Georgia on My Mind

#69 / May 13 Podcast

Hoagy Carmichael already was an established professional songwriter in 1930 when he penned the melody that soon would become the song “Georgia on My Mind.” Days later, he played the tune at a New York party where it was heard by Stuart Gorrell, his old friend and roommate from Indiana University.

Later Stuart and Hoagy stayed up on a cold, stormy night working together on the song. “In a third-floor apartment overlooking 52nd Street,” Gorrell recalled, “with cold feet and warm hearts, we looked out the window, and, not liking what we saw, we turned our thoughts to the pleasant Southland.” (Incidentally, Stuart later became a banker and never wrote another lyric in his life. What a shame!)

Some people say Carmichael wrote the song about his sister, Georgia; actually, though, years later when he wrote his autobiography Sometimes I Wonder, Hoagy recalled hearing his friend, saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer, saying that songs about states were almost always marketable. “Why don’t you write a song about Georgia?” Tram added. “Nobody ever lost money writing songs about the South.” Trumbauer joked that he’d even volunteer the first two words — "Georgia, Georgia..." — which, of course, Gorrell ended up using in his lyric.

Hoagy recorded “Georgia on My Mind” 92 years ago, with his long-time buddy, jazz legend Bix Beiderbecke, in the orchestra, soloing on muted cornet. That would be Bix’s last recording session, which is just another reason why “Georgia” just stays on our minds.

Enter Ray Charles

In 1960, Ray Charles, a native of Georgia, recorded a version of the song that went to No. 1 on the Billboard magazine. Charles’ recording has been the tune’s most widely-known rendition ever since. In fact, in 2003 Rolling Stone magazine put Brother Ray’s recording in its selections of the top 50 greatest songs of all times.

Our Take on the Tune

Most of what we played last week in Ashland was rather rollicking when we gathered to jam with our tribal elder, Doug Chaffin. However, whenever you get this bunch together, you don’t count on just one type of music. Here is the most mellow moment of the evening, with Veezy, Doug and Danny listening to each other on a whole ‘nother level. Click here to hear our latest go at the great “Georgia on My Mind.”