Georgia on My Mind

Hoagy Carmichael wrote the music and Stuart Gorrell the words in 1930. It is often said to be about Carmichael's sister Georgia, but in his memoir Carmichael credits saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer with suggesting a song called "Georgia." None of the people involved came from Georgia. Carmichael recorded it on September 15, 1930, with Bix Beiderbecke on cornet.

Ray Charles, born in Albany, Georgia, took it to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. In 1979 the Georgia legislature made his recording the official state song.