HIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL WEEK 185—HIT THE ROAD JACK

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A huge hello to everyone in the @musiczone community. It is another wondrous week to share and enjoy varied musical renditions from varied musical talents all across the globe. I look forward to watching some of the renditions by other members of the community.

This is week 185 of the Hive Music Festival and this week I have chosen to serve up a rendition of an old classic by an artist I would consider for the title of King of Soul. The song is titled Hit The Road Jack.

Ray Charles was a revolutionary musician, a Black-American Singer-songwriter and pianist who was almost singlehandedly responsible for the birth of soul music in the 1950s.

Although originally written by Percy Mayfield after a failed romantic adventure, the song was later recorded and released by Ray Charles in 1960 and it went on to top the charts and later win a Grammy for Best Rhythm and Blues recording.

I personally love this song so much because it has such a swingy jive feel to it. The moment I start playing it, I'm taken back in my mind to a dusty old ballroom in the Wild West or something😂. A pretty woman in my hands, a revolver sheathed in my waist, and a half-full bottle of whiskey on the table waiting for me to be done dancing.

There's just something about the upbeat rhythm of the chords that make it danceable on almost any instrument. The lyrics of the song also add a lot of depth to the song. A song about heartbreak will always be relatable anyways.

I hope to someday be half the musician that Ray Charles was.

There is a 2004 biopic about Ray Charles's life that starrs Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles, you should check it out and watch it. I promise you'll love it.

Here is a link to a live performance of the original song on YouTube, straight from the horse's mouth.

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