On March 7, 1979, Georgia native Ray Charles performed the song at the state capitol. Having always liked Carmichael’s Georgia on My Mind, the song was a logical inclusion. The album is an early example of a concept album and features 12 songs with geographical locations. On April 24, 1979, Ray Charles’ version of “Georgia on My Mind” was chosen as the official State Song of Georgia. In 1960, Ray Charles decided to record his album The Genius Hits the Road. Charles’ version of the song became a huge success and topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1960. With Ray Charles’ approval, ABC Records released “Georgia on My Mind” as a single.

“It was just a beautiful, romantic melody.” Ray Charles – By Eric Koch for Anefo – CC0 “I’ve never known a lady named Georgia and I wasn’t dreaming of the state when I recorded the song, even though I was born there,” Ray Charles wrote in his biography. Having always liked Carmichael’s “Georgia on My Mind”, the song was a logical inclusion. In 1960, Ray Charles decided to record his album The Genius Hits the Road. Gorrell wasn’t a writer or musician, but instead a banker, and never wrote another lyric ever again. Oddly enough, “Georgia on My Mind” is the only lyric he ever wrote. Sadly enough, Gorrell never shared an insight into the song’s meaning. It’s also important to note that most of the lyrics were written by Stuart Gorrell. Given the fact Hoagy Carmichael wrote in his own biography the song was written about the state of Georgia, it’s sensible to consider his account as more reliable. A newspaper article in 1942, however, claims Carmichael wrote the song for his sister, Georgia Carmichael.

It’s easy to assume “Georgia on My Mind” is a song about the state of Georgia, and according to the song’s writer Hoagy Carmichael, this is indeed the origin behind the song. In 1931, Frankie Trumbauer – who suggested the song’s idea to Carmichael – had the first hit recording of the song. “Georgia on My Mind” was eventually recorded and released at the end of 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael and his Orchestra. “Later I sat down at the Shackelfords’ piano, gave it some thought, and wrote it out, note by slow note.”Īfter hearing the song’s melody, roommate Stuart Gorrell decided to help Carmichael and wrote the lyrics of the song.

“One day he said, “Why don’t you write a song called Georgia? Nobody lost much writing about the South,” Carmichael reflected in his biography. The two reunited and decided to become roommates.Īccording to Hoagy Carmichael, the song originated when jazz saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer suggested Carmichael to write a song about the state of Georgia. When Carmichael moved to New York in 1929 – where he would become one of the most successful Tin Pan Alley songwriters – he found out his old friend Gorell lived there too.

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