Ray Charles - America The Beautiful - Solo Gospel Piano

America the Beautiful is an American patriotic song. The lyrics were written by Katharine Lee Bates, and the music was composed by Samuel A. Ward Ward's. It was first published in 1910.
In 1976, while the United States celebrated its bicentennial, a soulful version popularized by Ray Charles peaked at number 98 on the US R&B charts.
Always loved the Ray Charles version and just had to cover it. Im playing in C Major and use a lot of diminished chords. This gospel style is what you'd expect to hear out of Ray. He was one of the best at re-inventing tunes everyone knows. Thanks for listening!

[@buenoha]

Oh beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife
Who more than self, their country loved
And mercy more than life
America, America may God thy gold refine
'Til all success be nobleness
And every gain divined
And you know when I was in school
We used to sing it something like this, listen here
Oh beautiful, for spacious skies
For amber waves of grain
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain
But now wait a minute, I'm talking about
America, sweet America
You know, God done shed his grace on thee
He crowned thy good, yes he did, in brotherhood
From sea to shining sea
You know, I wish I had somebody to help me sing this
(America, America, God shed his grace on thee)
America, I love you America, you see
My God he done shed his grace on thee
And you oughta love him for it
'Cause he, he, he, he crowned thy good
He told me he would, with brotherhood
(From sea to shining Sea)
Oh Lord, oh Lord, I thank you Lord
(Shining sea)

[@zuperkalafrajalistik]

Love your piano playing could listen to it all day

[@romeoandsusandial5340]

America need prayer wake up 🇺🇸 stay strong powerful gorgeous beautiful sweet sweet 🇺🇸 God ❤️💕❤️⭐️⭐️🙏🙏America

[@RobertMonroePlays]

Sounds great! You have a lot of those Ray touches for sure. So consistent style wise and well executed. Thanks for sharing

[@davevargo6256]

Sweet, thanks

[@NotoriousBIGGZ]

PLEASE POST MORE OFTEN I MISS YOUR PLAYING

[@ericlobopiano]

Thanks so much! More videos on the way

[@BlueYogurtLid]

Captured the true soul of this rendition perfectly despite having to add a melody line. Very nicely done! Would you be willing to share the sheets if they exist?

[@ericlobopiano]

Thanks! I just did it on the fly so no sheets unfortunately. If you’re good at playing a lead sheet lmk and I can work the chords out for ya

[@lest6590]

Noice

[@lest6590]

We need to do an epic collab. We can't because I have no clue how we can even contact each other, but it would be cool.

[@ericlobopiano]

[e-mail]

[@lest6590]

@@ericlobopiano email you or add you to hangouts?