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“Unchain My Heart” is a rhythm and blues song written by Robert Sharp Jr. and Teddy Powell, first recorded by Ray Charles and released as a single in November 1961.
Sharp originally sold the tune to Powell for just $50, and although Powell claimed half the songwriting credit, Sharp later fought to reclaim his rights and renewed the copyright for his publishing company in 1987.
Ray Charles’s recording—driven by his emotive vocals, the call‑and‑response of his backup singers the Raelettes, and a dynamic saxophone solo by David “Fathead” Newman—became an instant classic. It peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one on the R&B singles chart, further cementing Charles’s title as the “Genius of Soul”.
Over the years, the song’s enduring appeal has inspired covers by artists such as Trini Lopez (1963) and Joe Cocker (1987), the latter bringing the track back into the Top 20 in several countries.

Unchain my Heart - R. Sharp Jr

Ricardo Farão