxx had recently portrayed Charles in the movie Ray.
  • Nelson's version was recorded for his 1978 album, Stardust, a collection of pop standards. Rick Blackburn, an executive at CBS Records Nashville who went on to become president of Atlantic Records, thought Nelson was nuts for taking on the project, thinking it would alienate his growing fanbase. Blackburn recalled Nelson's response in the 1988 biography Willie: "Willie said, 'Great songs are great songs no matter when they're written. The other thing is, my audience right now is young, college age, and mid-twenties. They'll think these are new songs, and at the same time we'll get the sentiment of the older audience who grew up with these songs but don't necessarily know the artist. We will bridge that gap."

    Nelson was right. The album went to #1 on the country albums chart and stayed on the chart for ten years. His rendition of "Georgia On My Mind" was also a #1 hit on the country singles chart and earned him the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1979.

Comments: 38

  • John R from Branson. MissouriI first heard tis version while still in high school. Always loved it and I became a professional musician and later played with people like Sinatra, Sammy Davis, etc. I am writing a transcription of this arrangement for a professional Broadway type show at this very moment. For those who do not believe it is about the state, than what about the line "Comes as clean and clear
    as Moonlight Through The Pines" THAT is Not about a girl.
  • Mike Richards Sucks from Ottawa, OntarioStuart Gorrell literally wrote just one song in his life...and this was it!
    Unfortunately he died in 1963, just a couple of years after Charles made the song legendary.
  • Bill from CanadaStuart Gorrell was from Indiana not Georgia. He lived in New York City.
  • Al Ford from GeorgiaThis song is about the State of Georgia, despite the fact that Carmichael had a sister named Georgia. Stuart Gorrell, who wrote the lyrics was from Georgia, and Carmichael states in one of his 2 biographies that it is about the state.
  • Markus from Laguna Niguel, CaliforniaPita ... the movie you seek is "Four Friends" from 1981. Craig Wasson and Jodi Thelen starred.
  • Pita from San Diego, California The song by Ray Charles “Georgia on my mind” was the last song on a soundtrack from a movie I thought was also names “Georgia” about three guys and a carefree girl (Georgia) who grew up together and who all quietly fell in love with her. I might be wrong on some details it it was a really good movie way before we had tablets and smartphones to play any movie genre we wanted. So on a cozy rainy day this movie played one Saturday afternoon and I have never forgotten it. A very moving well played story that I’ve asked around and looked for. I want to say Jason Alexander and the tall guy with curly hair from one of the “Ghost Buster” movies were in it and the girl I thought was Marissa Tomei but I looked and I cannot find it.
    Does anyone know what I’m talking about? Cause I sure don’t.
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaStormy, so glad for a sister named Georgia.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn May 19th 1965, Ray Charles performed "Georgia On My Mind" on the ABC-TV program 'Shindig!"...
    Five years earlier on September 26th, 1960 the song entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #94; seven weeks later on November 14th, 1960 it would peak at #1 {for 1 week} and it stayed on the chart for 13 weeks...
    It reached #3 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart; it was the third of five straight Top 10 records by Mr. Charles, started with "Sticks and Stones" {#2}, "Them That Got" {#10}, this one, then "Ruby" {#10}, and finally "Hit the Road Jack" {#1 for 5 weeks}...
    The 'Genius'; born Ray Charles Robinson, passed away on June 10th, 2004 at the age of 73...
    May he R.I.P.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 7th 1989, Georgia state representative Billy Randall sponsored a bill to make "Tutti-Frutti" the official state song. The bill did not pass...
    Ten years earlier on April 24th, 1979 the State of Georgia's General Assembly had adopted "Georgia On My Mind" as the official state song.
  • Ashley from Edmond, OkCharles + Music = Genius
  • Kerry from Greenville, TxWhen "Georgia On My Mind" became Georgia's state song, Ray Charles was invited to sing it in the state capital building in Atlanta. To see and hear this black man honored by the legislature of a state formerly in the Confederacy was a great experience I will never forget.
  • Laurent from Manama, BahrainThere are a few live recordings of Deep Purple that features a medley including "Georgia On My Mind" sung by Glenn Hughes.
  • Terry from Wakefield, United KingdomPure Soul. Ray's recordings with his Orchestra were an inspiration to British pop R&B singers and musicians like myself in the 60s.
    Saw Ray live at the Victoria Theatre London 1964.
    Unfortunatly Ray did too much jazzy improvisation on 'Georgia On My Mind' and in my mind ruined it.
    The trouble with many famous artistes is maybe not being satisfied with the recorded version that is imprinted in our minds and messing about with notes and tempo's etc. Elvis for one.
    That said Brilliant talents that get it right on vynil. Amen
  • Chelsea from Wichita, KyI'm too young to have kids now but I love this song SO much that if I have a girl, I'm naming her Georgia Mae after this song.
  • Eden from Folsom, Cai love when ray sings this, he put's so much feeling into it. i believe he wanted to sing this after he was banned from georgia for not playing at that concert.

    And im sure he thought this was the perfect way to get his feelings across
  • Jeffrey from Vancouver, WaAccording to more than one source, but pulled from the song's Wikipedia Page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_on_My_Mind) the song was written by Gorrell about Hoagy's sister, Georgia Carmichael.
  • Helen from Campbell, CaI didn't know anything about the composers of "Georgia on My Mind"--or that one of them, Hoagy Carmichael, had a sister named Georgia--until I found this site, but it was always clear to me that the song was originally about a woman, even though the U.S. state of Georgia later adopted it as its official song. I was a Beatles fan before I'd heard of Ray Charles, but I learned that the band was influenced by Charles and other R&B artists. Paul McCartney's reference to "Georgia on My Mind" in "Back in the U.S.S.R"--rendered as "and Georgia's always on my mind"--is both a reference to the former Soviet republic of Georgia, and a tribute to Ray Charles. "Back in the U.S.S.R" is a tribute to the Beach Boys & "California Girls", of course.
  • Stormy from Kokomo, InThis song has absolutely NOTHING to do with the state of Georgia. Hoagy Carmichael was born just north of my hometown of Kokomo, Indiana in Peru, Indiana, not in Georgia and attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana! He wrote this song when he was in New York City writing a score for a Broadway musical. The song is, in deed, dedicated to his sister Georgia who he was very close to and missed while he was in New York City. My parents were friends of Hoagy Carmichael and he told them how and why this song was written! (thanks - Stormy Werbe, Kokomo, Indiana)
  • Nicole from N/a, WiRay was a genius, great voice, broke every rule of singing and still managed to kick buns. I heard usher do this on the grammys a couple years ago as a tribute and it was amazing. with clips of the movie starring jamie foxx as ray. Usher's not quite as soulful, but still a great tribute.
  • Joelle from Atlanta, GaI'm german but my family and I moved to Georgia when I was still pretty young... We moved back to Germany last year. Everytime I listen to this song now, I remember the great time I had over in the states. The song is perfect for doing this!!!
  • Nathan from From The Country Of, Canadawhenever someone older hears this song, whether on the radio or i-pod they get really reflective i've always wondered why...a very good song.
  • Jon from Oakridge, OrRay Charles best, at least from what I've heard so far. I've got his greatest hit's CD and it's the best one on there.
  • Ramaz from Tiflis, EuropeStuart Gorell wrote the lyrics first and dedicated it to Hoagy Carmichael's sister Georgia Carmichael. Hoagy wrote music later. I am from the country of Georgia (Black Sea Coast) and this song is very popular here.
  • Greg from Victoria, Canadato Linda in London who said...."In the Beatles song Back In The U.S.S.R., Paul McCartney sings "thats Georgia's always on my my my my my mind" just thought i'd share that"
    .Georgia is a state/province in Russia/USSR.
  • Julien from Strasbourg, FranceThis song was also covered by Van Morrison or Maceo Parker (live). The Spencer Davis Group recorded an incredible cover of that song, with a deep soul-blues tempo over the verses and choruses, and an upbeat-jazzy tempo over the piano solo.
  • Patrick from Tallapoosa, GaA great song about the state of Georgia. Played every night on local PBS station along with video clips of different parts of the state, inluding Atlanta's skyline, Savannah, Stone Mountain Park, the N. GA Mountains, Athens, and other places as a sign-off signal. Also played at Stone Mountain Park's laser show w/ a moving tribute.
  • Casey from Chicago, IlDefinately one of the most ingenious musicians of all time at work in this song.
  • Kye from Tullahoma, TnTo be honest, I like Willie Nelson's adaptation of "Geogia On My Mind" because his has a feel good quality to it. His version is one of those songs you like to hear while in the Smoky Mountains or North Georgia.
  • Howard from St. Louis Park, MnBoz Scaggs also recorded a cover version of Georgia on My Mind.
  • Ken from Louisville, KyThis is now the official state song of Georgia. It is the only pop song to be an official state song, although the theme song for the Broadway musical "Oklahoma!" is now that state's official song.

  • Luna from London, EnglandIn the Beatles song Back In The U.S.S.R., Paul McCartney sings "thats Georgia's always on my my my my my mind" just thought i'd share that
  • Ross from Independence, MoThis is #44 in Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest songs.
  • Ross from Independence, MoThis is actually #44. Sorry
  • Matt from Millbrae, CaTruly a great song. Ray is a genius who will be missed.
  • Nicole from Apple Valley, MnA couple other artists that recorded this song were Billie Holiday (Jazz Vocalist) and Wes Montgomery (Jazz Guitarist).
  • Allison from New York, NyOne of the most beautiful songs ever recorded. Charles was a genius.
  • Robert from San Francisco, CaTitle song in the 1977 Academy nominated claymation short "Jimmy The C" by Jimmy Picker.
  • Deana from Indianapolis, InBecame the theme song for one season of "Designing Women", with Ray Charles playing in the intro.
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