Ray Charles won a Grammy for his album "Modern Sounds in Country and Western" which contained such country hits as "I Can't Stop Loving You", "Born To Lose", and "You Don't Know Me". But Ray wasn't the only popular vocalist paying homage to country music in the early 60's. Hank Williams seems to have inspired many artists outside the realm of country music from jazz saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker to rocker Dion Dimucci. Have a listen to what orchestra arranger and conductor Billy May did for Nat King Cole on the Hank Williams' classic "Cold, Cold Heart" on Nov. 21, 1961. It's a credit to Hank that he could compose a melodic line that could be used in so many genres.
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