Song by Song: "Georgia on My Mind" Quiz

Answer: Hoagy Carmichael

Although Ray Charles popularized the song, the music was written by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Stuart Gorrell. A Tin Pan Alley songwriter, Carmichael was born in 1899 in Bloomington, Indiana. He was an early adapter of modern technology and among the first songwriters of his generation to utilize microphones and sound recordings. On September 15, 1930, he recorded "Georgia on My Mind" in New York City accompanied by jazz cornetist Bix Beiderbecke.

Answer: sweet

The song is written vaguely enough that it's unclear whether it's about a woman or the state, and it can be sung with equal tenderness for both. But in his autobiography "Sometimes I Wonder," Hoagy Carmichael wrote that he got the idea for the song from Frankie Trumbauer, a saxophonist who told him he should write a song about the state of Georgia.

Answer: His driver

According to Rolling Stone magazine, it was Charles's driver who, after hearing Ray sing the song, suggested he add it to the album he was then working on. The 1960 album, "The Genius Hits the Road," consisted of songs with place names in their titles. Rolling Stone ranked the Ray Charles version of "Georgia on My Mind" number 44 on its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list in 2003.

Answer: Designing Women

An instrumental version of the song was performed by Doc Severinsen for seasons one and two of "Designing Women" and by Bruce Miller in seasons three, four, and five. In season six, Ray Charles was shown performing the song on piano during the opening credits while the cast watched.

Answer: pines

Georgia is known for its many varieties of pine trees, including eastern white, longleaf, pitch, spruce, and sand. Ray Charles's version of the song was released with "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" on the B-Side.

Answer: Jimmy Carter

"Jimmy The C," a claymation short, was created by Robert Grossman, James Picker, and Craig Whitaker and filmed in 1977. Carter sang the Ray Charles version of the song. Ray Charles's version, when first released in 1960, remained at the number one spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for 13 weeks.

Answer: The Band

The Band recorded a studio version of the song to be used during Jimmy Carter's 1976 presidential campaign. It was released as a single that year and then later included on their 1977 album "Islands." They had also frequently played the song when part of Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks.

Answer: arms / eyes

The song continues:

"The road leads back to you, to you, my beautiful Georgia
Georgia, no peace I find
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind."

"Georgia on My Mind" has been covered by artists as varied as Michael Bolton, Tom Jones, James Brown, and Cold Chisel. In 1931, it was a hit for jazz saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer. The Righteous Brothers brought the song to number 62 on the US Billboard in 1966.

Answer: Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson's version of the song peaked at number one on the U.S Hot Country Songs Billboard. It also peaked at number one on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks but only reached 84 overall on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Born in Abbott, Texas in 1933, Willie Nelson was the first recipient of the Country Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Answer: Van Morrison

The album, released in 2002, nostalgically reflects on the blues Van Morrison listened to in his youth and includes such songs as "Whatever Happened to P.J. Proby?" The album peaked at number 25 on the U.S. Billboard 200. Born George Ivan Morrison in Belfast, Northern Island in 1945, Van Morrison has released over 40 studio albums.