Joe South (born Joseph Alfred Souter, February 28, 1940 – September 5, 2012) was a multi-talented American singer-songwriter and guitarist.
South was a prominent sideman, playing guitar on Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools”, Tommy Roe’s “Sheila”, and Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde album.
His biggest single was “Games People Play” The production won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Song and the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.
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).
South was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1979.
Joe South Cause of Death
Joe South died of heart failure.
Joe South was 72 years old at the time of his death
Joe South – Games People Play