“I Can’t Stop Loving You“ is a popular song written and composed by country singer, songwriter, and musician Don Gibson….who first recorded it on December 30, 1957 for RCA Victor Records. It was released in 1958 as the B-side of “Oh, Lonesome Me”…thus becoming a double-sided country hit single. At the time of Gibson’s death in 2003, the song had been recorded by more than 700 artists.
The song was covered by Ray Charles in 1962….when it was featured on Charles’ Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music….and released as a single…..as this version reached # 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962, for five weeks….and it went to # 1 in the U.S. R&B and Adult Contemporary charts….as Billboard ranked it as the # 2 song for 1962…..plus it reached # 1 in the UK Singles Chart in July 1962….while staying for two weeks.
The Ray Charles version is noted for his saying the words before the last five lines of the song on the final chorus “Sing the Song, Children”….with choral backing being provided by The Randy Van Horne Singers. It was ranked # 164 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time….and # 49 on CMT’s “100 Greatest Songs in Country Music”. In this video herewith….Ray Charles is accompanied by The Raelettes…..as they provide a 1982 version of I Can’t Stop Loving You at their live performance at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.
