You Are My Sunshine

You Are My Sunshine is the title of a standard of Old- Time Music and later country music from 1939, the most stylish cross was on Evergreen.

Genesis

The authorship of You Are My Sunshine is controversial. It is certain that the original recording of the Pine Ridge Boys came from. However, existing from Marvin Taylor and Douglas Spivey Duo himself was not the author of the song, but Paul Rice has probably wrote it in 1937. Rice was with his brother Hoke Rice a member of the Rice Brothers Gang, which took up the song until three weeks later. An article in the Shreveport Times from 1956 confirmed that Paul Rice was the composer. The politically influential Jimmie Davis did in 1939, the radio station KWKH called to come in contact with Paul Rice. His wife was sick, so he needed money. The later governor of Louisiana, Jimmie Davies ( born September 11, 1899 † 5 November 2001), has acquired the rights from Paul Rice by an agreement dated December 16, 1939 at a price of $ 35. According to the contract be " Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell listed as authors of the aforementioned composition ... " The literature is unanimous that Jimmie Davis bought the composition for $ 35 from Rice. On January 30, 1940 You Are My Sunshine was filed by the music publisher Southern Music Publishing Inc. copyright of the lyricist composer Jimmie Davis with Charles Mitchell. Davis, who also made ​​recordings since December 4, 1928 in 1944 sang You Are My Sunshine during his campaign events, as he rode on a horse named "Sunshine". He was 1944-1948 and 1960-1964 Governor of Louisiana.

In the text, the protagonist of his lover speaks as sunshine, which makes him happy even with gray skies and asks her not him take away the sunshine. As a further refinement did not take place, the text also allowed for an interpretation as a children's song.

Rice, in turn, had in his band Oliver Hood, who claims that he was also a composer. In addition, considered as evidence against Davis that he had not recorded the song first. Charles Mitchell, in turn, was the steel guitar in the recording sessions by Jimmie Davis.

Publication and success

The Pine Ridge Boys added You Are My Sunshine in her very first recording session on 22 August 1939. The single You Are My Sunshine / Farther Along ( Blue Bird Records 8263 ) was published by the Pine Ridge Boys in September 1939, but they did not reach hereby in the hit parade. Tex Ritter sang it in the movie Take Me Back to Oklahoma ( U.S. Premiere: November 11, 1940). Only subsequent cover versions were able to prove medium ranks of the charts. Nevertheless, the Billboard magazine You Are My Sunshine evaluated at an early stage as the "pub and counter classics of 1941 ."

Since 1977, You Are My Sunshine is in accordance with Act 540 one of the two official national anthems of Louisiana. In the Songs of the Century, he has been ranked 14th

Cover versions

With at least 350 cover versions of the song belongs to the vielgecoverten songs. The Rice Brothers gear (13 September 1939) has indeed gecovert as the first song, but the true composer Paul Rice, which also confirms the indication on the record label. This was followed by Bob Atcher (17 January 1940) with the best-selling version, Jimmie Davis ( February 5, 1940, where Charles Mitchell is listed in the cast as a steel guitarist ) or Will Carter (Montana Slim; April 4, 1940 ). Only Wayne King (4 September 1940) was able to advance his version up to rank 20 of the U.S. charts. It was followed by the Airport Boys (30 September 1940), Lawrence Welk (26 March 1941), Gene Autry (June 18, 1941 rank 23), Bing Crosby (July 8, 1941 rank 19), Doris Day (5th September 1950 ), Erroll Garner (July 27, 1954), Nat King Cole (27 August 1955), Bill Haley (7 January 1960), Rick Nelson ( 12-13. April 1960 ), provide an up - tempo instrumental version Johnny & The Hurricanes ( October 1960; Rank 91).

The best placement of all versions reached Ray Charles (September 5, 1962 Producer: Sid Feller ). He came with his soul -oriented big band version up to Rank 7 on the pop charts and even won for 3 weeks the first rank of the Rhythm & Blues charts. This was followed by Gene Vincent (16 March 1964; Olympic Studios, London), Mitch Ryder ( October 1967; Producer: Bob Crewe), Johnny Cash (February 18, 1969 Bob Dylan & Carl Perkins: guitars) or Jerry Lee Lewis ( 6. September 1957; Ole Tyme Country Music LP, released in 1970; remake: December 15, 1977 ).