You Are My Sunshine - wikipedia You Are My Sunshine For other uses, see You Are My Sunshine ( disambiguation ). `` You Are My Sunshine '' Song by Pine Ridge Boys Published 1939 Songwriter ( s ) Jimmie Davis, Charles Mitchell ( disputed ) `` You Are My Sunshine '' is a popular song written by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell and first recorded in 1939. It has been declared one of the state songs of Louisiana because of its association with Davis, a country music singer and governor of the state in the years 1944 -- 1948 and 1960 -- 1964. The song has been covered numerous times -- so often, in fact, that it is `` one of the most commercially programmed numbers in American popular music. '' The song, originally country music, has `` virtually lost '' its original country music identity, and `` represent ( s ) both the national flowering of country music and its eventual absorption into the mainstream of American popular culture. '' In 1941, it was covered by Gene Autry, Bing Crosby, Mississippi John Hurt, Wayne King and Lawrence Welk. The versions by Autry, Crosby and King reached the US charts of the day. In subsequent years, it was covered by Doris Day ( 1951 ), Nat King Cole ( 1955 ), The Marcels, ( 1961 ), Ray Charles, Ike and Tina Turner, The Rivingtons ( 1962 ), Andy Williams ( 1963 ), Burl Ives ( 1968 ), Frank Turner, Aretha Franklin, Anne Murray ( 1979 ), Johnny Cash, Norman Blake, Brian Wilson, Mouse and the Traps, Gene Vincent, Jamey Johnson, Low, Mose Allison, Bryan Ferry, Carly Simon, Yusuf Islam, Andy Williams, and Johnny and the Hurricanes, amongst many others. The 1940 version by Davis has been added to the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress on March 21, 2013 for long - term preservation. Virginia Shehee, a long - time Davis family friend and member of the Louisiana State Senate from 1976 to 1980, introduced legislation to make `` You Are My Sunshine '' the official state song. In Gavin Lambert 's 1963 novel `` Inside Daisy Clover, '' Daisy often sings `` You Are My Sunshine '' to pick up her spirits when she 's feeling down. Contents 1 Early recordings 2 Authorship 3 Film appearances 4 See also 5 References 6 External links Early recordings Two versions of `` You Are My Sunshine '' were recorded and released in 1939 prior to Jimmie Davis ' version. The first was recorded for Bluebird Records ( RCA - Victor 's budget label ) on August 22, 1939 by The Pine Ridge Boys ( Marvin Taylor and Doug Spivey ), who were from Atlanta. The second was recorded for Decca Records on September 13, 1939 by The Rice Brothers Gang. This group was originally from north Georgia, but relocated to Shreveport, where they were performing on the radio station KWKH. The version by Jimmie Davis was recorded for Decca Records on February 5, 1940. The Pine Ridge Boys Rice Brothers Gang Jimmie Davis with Charles Mitchell 's Orchestra Authorship While Davis and Mitchell are the credited songwriters of `` You Are My Sunshine '', Davis was never known to actually claim authorship, as he bought the song and rights from Paul Rice and put his own name on it, a practice not uncommon in the pre-World War II music business. Some early versions of the song credit the Rice Brothers. Descendants and associates of Oliver Hood, a LaGrange, Georgia musician who collaborated with Rice, claim Hood wrote the song in the early 1930s, first performing it in 1933 at a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention at LaGrange, Georgia in 1933. According to some accounts, clarinetist Pud Brown was also involved with the Rice Brothers for the song 's origin or first arrangement. Davis said that for some time he had been enthusiastic about the song and had unsuccessfully tried to convince record companies to record it before finally making his own 1940 record of the song. Davis ' version was popular and was followed by numerous other covers, including those of Bing Crosby and Gene Autry, whose versions made the number a big hit. Davis emphasized his association with the song when running for governor of Louisiana in 1944, singing it at all his campaign rallies, while riding on a horse named `` Sunshine ''. Film appearances Take Me Back to Oklahoma ( 1940 ) - sung by Tex Ritter Strictly in the Groove ( 1942 ) - sung by Jimmie Davis. Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins ( 1975 ) See also List of number - one R&B singles of 1962 ( U.S. ) List of number - one R&B singles of 1963 ( U.S. ) References Jump up ^ CD liner notes : Disney Children 's Favorites 4, 1990 Disney Records ^ Jump up to : Stephen Deusner, `` ' You Are My Sunshine ' : How a Maudlin Song Became a Children 's Classic '', Salon.com, May 26, 2013. Jump up ^ `` A Bing Crosby Discography ''. BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved June 22, 2017. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 1986 ). Joel Whitburn 's Pop Memories 1890 - 1954. Wisconsin, USA : Record Research Inc. p. 615. ISBN 0 - 89820 - 083 - 0. Jump up ^ `` Simon & Garfunkel Song Among Those to Be Preserved by Library of Congress ''. Huntington Post. Retrieved 21 March 2013. Jump up ^ `` Virginia Ruth Kilpatrick Shehee ''. The Shreveport Times. Retrieved July 9, 2015. Jump up ^ Russell, Tony, and Bob Pinson. Country Music Records : A Discography, 1921 -- 1942 ( Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2004 ), p. 697. Jump up ^ Russell, Tony, and Bob Pinson. Country Music Records : A Discography, 1921 -- 1942 ( Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2004 ), p. 746. Jump up ^ Russell, Tony, and Bob Pinson. Country Music Records : A Discography, 1921 -- 1942 ( Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2004 ), p. 304. ^ Jump up to : Pappas, Theodore ( November 1990 ). `` The ' Theft ' of an American Classic ''. Chronicles. The Rockford Institute. ^ Jump up to : Lowe, Leslie ( 1992 ). Directory of Popular Music ( 3rd ed. ). Hastings, UK : Music Master. p. 355. ISBN 0 - 904520 - 70 - 6. Jump up ^ Reynolds, Fred ( 1986 ). The Crosby Collection 1926 - 1977 ( Part Two ed. ). Gateshead, UK : John Joyce. p. 220. External links Oliver Hood 's story Joel Whitburn Presents Top R&B / Hip - Hop Singles : 1942 -- 2004, 2004 ( Record Research ) pg. 113 Ray Charles Studio albums Atlantic Ray Charles ( Hallelujah, I Love Her So ) The Great Ray Charles Yes Indeed ! Soul Brothers What 'd I Say The Genius of Ray Charles The Genius Sings the Blues Soul Meeting The Genius After Hours True to Life Love & Peace Ai n't It So Brother Ray Is at It Again ABC The Genius Hits the Road Dedicated to You Ray Charles and Betty Carter Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Vol. 2 Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul Sweet & Sour Tears Have a Smile with Me Together Again / Country and Western Meets Rhythm and Blues Crying Time Ray 's Moods Ray Charles Invites You to Listen A Portrait of Ray I 'm All Yours Baby ! Doing His Thing My Kind of Jazz Love Country Style Volcanic Action of My Soul Jazz Number II A Message From The People Through The Eyes Of Love Crossover Renaissance My Kind of Jazz Part 3 Columbia Wish You Were Here Tonight Do I Ever Cross Your Mind Friendship The Spirit of Christmas From the Pages of My Mind Just Between Us Warner Bros. Would You Believe My World Strong Love Affair Other labels Genius + Soul = Jazz Porgy and Bess Thanks for Bringing Love Around Again Genius Loves Company Posthumous studio creations Genius & Friends Ray Sings, Basie Swings Rare Genius Live albums Ray Charles at Newport Ray Charles in Person Live in Concert Ray Charles Live Notable compilations Do the Twist ! with Ray Charles Ray Charles Greatest Hits A Man and His Soul The Best of Ray Charles Anthology The Birth of Soul Genius and Soul Ray Charles in Concert Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Singles `` What 'd I Say '' `` Georgia on My Mind '' `` Hit the Road Jack '' `` One Mint Julep '' `` Unchain My Heart '' `` I Ca n't Stop Loving You '' `` You Do n't Know Me '' `` You Are My Sunshine '' `` Busted '' `` Take These Chains from My Heart '' `` Crying Time '' Other Billboard Charts # 1 singles `` I Got a Woman '' `` A Fool for You '' `` Mary Ann '' `` Drown in My Own Tears '' `` Together Again '' `` Let 's Go Get Stoned '' `` Seven Spanish Angels '' `` I 'll Be Good to You '' Grammy Awarded Works ( not included above ) `` Let The Good Times Roll '' `` Living for the City '' `` A Song for You '' `` Heaven Help Us All '' `` Here We Go Again '' See also Discography David `` Fathead '' Newman Fathead / Ray Charles Sextet Hank Crawford The Raelettes Ray ( soundtrack ) Quincy Jones The Blues Brothers Here We Go Again : Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles Tribute to Uncle Ray `` Confession Blues '' Diet Pepsi Book Commons Wikiquote Smile Collapse Smiley Smile Brian Wilson Presents Smile The Smile Sessions The Smile Sessions track listing Side one `` Our Prayer '' `` Gee '' `` Heroes and Villains '' `` Do You Like Worms ( Roll Plymouth Rock ) '' `` I 'm In Great Shape '' `` Barnyard '' `` My Only Sunshine ( The Old Master Painter / You Are My Sunshine ) '' `` Cabin Essence '' Side two `` Wonderful '' `` Look ( Song for Children ) '' `` Child Is Father of the Man '' `` Surf 's Up '' Side three `` I Wanna Be Around / Workshop '' `` Vega - Tables '' `` Holidays '' `` Wind Chimes '' `` The Elements : Fire ( Mrs. O'Leary's Cow ) '' `` Love to Say Dada '' `` Good Vibrations '' Others `` Cool, Cool Water '' `` I Do n't Know '' `` He Gives Speeches '' `` Teeter Totter Love '' `` Three Blind Mice '' `` Tune X '' `` You 're Welcome '' `` You 're with Me Tonight '' Derivative songs `` Fall Breaks and Back to Winter ( W. Woodpecker Symphony ) '' `` She 's Goin ' Bald '' `` Ca n't Wait Too Long '' `` Mama Says '' `` Little Bird '' Associated people David Anderle The Beach Boys Frank J. Holmes Danny Hutton Van Dyke Parks Jules Siegel Derek Taylor Michael Vosse Paul Williams The Wrecking Crew Related articles Pet Sounds ( Sessions ) 20 / 20 Surf 's Up Good Vibrations : Thirty Years of The Beach Boys The Beach Boys bootleg recordings Beautiful Dreamer : Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile `` Brian Wilson is a genius '' Brother Records `` Do n't fuck with the formula '' `` Goodbye Surfing, Hello God ! '' Inside Pop : The Rock Revolution `` Rio Grande '' Smiling Pets The Act of Creation Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=You_Are_My_Sunshine&oldid=814874039 '' Categories : 1939 songs 1960 singles 1962 singles 1969 singles Jimmie Davis songs Brian Wilson songs The Beach Boys songs Andy Williams songs Billboard Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs number - one singles Music of Louisiana United States state songs Football songs and chants Symbols of Louisiana Songs written by Jimmie Davis Hidden categories : All articles with specifically marked weasel - worded phrases Articles with specifically marked weasel - worded phrases from June 2015 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Français Italiano 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Polski Русский Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 11 December 2017, at 12 : 36. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. 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Question: who wrote please don't take my sunshine away
Answer: Jimmie Davis