"You Are My Sunshine" is a song copyrighted and published by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell[4][5] in 1940. According to BMI, it has been recorded by more than 350 artists, and translated into 30 languages.[6] In 1977, the Louisiana State Legislature decreed that "You Are My Sunshine" would be a state song, to honor two-time governor Jimmie Davis.

The Pine Ridge Boys recorded the song under the title "You Are My Sunshine" on August 22, 1939, and released it on October 6 for Bluebird Records (Victor's budget label). "The Boys" (Marvin Taylor and Doug Spivey) were from Atlanta, which is where the recording was made.[10] No songwriter was listed.

The Rice Brothers' Gang recorded the song next for Decca, on September 13, 1939,[11] and released it the following month. This group was originally from Northern Georgia, but relocated to Shreveport, LA, where they performed on the radio station KWKH. The songwriter was listed as "Paul Rice". 

On January 30, 1940, "You Are My Sunshine" was copyrighted by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell, and published by Southern Music Publishing Co., Inc. of New York.[12] The pair recorded it on February 5, 1940, at Decca Studios in New York.[13] Both received song-writing credit, and when the copyright was renewed on February 2, 1967, both names were on it.[14] Southern Music Publishing Co., Inc. is still run by the Peer Family, though BMI now lists it under American Performing Rights Society, Inc., also known by its acronym, APRS, c/o Peermusic.