Mary Ann (Ray Charles song)

1956 single by Ray Charles

"Mary Ann"

Single by Ray Charles
Released| 1956
Genre| Rhythm & blues, blues
Length| 2:48
Label| Atlantic
Songwriter(s)| Ray Charles
Ray Charles singles chronology
| "Hallelujah I Love Her So"
(1956)  | "Mary Ann"
(1956)  | "Lonely Avenue"
(1956)

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"Mary Ann" is a song written and performed by Ray Charles and released in 1956 as a single on the Atlantic Records label. It was the fourth Ray Charles song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Best Selling Rhythm & Blues chart. The song is set to a Latin beat, but switches into a swing rhythm, an alternation that adds fun for the dancers.[1] It has been described as "a sexy blues,"[1] and "a lightly lascivious tune."[2]

The song was written about Mary Ann Fisher (1923–2004),[3] a singer who had recently joined Charles band as a featured vocalist in his touring shows. Despite Charles' marriage, the two became lovers, and Fisher appears on a number of his Atlantic recordings. Fisher left Ray Charles in 1958 after he had added the Raelettes, formerly the Cookies, as female vocal backup to his band.[4][5][6][7]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Michael Lydon (2004). Ray Charles: Man and Music, Updated Commemorative Edition. Routledge. p. 127\. ISBN 0203498321.
2. ^ Scott Schinder (2008). Icons of Rock. ABC-CLIO. p. 39\. ISBN 978-0313338465.
3. ^ Mary Ann Fisher, History Inspired. Retrieved 9 October 2016
4. ^ Lydon 2004, p. 122.
5. ^ Carin T. Ford (2007). Ray Charles: "I was Born with Music Inside Me". Enslow Publishers, Inc. p. 66. ISBN 978-0766027015.
6. ^ David Ritz, Ray Charles (2009). Brother Ray: Ray Charles' Own Story. Da Capo Press. pp. 167–169\. ISBN 978-0786728039.
7. ^ Ritz, David. 2009. Faith In Time: The Life of Jimmy Scott. Da Capo Press. P 122-125

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Ray Charles

Studio albums|

| Atlantic|

* Ray Charles (Hallelujah, I Love Her So)
* The Great Ray Charles
* Yes Indeed!
* Soul Brothers
* What'd I Say
* The Genius of Ray Charles
* The Genius Sings the Blues
* Soul Meeting
* The Genius After Hours
* True to Life
* Love & Peace

|

ABC|

* The Genius Hits the Road
* Dedicated to You
* Ray Charles and Betty Carter
* Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
* Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Vol. 2
* Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul
* Sweet & Sour Tears
* Have a Smile with Me
* Together Again / Country and Western Meets Rhythm and Blues
* Crying Time
* Ray's Moods
* Ray Charles Invites You to Listen
* A Portrait of Ray
* I'm All Yours Baby!
* Doing His Thing
* My Kind of Jazz
* Love Country Style
* Volcanic Action of My Soul
* Jazz Number II
* A Message from the People
* Through the Eyes of Love

Crossover|

* My Kind of Jazz Part 3

Columbia|

* Wish You Were Here Tonight
* Friendship
* From the Pages of My Mind
* Just Between Us

Warner Bros.|

* Would You Believe?
* My World
* Strong Love Affair

Other labels|

* Genius + Soul = Jazz
* Porgy and Bess
* Genius Loves Company

Posthumous
studio creations|

* Genius & Friends
* Ray Sings, Basie Swings
* Rare Genius

Live albums|

* Ray Charles at Newport
* Ray Charles in Person
* Live in Concert
* Ray Charles Live

Notable
compilations|

* Do the Twist! with Ray Charles
* Ray Charles Greatest Hits
* A Man and His Soul
* The Best of Ray Charles
* Anthology
* The Birth of Soul
* Ray Charles in Concert
* True Genius

Billboard Hot 100
top 10 singles|

* "What'd I Say"
* "Georgia on My Mind"
* "Hit the Road Jack"
* "One Mint Julep"
* "Unchain My Heart"
* "I Can't Stop Loving You " (c/w "Born to Lose")
* "You Don't Know Me"
* "You Are My Sunshine"
* "Busted"
* "Take These Chains from My Heart"
* "Crying Time"

Other Billboard Charts
#1 singles|

* "I Got a Woman"
* "A Fool for You"
* "Mary Ann"
* "Drown in My Own Tears"
* "Together Again"
* "Let's Go Get Stoned"
* "Seven Spanish Angels"
* "I'll Be Good to You"

Grammy Awarded Works
(not included above)|

* "Let The Good Times Roll"
* "Living for the City"
* "A Song for You"
* "Heaven Help Us All"
* "Here We Go Again"

See also|

* Discography
* Tangerine Records
* David "Fathead" Newman
* Fathead / Ray Charles Sextet
* Hank Crawford
* The Raelettes
* Ray
* soundtrack
* Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles
* Tribute to Uncle Ray
* "Confession Blues"

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

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