when did ray charles sing georgia on my mind
Over the next four decades his unique voice, passionate style of playing the piano, and tireless showmanship made him a legendary figure in the world of entertainment. In the popular imagination Ray Charles will probably always be linked with his rendition of Georgia on My Mind, his number-one pop hit of 1960. Over the next forty years, this old sweet song remained his signature piece, becoming Georgia's official state song in 1979.
29 Black Music Milestones: Ray Charles' 'Georgia' Becomes State Song. While the song Georgia On My Mind had been around for thirty years when Ray Charles -- at the suggestion of his driver -- learned the words and recorded it in 1960, it wasn't until the piano man sang the tune that it became a hit... and the official Georgia state song. On March 7, 1979, Georgia On My Mind became Georgia's state song. To celebrate the moment, Charles was invited to perform it for state legislators, their wives and children at the state capital building in Atlanta.