SING THE STATES #04: Georgia

Georgia, or The Peach State, was the 4th state to join the Union back in 1788. Atlanta is it's capital and biggest city, but a lot of the state is still green southern landscapes. Unfortunately, I've never been to Georgia, but I have a few good friends from there that definitely live up to the Southern Hospitality hype. Good people come from Georgia, that's what I always say. (Not really, but I could.) In random trivia, the movie Deliverance not only took place in Georgia, but was filmed there as well. I guess that might be a reason not to go to Georgia. Or if you do, just don't take any sketchy canoe trips down any backwoods rivers.

Musically, Georgia's produced some of the most influential R&B and Soul in the country; most notably Ray Charles, James Brown, Little Richard, and Gladys Knight (wow). It's also home to Outkast, one of the first hip-hop groups to make it commercially who weren't from LA or NY. R.E.M. hails from Athens, GA, and Cat Power was also born in the state.

Providing our song for Georgia is Iron & Wine (AKA Samuel Beam), who grew up in South Carolina and Florida not too far from The Peach State. If you love this guy like I do, you'll probably be excited to know that he'll be releasing a 2-disc B-sides and rarities album this May called Around The Well. In support, he'll also be playing two intimate shows each in New York, Seattle, Chicago, LA, and San Francisco. If you're able to make it to one of those, you can vote for what songs you want to hear HERE. Now there's some southern hospitality for ya.

Also considered: The 1900s - Georgia; Pierce Pettis - Georgia Moon; The Presidents of the United States of America - Peaches

Iron & Wine - Sodom, South Georgia
from the album Our Endless Numbered Days (Amazon/iTunes)


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