Hit the Road Jack is a rhythm and blues song written by Percy Mayfield, who composed both the music and the lyrics. Mayfield first recorded it in 1960 as an a cappella demo that he sent to the music executive Art Rupe. Ray Charles recorded the song in June 1961 with the vocalist Margie Hendrix of The Raelettes, and it was released as a single in August 1961 on ABC-Paramount, with The Danger Zone on the B-side. The record was produced by Sid Feller. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks from 9 October 1961 and was number one on the R&B chart for five weeks, winning a Grammy for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording. The 1961 recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013, and Rolling Stone ranked it 377 in 2004. Elsewhere it reached number six in the UK, number three in Australia, and number one in New Zealand and Sweden. The Chantels answered it with Well, I Told You, which reached number 29. In 1975 The Stampeders released a version featuring the DJ Wolfman Jack, which reached number six in Canada and number 40 on the Hot 100. Later covers include versions by Jerry Lee Lewis, The Animals, Helen Reddy, Suzi Quatro, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn and Pentatonix.
