Georgia On My Mind — Ray Charles (1960)

Ray Charles's 1960 recording of Hoagy Carmichael's 1930 song made it the definitive soul ballad by replacing the jazzy original arrangement with a gospel-drenched performance featuring the Raelettes backing choir, strings, and Charles's trademark fusion of church ecstasy with secular longing. The song won the Grammy for Best Vocal Performance and Best Rhythm and Blues Performance in 1961, spent 1 week at number one, and was adopted as Georgia's state song in 1979.