JOE
SOUTH DEAD AT 72
SOUTH DEAD AT 72
PLEASE
KEEP IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYER, THE FAMILY OF JOE SOUTH AT THIS GREAT LOSS IN
THEIR LIFE’S.
KEEP IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYER, THE FAMILY OF JOE SOUTH AT THIS GREAT LOSS IN
THEIR LIFE’S.
MAY
JOE REST IN THE PEACEFUL ARMS OF OUR BLESSED SAVIOR.
JOE REST IN THE PEACEFUL ARMS OF OUR BLESSED SAVIOR.
(Nashville, TN-9.5.12) Born Joseph Alfred Souter in Atlanta, (February 28, 1940-September 5, 2012), has passed
away from a heart attack at the age of 72 in his hometown of Atlanta, GA.
The two time Grammy Award winner, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Georgia
Hall of Fame is one of the most prolific songwriters and artists in all of
music.
away from a heart attack at the age of 72 in his hometown of Atlanta, GA.
The two time Grammy Award winner, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Georgia
Hall of Fame is one of the most prolific songwriters and artists in all of
music.
South opened
his pop career in July 1958 with the novelty hit “The Purple People Eater
Meets the Witch Doctor”. Thereafter South’s music grew increasingly
serious.
his pop career in July 1958 with the novelty hit “The Purple People Eater
Meets the Witch Doctor”. Thereafter South’s music grew increasingly
serious.
In 1959, South
wrote two songs which were recorded by Gene Vincent: “I
Might Have Known”, which was on the album Sounds Like Gene Vincent (Capitol Records, 1959)
and “Gone Gone Gone” which was included on the album The Crazy Beat of Gene Vincent(Capitol Records,
1963).
wrote two songs which were recorded by Gene Vincent: “I
Might Have Known”, which was on the album Sounds Like Gene Vincent (Capitol Records, 1959)
and “Gone Gone Gone” which was included on the album The Crazy Beat of Gene Vincent(Capitol Records,
1963).
He had met and was encouraged by Bill Lowery, an Atlanta music publisher and radio personality.
He began his recording career in Atlanta with National Recording Corporation, where he
served as staff guitarist along with other NRC artists Ray Stevens and Jerry Reed. South’s
earliest recordings have been re-released by NRC on CD.
He began his recording career in Atlanta with National Recording Corporation, where he
served as staff guitarist along with other NRC artists Ray Stevens and Jerry Reed. South’s
earliest recordings have been re-released by NRC on CD.
South was also a prominent sideman, playing
guitar on Aretha Franklin‘s
“Chain of Fools”,[1] Tommy Roe‘s
“Sheila”, and Bob Dylan‘s Blonde on Blonde album. Some list South on the electric guitar part that was added to Simon & Garfunkel‘s first hit, “The Sounds of Silence“, although others credit Al Gorgoni
and/or Vinnie Bell instead.
guitar on Aretha Franklin‘s
“Chain of Fools”,[1] Tommy Roe‘s
“Sheila”, and Bob Dylan‘s Blonde on Blonde album. Some list South on the electric guitar part that was added to Simon & Garfunkel‘s first hit, “The Sounds of Silence“, although others credit Al Gorgoni
and/or Vinnie Bell instead.
Responding to late 1960s issues, South’s
style changed radically, most evident in his biggest single, 1969’s pungent,
no-nonsense “Games People Play” (purportedly inspired by Dr. Eric
Berne’s book), a hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Accompanied by a
lush string sound, an organ, and brass, the production won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Song and the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. South
followed up with “Birds Of A Feather” (originally “Bubbled
Under” at No. 106 on February 10–17, 1968, more successful as a
cover by The Raiders that peaked on the Hot 100 at
No. 23 on October 23–30, 1971) and two other soul-searchers, the
back-to-nature “Don’t It Make You Want To Go Home” (also covered
eight months later by Brook Benton With The Dixie Flyers) and the
socially provocative “Walk A Mile In My Shoes” (also covered by Elvis Presley in a Las-Vegas era version, Bryan Ferry, and Coldcut).
style changed radically, most evident in his biggest single, 1969’s pungent,
no-nonsense “Games People Play” (purportedly inspired by Dr. Eric
Berne’s book), a hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Accompanied by a
lush string sound, an organ, and brass, the production won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Song and the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. South
followed up with “Birds Of A Feather” (originally “Bubbled
Under” at No. 106 on February 10–17, 1968, more successful as a
cover by The Raiders that peaked on the Hot 100 at
No. 23 on October 23–30, 1971) and two other soul-searchers, the
back-to-nature “Don’t It Make You Want To Go Home” (also covered
eight months later by Brook Benton With The Dixie Flyers) and the
socially provocative “Walk A Mile In My Shoes” (also covered by Elvis Presley in a Las-Vegas era version, Bryan Ferry, and Coldcut).
South’s compositions have been recorded by
many other artists as well, including Billy Joe Royal‘s
songs “Down in the Boondocks“, “I Knew You When”,
“Yo-Yo” (later a hit for the Osmonds), and “Hush” (later a hit for Deep Purple and Kula Shaker). South’s
most commercially successful composition is Lynn Anderson‘s 1971
country/pop monster hit “(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden“,
which was a hit in 16 countries worldwide and translated into many languages.
Anderson won a Grammy Award for her vocals, and South won a Grammy
Award for writing the song. South would go on to write more hits for Anderson,
such as “How Can I Unlove You” (Billboard Country No. 1) and “Fool Me”
(Billboard Country No. 3).
many other artists as well, including Billy Joe Royal‘s
songs “Down in the Boondocks“, “I Knew You When”,
“Yo-Yo” (later a hit for the Osmonds), and “Hush” (later a hit for Deep Purple and Kula Shaker). South’s
most commercially successful composition is Lynn Anderson‘s 1971
country/pop monster hit “(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden“,
which was a hit in 16 countries worldwide and translated into many languages.
Anderson won a Grammy Award for her vocals, and South won a Grammy
Award for writing the song. South would go on to write more hits for Anderson,
such as “How Can I Unlove You” (Billboard Country No. 1) and “Fool Me”
(Billboard Country No. 3).
South was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1979.
In 1988 Dutch DJ Jan Donkers interviewed
South for VPRO-radio. The radio show that
aired the interview also played four new songs by South, but a new record was
not released.
South for VPRO-radio. The radio show that
aired the interview also played four new songs by South, but a new record was
not released.
On September 13, 2003 South was inducted
into Georgia Music Hall of Fame and
played together with Buddy Buie, James
B. Cobb, Jr.and Chips Moman at the induction ceremony.
into Georgia Music Hall of Fame and
played together with Buddy Buie, James
B. Cobb, Jr.and Chips Moman at the induction ceremony.
Albums
|
Year
|
Album
|
Chart
Positions |
Label
|
||
|
CAN
|
|||||
|
1969
|
Introspect
|
117
|
—
|
—
|
Capitol
|
|
Games
People Play |
—
|
—
|
—
|
||
|
1970
|
Don’t
It Make You Want to Go Home? |
60
|
39
|
36
|
|
|
Greatest
Hits |
125
|
—
|
88
|
||
|
1971
|
Joe
South |
207
|
—
|
—
|
|
|
Joe
South Story |
—
|
—
|
—
|
MGM
|
|
|
So the
Seeds Are Growing |
—
|
—
|
—
|
Capitol
|
|
|
1972
|
A Look
Inside |
—
|
—
|
—
|
|
|
1975
|
Midnight
Rainbows |
—
|
—
|
—
|
Island
|
|
1976
|
You’re
the Reason |
—
|
—
|
—
|
Gusto
|
|
1990
|
The
Best of Joe South |
—
|
—
|
—
|
Rhino
|
|
1999
|
Retrospect:
The Best of Joe South |
—
|
—
|
—
|
Koch
|
|
2001
|
Anthology:
A Mirror of His Mind |
—
|
—
|
—
|
Raven
|
|
2002
|
Classic
Masters |
—
|
—
|
—
|
Capitol
|
[edit]Singles
|
Year
|
Single
|
Chart
Positions |
Album(s)
|
|||||
|
CAN
Country |
CAN AC
|
|||||||
|
1958
|
“The
Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor” |
47
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
singles
only |
|
1961
|
87
|
16
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
||
|
1969
|
12
|
—
|
—
|
7
|
—
|
—
|
Introspect, Games People Play
|
|
|
“Birds
of a Feather” |
96
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Introspect
|
|
|
“Leaning
on You” |
104
|
—
|
—
|
69
|
—
|
—
|
single
only |
|
|
“Don’t
It Make You Want to Go Home”(with The Believers) |
41
|
27
|
—
|
42
|
11
|
18
|
Don’t
It Make You Want to Go Home? |
|
|
1970
|
“Walk
a Mile in My Shoes” (with The Believers) |
12
|
56
|
3
|
10
|
6
|
2
|
|
|
“Children”
|
51
|
—
|
—
|
33
|
—
|
31
|
||
|
“Why
Does a Man Do What He Has to Do” |
118
|
—
|
—
|
47
|
—
|
—
|
singles
only |
|
|
1971
|
“Fool Me“
|
78
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|