Immediately after college, Albright began to master his talent by working extensively in the studio with such artists as Patrice Rushen, Anita Baker, Lola Folana, Atlantic Starr, The Winans, Olivia Newton-John, The Temptations, and Maurice White. He also toured with Les McCann, Rodney Franklin, Jeff Lorber, Teena Marie, Marlene Shaw, Debra and Eloise Laws, Quincy Jones, Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, and many others. In addition to numerous appearances at clubs and jazz festivals, Albright had also been a part of the popular Jazz Explosion tours, which saw him teaming up with contemporary jazz stars like Will Downing, Jonathan Butler, Hugh Masekela, Chaka Khan, and Rachelle Ferrell, to name a few.
Gerald Albright has also branched out as a TV Star to his already substantial resume. The saxman has appeared on numerous shows, such as “A Different World,” “Melrose Place,” Channels 2 and 5 “Morning News Shows,” “BET” jazz segments as well as piloting a show in Las Vegas with “Designing Women” star Meshach Taylor.
Albright's contemporary and straight-ahead collections have established the Los Angeles-based musician as one of the most prominent artists. Indeed, Albright was one of the ten featured saxophonists who performed at President Clinton’s inauguration. He was also featured at the Presidential Summit, as well as several private functions for the President.
Albright had sold over 1,000,000 albums in the U.S. alone. His self-produced music features him on bass guitar, keyboards, flutes, drum programming, and background vocals. Gerald has definitely earned the reputation as the “musician’s musician.”
Besides music, Albright is also a family man. He is married to his junior high school sweetheart, Glynis, and has two children, Selina and Brandon. He believes in giving back to the community. He has participated in numerous fund-raisers for the NAACP, The American Cancer Society, and The Institute for Black Parenting. As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, he constantly donates his talents to raise funds to promote academic excellence nationwide.
Whether he is playing contemporary or straight-ahead jazz, Albright stands in a class all by himself. He is known for his swiftness on stage, his unique round sound which is percussive yet soulful. He has the ability to surprise the audience with something out of the ordinary. Albright gives his audience what they come for - a great show!
Born in Los Angeles, Albright began piano lessons at an early age, even though he professed no great interest in the instrument. His love of music picked up considerably when he was given a saxophone that belonged to his piano teacher. It was further reinforced when he attended Locke High School, a breeding ground for many young West Coast musicians, where his peers at the time included Patrice Rushen and Ndugu.
Already a polished saxophonist by the time he enrolled at the University of Redlands, Albright suddenly switched to bass guitar after he saw Louis Johnson in concert A few months after graduating from college, Gerald joined Patrice Rushen, who was in the process of forming her own band, in which he played the saxophone. Later, when the bass player left in the middle of a tour, Albright replaced him and finished the tour on bass guitar. From then on, he often performed on both instruments.
Soon, Albright began to make a name for himself as a sideman of great insight and musicianship, playing on albums by a wide variety of artists -- including Anita Baker, Ray Parker, Lola Folana, Atlantic Starr, Olivia Newton-John, the Temptations and Maurice White. He also toured extensively with Les McCann, Rodney Franklin, Jeff Lorber, Teena Marie, the Winans, Marlena Shaw, Debra and Eloise Laws, Quincy Jones, Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, and many others.
With 9 CDs under his belt and one collaboration CD, Albright has definitely gained his place in the music world as a player, songwriter and producer.
Georgia On My Mind
Gerald Albright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The whole day through
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind (Georgia on my mind)
I said Georgia
Georgia
A song of you
As moonlight through the pines
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you
I said Georgia
Ooh Georgia, no peace I find
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind (Georgia on my mind)
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you
Whoa, Georgia
Georgia
No peace, no peace I find
Just this old, sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind
I said just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind
The lyrics of Gerald Albright's song Georgia On My Mind are a tribute to the state of Georgia in the United States of America. The song expresses the singer's strong emotional attachment to this place, and the nostalgia that he feels when he thinks about it. The lyrics evoke the beauty and peacefulness of Georgia, with its pine forests and moonlit nights. However, the singer is also aware of the distance that separates him from this place, and the fact that he is drawn to other things and other people. Nevertheless, he cannot shake off his longing for Georgia, and the old sweet song that keeps playing in his mind reminds him of the love he feels for this place.
What makes this song particularly interesting is its history and cultural significance. Georgia on My Mind was written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell in 1930, and it has become one of the most popular songs in the American songbook. The song has been performed by many famous artists, including Ray Charles, who made it his signature song. In 1979, the Georgia General Assembly declared it the official state song of Georgia. Over the years, the song has come to represent not only the state of Georgia, but also the American South more broadly, and it has been interpreted as a tribute to home, memory, and nostalgia. The song has also been associated with the civil rights movement, as a symbol of the resilience and dignity of African American communities in the South.
Line by Line Meaning
Georgia, Georgia
The state of Georgia as a personification, with Georgia repeated for emphasis.
The whole day through
Georgia is on the person's mind all day long.
Just an old sweet song
A beloved and timeless melody that reminds the person of Georgia.
Keeps Georgia on my mind
The song is a constant reminder of Georgia's importance to the person.
I said Georgia
Reaffirming the focus of the song as being about Georgia.
A song of you
The song being referred to is specifically about Georgia as a person or place.
Comes as sweet and clear
The song is clear as a bell and sweet to the person's ears.
As moonlight through the pines
The clarity and sweetness of the song is compared to the way moonlight shines through tree branches.
Other arms reach out to me
Other people try to connect with the person, but they cannot replace the importance of Georgia in their heart and mind.
Other eyes smile tenderly
Others try to be kind and attentive to the person, but they still long for Georgia.
Still in peaceful dreams I see
Even in the person's dreams, Georgia remains a comforting presence.
The road leads back to you
No matter where the person goes, they always find their way back to Georgia.
Ooh Georgia, no peace I find
Despite the person's love for Georgia, they cannot achieve peace without actually being there.
Just an old sweet song
Reiterating the importance of the song in keeping the memory of Georgia close to the person.
Keeps Georgia on my mind
The song is a constant reminder of Georgia's significance in the person's life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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