Chris Stapleton Performs Alongside Legendary Harmonica Player Mickey Raphael

Chris Stapleton and Mickey Raphael performed a breathtaking version of the classic song “Georgia on My Mind.”

During a recent appearance at the Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee, Mickey Raphael, Willie Nelson’s longtime harmonica player, took the spotlight for a headlining show.

Throughout the night, the legendary musician welcomed some famous friends to join him on stage, including ZZ Top’s lead singer Billy F. Gibbons and Chris Stapleton.

About “Georgia on My Mind”

“Georgia on My Mind” dates back to 1930 when Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell wrote it. The first recording of the song was by Carmichael at RCA Victor Studios. However, most people recognize the classic from soul singer Ray Charles. Charles, a Georgia native, recorded it for his 1960 album The Genius Hits the Road.

Since then, the song has become Georgia’s official state song. It has also been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame twice— once in 1993 for Ray Charles’ iconic recording and again in 2014 for Hoagy Carmichael’s original version.

Country icon Willie Nelson also released his extremely popular take of “Georgia on My Mind.” Willie Nelson’s version of the track was featured on his 1978 album Stardust and became a No. 1 hit. The song earned him a Grammy Award in 1979 for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.

Nelson’s rendition of “Georgia on My Mind” is famously known for featuring Mickey Raphael’s harmonica playing. So, it was only fitting that Raphael and Chris Stapleton took the stage together to put their own spin on the song that remains incredibly loved decades later.

If you didn’t know, Raphael and Stapleton now tour together. The event where they performed “Georgia on My Mind” also helped raise funds for Stapleton and his wife Morgane’s charity, Outlaw State of Kind.

Watch Michael Raphael and Chris Stapleton perform “Georgia On My Mind” in the video below.