{"id":3177,"date":"2026-06-24T17:45:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T21:45:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.songfacts.com\/articles\/?p=3177"},"modified":"2026-06-24T17:45:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T21:45:57","slug":"hidden-history-behind-georgia-on-my-mind-by-ray-charles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.songfacts.com\/articles\/hidden-history-behind-georgia-on-my-mind-by-ray-charles\/","title":{"rendered":"Hidden History Behind \u201cGeorgia On My Mind\u201d by Ray Charles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ray Charles<\/a> was and remains a staple of American soul music. The pianist penned multiple iconic tracks throughout the decades, dating back to 1945. In the 1950s, Ray Charles pioneered soul music, mixing soul with elements of R&B, jazz, blues, and, controversially, gospel. Charles was a risk-taker, and his career showed that. It’s well known too, as his life was portrayed in the 2003 film Ray,<\/em> starring Jamie Foxx. The film is considered one of the greatest biopics of all time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What the film captured is an event that is often forgotten. Ray Charles came from the southern state of Georgia. In 1960, Charles gracefully covered the classic “Georgia On My Mind.<\/a>” The song was written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell in 1930. Charles version of the song hit No. 1 in 1960, becoming his first of three No. 1 hits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In March 1961, Ray Charles was scheduled to perform at Bell Auditorium in Augusta, Georgia. The venue was strictly segregated, and protestors were lined up outside. In a surprise move, Charles backed out of performing at the last minute in solidarity. It was a sold-out show, and concert promoters sued Charles for breach of contract. Following this, Charles was blackballed from performing in his own home state, while simultaneously, he refused to return to the state. Although he was never officially banned from the state, he wasn’t welcomed back during the height of the civil rights movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n