Joe South
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2009) |
Joe South | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Joseph Alfred Souter |
Born | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | February 28, 1940
Died | September 5, 2012 Buford, Georgia, U.S. | (aged 72)
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
Years active | 1958–2012 |
Labels | Capitol |
Website | joesouth |
Joe South (born Joseph Alfred Souter; February 28, 1940 – September 5, 2012) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Best known for his songwriting, South won the
Career
South had met and was encouraged by Bill Lowery,[1] an Atlanta music publisher and radio personality. He began his recording career in Atlanta with the 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 soon returned to Nashville with The Manrando Group and then on to Charlie Wayne Felts Promotions. (Charlie Wayne Felts is the cousin of Rockabilly Hall of Fame Inductee and Grand Ole Opry Member, Narvel Felts.)
South had his first top 50 hit in July 1958 with a cover version of the b-side of The Big Bopper's hit single "Chantilly Lace", a novelty song called "The Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor". Thereafter South would concentrate mainly on songwriting.
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).
South was also a prominent sideman, playing guitar on Tommy Roe's "Sheila", bass guitar on Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde album, and the classic tremolo guitar intro on Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools".[2] South played electric guitar on Simon & Garfunkel's second album, Sounds of Silence, although Al Gorgoni and/or Vinnie Bell feature on the title track.
Responding to late 1960s issues, South's style changed radically, most evident in his biggest single, 1969's pungent, no-nonsense "
South's most commercially successful composition was
Personal life
The 1971 suicide of South's brother, Tommy, resulted in Joe becoming
No information is available about South's first marriage, divorce or his first wife. In 1987, South married his second wife, Jan Tant. South said this marriage helped turn things around, and Tant's inspiration helped him return to writing songs and occasional appearances in public.
South fathered one child, son Craig South, who is a voice-over artist in Southern California.
Honors
South won two Grammy Awards, for Song of the Year and Best Contemporary Song, for the single "Games People Play", in 1969. South was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1979 and became a member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1981.[6]
In 1988, a Dutch DJ, Jan Donkers, interviewed South for VPRO-radio. The radio show[7] that aired the interview also played four new songs by South, but a new record was not released.
On September 13, 2003, South performed during the Georgia Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony and played with Buddy Buie, James B. Cobb Jr., and Chips Moman.
South's final recording, "Oprah Cried", was made in 2009 and released as a bonus track on the 2010 re-release of the albums So the Seeds are Growing and A Look Inside on a CD collection combining both LPs for Australian label Raven Records.
South was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019.
Death
South died at his home in Buford, Georgia, northeast of Atlanta, on September 5, 2012, of heart failure. He was 72 years old.[8] South and second wife Jan Tant, who died in 1999, are buried in Mount Harmony Memorial Gardens Cemetery, in Mableton (Cobb County), Georgia.
Discography
Albums
Year | Album | Chart Positions | Label | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US | US Country | AUS[9] | CAN | |||
1968 | Introspect | 117 | — | — | — | Capitol |
1969 | Games People Play | — | — | — | — | |
Don't It Make You Want to Go Home? | 60 | 39 | 10 | 36 | ||
1970 | 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 |
Singles
Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album(s) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [10] |
US Country | US AC
|
AUS[9] | CAN | CAN Country | CAN AC | |||
1958 | "The Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor" | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | — | singles only |
1961 | "You're the Reason" | 87 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | |
1968 | "Birds of a Feather" | 106 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Introspect |
1969 | "Games People Play" | 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 | 16 | 14 | 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 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 2 | |
"Children" | 51 | — | 32 | 41 | 33 | — | 31 | ||
"Why Does a Man Do What He Has to Do" | 118 | — | — | — | 47 | — | — | Joe South | |
1971 | "Fool Me" | 78 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Collaborations
With Aretha Franklin
- Aretha Arrives (Atlantic Records, 1967)
- Lady Soul (Atlantic Records, 1968)
With Simon & Garfunkel
- Sounds of Silence (Columbia Records, 1966)
- Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (Columbia Records, 1966)
With Bob Dylan
- Blonde On Blonde(Columbia Records, 1966)
References
- ^ "Joe South ~ The Official Site". Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
- ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 52 – The Soul Reformation: Phase three, soul music at the summit. [Part 8] : UNT Digital Library" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
- ^ Thom Hickey (February 1, 2016). "Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin & Elvis all revered Joe South : Games People Play". The Immortal Jukebox. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
- ^ Wall, Jeff (March–April 2007). "Joe South: Down in the Boondocks". American Songwriter Magazine, the craft of music, heritage series. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie (2000). "Liner Notes for Friend & Lover's "Reach Out of the Darkness"". Retrieved December 11, 2017.
- ^ "Georgia Music Hall of Fame Inductees | Inductee Years Archive | 1981 Inductees". Georgiamusicmag.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
- ^ "De Avonden -> Artikelen -> Jan Donkers' archief: Joe South (1988)". Vpro.nl. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
- ^ "Joe South, who wrote Games People Play, dies aged 72". BBC News. September 7, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
- ^ ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ISBN 978-0-89820-188-8.
External links
- Official website
- Joe South at AllMusic
- Entry at Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Archived October 19, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- Joe South and the Believers
- Joe South discography at Discogs