Unlike Carmichael, Gorrell or Trumbauer, Ray Charles (1930-2004) was actually born in Georgia ( the city of Albany, to be exact). Throughout the years it has also been covered by an ample number of artists. For instance, Willie Nelson dropped a version in 1978 which topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs listing as well as Canada’s Country Tracks chart. In 1979 it also won a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.īut as great achievements as those are, the quintessential rendition has been that of Ray Charles, which was released by ABC-Paramount Records during September of 1960. And it came out as part of “The Genius Hits the Road” (1960), which was actually his 12 th album. Covers and Achievements of “Georgia on My Mind” In fact Frankie Trumbauer came out with his own version of Georgia on My Mind in 1931, which reached number 10 on the music charts. The whole effort came about after Hoagy was tasked by one Frankie Trumbauer (1901-1956), a famous saxophonist, to pen a tune centered on Georgia (the US state).

In fact this is the only song he ever wrote in his life. This song actually dates back to 1930. That was the year in which Hoagy Carmichael (1899-1981) wrote it alongside Stuart Gorrell (1901-1963).Īnd just to note Stuart Gorrell, who penned the lyrics, was actually a banker by profession. The singer is in love with Georgia. And going back to the widely-accepted understanding of who or what “Georgia” is, that would be the Southern state – the place where Ray Charles was born – and not a woman. And even if Charles didn’t particularly lay down the track with the state of Georgia on his mind, the tune has still been rightfully adopted in such a manner nonetheless and, due to its overall quality, exalted accordingly.ĭid Ray Charles write “Georgia on My Mind” So conclusively, the sentiments being expressed aren’t anything that takes an extensive amount of wording to explain. In fact he finds it hard achieving a sense of “peace” when they are not together.

The Addressee of “Georgia on My Mind”īut going back to the ambiguity of the lyrics, at the center of the story being told is a female figure named “Georgia”. She holds a special place in the singer’s heart – so much so that he decided to dedicate an entire song to her. Indeed other such entities akin to Georgia try to seduce him. But it is only Georgia herself that he is interested in. And another purpose of him putting together this song is to ‘keep Georgia on his mind’ when he is far away from her. So if it was actually written as a song to Carmicheal’s sister, as some historians contend, then a more reasonable explanation would be something like Gorrell having been in love with her. However, an interesting story has persisted throughout the decades. And that is that one of its writers, Hoagy Carmichael, actually penned the tune as a dedication to his sister. But ultimately that theory doesn’t seem to hold much validity. For instance, it wasn’t Carmichael but rather his buddy, Stuart Gorrell, who wrote the lyrics. Also if you’re one of the people who deems the song as having a romantic undertone, as even Ray Charles did, well that isn’t the type of love one reserves for his own sister. You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Ray Charles's Georgia on My Mind at.

Georgia on my mind chord analysis