Georgia On My Mind.
This amazing song is celebrating it's 90th birthday this year, as well as the 60th anniversary of the Ray Charles recording. Ray took it to the top of the charts in 1960. Willie Nelson did it again in 1978.
I remember playing Dave Barduhn's killer big band arrangement of it in college in the early 90s. We played it not unlike this band plays it. Maybe not as good. Maybe. But, and in addition, that big band is led by my college jazz band director, who (if I recall the story correctly) played the same arrangement of "Georgia" when HE was in college. A sweet song with 90-years of generational legacy.
There ya go. That's it. That's my connection to Georgia: Not only have I kept Georgia on my mind, but have helped others keep it on their minds by performing fabulous versions of that timeless tune for public enjoyment.
(I mean, I know playing bass trombone 25 years ago in the jazz band of a small private university about as far away from the state of Georgia as you can get ain't much... but its not nothing.)
"Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind"
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Some other great versions:
Doc Severinsen with the Tonight Show Band, 1988
Usher at Ray Charles' Smithsonian Tribute at the White House, 2016
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