The Amazing Joe South
- Thread starter Meanderer
- Start date
fmdog44
Well-known Member
- Location
- Houston, Texas
"Don't It Make You Wanna Go Home" was his best
Meanderer
Supreme Member
Joe South
By Joseph McCombs Sept. 06, 2012
"Joe South was a seemingly plain man, with a plain name and a plainclothes style, the antithesis of the rock star. But his unassuming presence was belied by a remarkable body of work in the 1960s and early ’70s. In a span of a few short years, the Georgia native, born Joseph Souter in 1940, wrote eight major hits, recorded a handful of critically acclaimed albums and, as a session guitarist in the Muscle Shoals scene, played on such records as Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools” and Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde album. He abruptly terminated his career in 1971, however, upon his brother’s suicide, and his invisibility in the ensuing years left him largely forgotten. Today, upon his death at age 72, TIME.com recalls South with a few clips that show his songwriting and performing skills".
By Joseph McCombs Sept. 06, 2012
"Joe South was a seemingly plain man, with a plain name and a plainclothes style, the antithesis of the rock star. But his unassuming presence was belied by a remarkable body of work in the 1960s and early ’70s. In a span of a few short years, the Georgia native, born Joseph Souter in 1940, wrote eight major hits, recorded a handful of critically acclaimed albums and, as a session guitarist in the Muscle Shoals scene, played on such records as Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools” and Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde album. He abruptly terminated his career in 1971, however, upon his brother’s suicide, and his invisibility in the ensuing years left him largely forgotten. Today, upon his death at age 72, TIME.com recalls South with a few clips that show his songwriting and performing skills".
Meanderer
Supreme Member
NOTICE OF DEATH
Joe South
28 february 1940 – 5 september 2012
Joe South, 72: Music ‘lit him up’ By Michelle E. Shaw The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Beatles, Aretha Franklin and Donny Osmond were just a few of the artists that singer, songwriter and session musician Joe South got to rub elbows with. And while most of his hits came in the ’60s and ’70s, he never lost his love for music. “He’d just really started to enjoy life,” said Judy Thompson, a friend of more than 30 years. “But he was still working. He’d just had a song released in Australia.” Mr. South’s death Wednesday was sudden and unexpected, Ms. Thompson said, noting they’d recently returned from an extended trip to California. They flew out for his granddaughter’s second birthday and took the train back to Atlanta. “It took us four hours to get out there, and four days to get back,” she said with a laugh. “But he loved every minute of it, and said taking the train across the country was on his bucket list.” Born Joseph Souter, Mr. South died from apparent heart failure at his Flowery Branch home, Ms. Thompson said. He was 72.
Mr. South worked as a session guitar player on recordings of some of the biggest names of the 1960s — including playing on Franklin’s “Chain of Fools.” He also worked with Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel, among others. In the late ’60s he had a string of his own hits that made his booming voice a familiar one on radio stations, with a style that some described as a mix of country and soul. The Atlanta native may be best known for the song “Games People Play,” which reached No. 12 on the Billboard charts in 1969 and won him two Grammys for Best Contemporary Song and Song of the Year. The song, released on South’s debut album “Introspect,” spoke against hate, hypocrisy and inhumanity.
“He was a brilliant writer because he was a deep thinker,” said Karin Johnson, of Lowery Music, who’d worked with Mr. South for the past 10 years. “He was able to capture the times well, particularly in the ’60s.” Don Law, a Lawrenceville recording artist, said Mr. South felt “music could change people from the inside out.” “Joe had this way about him, a way to convey a message through music, that I don’t think anyone has matched,” he said.
Mr. South was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1979 and The Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2003, according to the Lowery Music group. Butch Lowery, president of Bill Lowery Music, called Mr. South, “one of the most prolific songwriters of our time.” “To not only be a great writer, but to be a performer and guitarist, he was a triple threat,” said Ms. Johnson. “He was immersed in music. That’s what lit him up.” In addition to his granddaughter, Mr. South is survived by his son, Craig South of North Hollywood, Calif
Joe South
28 february 1940 – 5 september 2012
Joe South, 72: Music ‘lit him up’ By Michelle E. Shaw The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Beatles, Aretha Franklin and Donny Osmond were just a few of the artists that singer, songwriter and session musician Joe South got to rub elbows with. And while most of his hits came in the ’60s and ’70s, he never lost his love for music. “He’d just really started to enjoy life,” said Judy Thompson, a friend of more than 30 years. “But he was still working. He’d just had a song released in Australia.” Mr. South’s death Wednesday was sudden and unexpected, Ms. Thompson said, noting they’d recently returned from an extended trip to California. They flew out for his granddaughter’s second birthday and took the train back to Atlanta. “It took us four hours to get out there, and four days to get back,” she said with a laugh. “But he loved every minute of it, and said taking the train across the country was on his bucket list.” Born Joseph Souter, Mr. South died from apparent heart failure at his Flowery Branch home, Ms. Thompson said. He was 72.
Mr. South worked as a session guitar player on recordings of some of the biggest names of the 1960s — including playing on Franklin’s “Chain of Fools.” He also worked with Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel, among others. In the late ’60s he had a string of his own hits that made his booming voice a familiar one on radio stations, with a style that some described as a mix of country and soul. The Atlanta native may be best known for the song “Games People Play,” which reached No. 12 on the Billboard charts in 1969 and won him two Grammys for Best Contemporary Song and Song of the Year. The song, released on South’s debut album “Introspect,” spoke against hate, hypocrisy and inhumanity.
“He was a brilliant writer because he was a deep thinker,” said Karin Johnson, of Lowery Music, who’d worked with Mr. South for the past 10 years. “He was able to capture the times well, particularly in the ’60s.” Don Law, a Lawrenceville recording artist, said Mr. South felt “music could change people from the inside out.” “Joe had this way about him, a way to convey a message through music, that I don’t think anyone has matched,” he said.
Mr. South was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1979 and The Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2003, according to the Lowery Music group. Butch Lowery, president of Bill Lowery Music, called Mr. South, “one of the most prolific songwriters of our time.” “To not only be a great writer, but to be a performer and guitarist, he was a triple threat,” said Ms. Johnson. “He was immersed in music. That’s what lit him up.” In addition to his granddaughter, Mr. South is survived by his son, Craig South of North Hollywood, Calif
Meanderer
Supreme Member
The Genius Of Joe South (LINK)
"For a hot minute in 1969-70, South looked like he was on the way to a major career. Games People Play, the tune that introduced him to the public at large, rose to No. 12 on the national singles chart; a radio ubiquity, it captured two Grammy Awards in 1970, as song of the year and best contemporary song. A year after that breakout hit, he rose to the same chart slot with the stomping, soulful Walk a Mile in My Shoes, a number that would be covered in short order by Elvis Presley".
"After those two signature songs, Joe South pretty much disappeared off the American pop landscape. It was an astonishing vanishing act, for, in terms of sheer reach and ability, he came as close to genius as a musician can get. He was one of those cats who could do it all".
"Joe South was primed to go places—almost anywhere he wanted to go, really—but a predisposed dislike for the necessities of the music business, the usual rock 'n' roll pitfalls of drugs and alcohol, and, most critically, a devastating family tragedy knocked him out of the game when a brilliant career appeared his for the taking".
"For a hot minute in 1969-70, South looked like he was on the way to a major career. Games People Play, the tune that introduced him to the public at large, rose to No. 12 on the national singles chart; a radio ubiquity, it captured two Grammy Awards in 1970, as song of the year and best contemporary song. A year after that breakout hit, he rose to the same chart slot with the stomping, soulful Walk a Mile in My Shoes, a number that would be covered in short order by Elvis Presley".
"After those two signature songs, Joe South pretty much disappeared off the American pop landscape. It was an astonishing vanishing act, for, in terms of sheer reach and ability, he came as close to genius as a musician can get. He was one of those cats who could do it all".
"Joe South was primed to go places—almost anywhere he wanted to go, really—but a predisposed dislike for the necessities of the music business, the usual rock 'n' roll pitfalls of drugs and alcohol, and, most critically, a devastating family tragedy knocked him out of the game when a brilliant career appeared his for the taking".
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Meanderer
Supreme Member
Joe South
Joe South's music lives on...
Joe South's Musicians Hall of Fame Exhibit Now on Display in Nashville
Musicians Hall of Fame Founder and CEO, Joe Chambers, along with Nashville Music veteran Tom Long met with Joe South a couple of times in 2011 preparing to make an exhibit about him to be in the museum's Georgia music section. "We filmed an interview with Joe in music publisher Bill Lowery's office where he met with Mr.Lowery countless times over the years as a staff songwriter, artist, musician and producer." The Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum also aquired from Joe South the electric sitar and Gretsch guitar he used on his many sessions for his own records hits like "Games People Play" and artists he produced and wrote for, like Billy Joe Royal's "Down In the Boondocks" but also as a session musican for artists such as Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan and Aretha Franklin.
Joe South's music lives on...
Joe South's Musicians Hall of Fame Exhibit Now on Display in Nashville
Musicians Hall of Fame Founder and CEO, Joe Chambers, along with Nashville Music veteran Tom Long met with Joe South a couple of times in 2011 preparing to make an exhibit about him to be in the museum's Georgia music section. "We filmed an interview with Joe in music publisher Bill Lowery's office where he met with Mr.Lowery countless times over the years as a staff songwriter, artist, musician and producer." The Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum also aquired from Joe South the electric sitar and Gretsch guitar he used on his many sessions for his own records hits like "Games People Play" and artists he produced and wrote for, like Billy Joe Royal's "Down In the Boondocks" but also as a session musican for artists such as Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan and Aretha Franklin.
Meanderer
Supreme Member
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).
GENE VINCENT Gone Gone Gone
Gene Vincent - I might have known
GENE VINCENT Gone Gone Gone
Gene Vincent - I might have known
C'est Moi
Dishin' it out.
- Location
- Houston Y'all
