PDF Playlist
Ray Charles
About You Are My Sunshine
"You Are My Sunshine" is a song popularized by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell in 1939. It has been declared one of the state songs of Louisiana because of its association with Davis, a country music singer and governor of the state in the years 1944–1948 and 1960–1964. The song has been covered numerous times — so often, in fact, that it is "one of the most commercially programmed numbers in American popular music." The song, originally country music, has "virtually lost" its original country music identity, and "represent[s] both the national flowering of country music and its eventual absorption into the mainstream of American popular culture. " In 1941, it was covered by Gene Autry, Bing Crosby, Mississippi John Hurt, Wayne King and Lawrence Welk. The versions by Autry, Crosby, and King reached the US charts of the day. In subsequent years, it was covered by Doris Day (1951), Nat King Cole (1955), The Marcels (1961), Ray Charles (1962), Ike & Tina Turner, The Rivingtons (1962), Andy Williams (1963), Burl Ives (1968), Frank Turner, The Beach Boys, Aretha Franklin, Anne Murray (1979), Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Norman Blake , Brian Wilson, Mouse and the Traps, Gene Vincent, Jamey Johnson, Low, Mose Allison, Bryan Ferry, Carly Simon, Yusuf Islam, Copeland, Johnny and the Hurricanes, and Barbra Lica (2012), amongst many others. The 1940 version by Davis has been added to the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress on March 21, 2013, for long-term preservation. Virginia Shehee, a long-time Davis family friend and member of the Louisiana State Senate from 1976 to 1980, introduced legislation to make "You Are My Sunshine" the official state song.more »
- Year:
- 1988
- 3:01
- 91Views
- Playlists:
- #1
');var c=function(){cf.showAsyncAd(opts)};if(window.cf)c();else{cf_async=!0;var r=document.createElement("script"),s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];r.async=!0;r.src="https://srv.clickfuse.com/showads/showad.js";r.readyState?r.onreadystatechange=function(){if("loaded"==r.readyState||"complete"==r.readyState)r.onreadystatechange=null,c()}:r.onload=c;s.parentNode.insertBefore(r,s)};})();
Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!
The other night dear, as I lay sleepingOh I dreamed I held you in my armsWhen I awoke, dear, I was mistakenDo you know that I hung myOh my head and I criedOh you are my sunshine, my only sunshineGirl, you make me happy when skies are grayYou'll never never never know, how much I love youBut don't you to take my sunshine awayYou told me once, dear, that you really loved meAnd no one else could ever come betweenBut not you've left me and you love anotherAnd you have shattered all my dreamsYou are my sunshine, my only sunshineYou make me happy when skies are grayYou'll never never never know dear, how much I love youBut don't you to takeIf you love meIf you need meIf you want meI don't want you to takeI don't want you to takeMy sunshine away
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
');var c=function(){cf.showAsyncAd(opts)};if(window.cf)c();else{cf_async=!0;var r=document.createElement("script"),s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];r.async=!0;r.src="https://srv.clickfuse.com/showads/showad.js";r.readyState?r.onreadystatechange=function(){if("loaded"==r.readyState||"complete"==r.readyState)r.onreadystatechange=null,c()}:r.onload=c;s.parentNode.insertBefore(r,s)};})();
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American musician known as Ray Charles (to avoid confusion with champion boxer Sugar Ray Robinson.) He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records. He also helped racially integrate country and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, most notably with his Modern Sounds albums. While with ABC, Charles became one of the first African-American musicians to be given artistic control by a mainstream record company.Frank Sinatra called Charles “the only true genius in show business.” more »
2 fans
Genre »
Jazz
Style »
Soul-Jazz
Sheet Music PDF Playlist
Written by: Jimmie Davis
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
17 facts about this song
Song Origin"You Are My Sunshine" is one of the most well-known songs in the world, first recorded by Jimmie Davis in 1940. |
Authorship ControversyAlthough Jimmie Davis bought the rights to the song and is often cited as one of the composers along with Charles Mitchell, there is ongoing controversy about who originally wrote the song. |
Cover VersionsIn the 80 years since it was first recorded, the song has been covered by a wide variety of artists spanning many musical genres. |
Ray Charles VersionRay Charles' version of the song, released on his 1962 album "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music", was the first significant cover version and reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. |
Gene Autry VersionCowboy actor and musician Gene Autry also had a popular version of the song in the early 1940s. |
Country MusicThe song has been adopted by the country music community and has been covered by numerous artists in the genre, including Johnny Cash. |
Rock and RollIt's not just country artists who have covered "You Are My Sunshine". Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chuck Berry has also recorded a version, as did rockabilly artist Gene Vincent. |
Rhythm and BluesSome of the giants of R&B music, including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Ike & Tina Turner, have all covered "You Are My Sunshine". |
Pop MusicThe song has also made its way into pop music, with artists like Bing Crosby and Doris Day covering it. |
Folk MusicFolk artists like Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens) and Mississippi John Hurt have given their own unique takes on "You Are My Sunshine". |
Jazz MusicJazz pianist and singer Mose Allison has also covered "You Are My Sunshine". |
Soft RockRenowned soft rock artist Carly Simon recorded her version of the song on her 2008 album "This Kind of Love". |
State Song"You Are My Sunshine" has been designated one of Louisiana's state songs, because of Jimmie Davis, who served two non-consecutive terms as the state's governor. |
Worldwide AppealThe song has been translated into other languages and remains a standard in the repertoires of many musicians around the world. |
Bing Crosby VersionBing Crosby recorded this song in 1941 with Victor Young and His Orchestra. |
Jerry Lee Lewis VersionFamous pianist Jerry Lee Lewis recorded his version of "You Are My Sunshine" in 1972. |
Bryan Ferry VersionBryan Ferry, frontman of the rock band Roxy Music, also has his version of this famous song. |
more »
