Steven Wagner - Stevan Vagner, Podrum COLLEGIUM MELODIUM, World music museum in Belgrade, SLAVKO, RUDI, BOKICA and NIDJA, present,"Hit the Road Jack" a song written by rhythm and bluesman Percy Mayfield and first recorded in 1960 as an a cappella demo sent to Art Rupe. It became famous after it was recorded by singer-songwriter-pianist Ray Charles with The Raelettes vocalist Margie Hendricks. <br />The song, which has a strong beat, is a brief, rather comic duet between a fed-up woman and her good-for-nothing man. He tries to wheedle her into letting him stay, but she will have none of it, "Don't care if you do 'cause it's understood: you ain't got no money, you just ain't no good." <br />Ray Charles' recording hit number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, beginning on Monday, October 9, 1961 "Hit the Road Jack" also got a Grammy award for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording. The song was also number one on the R&B Sides chart for five weeks and becoming Ray Charles' sixth number one on that chart.The song is ranked #387 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
