Crossword Genius

US state on Ray Charles's mind? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

georgia

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'ray charles's mind?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'us state on' is the wordplay.
'us' becomes 'georg' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'state' becomes 'IA'.
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'georg'+'ia'='GEORGIA'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for georgia that I've seen before include "Country on the Black Sea, where Stalin was born" , "part of US or USSR formerly" , "Female" , "republic" , "Its capital is Tbilisi (or Atlanta)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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