Esteemed singer, songwriter, producer and musician Joe South died of a heart attack yesterday at the age of 72 at his home outside of Atlanta.

Early in his career as a studio musician, South played guitar on Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools” and Tommy Roe’s “Sheila” and the quietly throbbing bass lines of Bob Dylan’s “Visions of Johanna” from 1966’s Blonde on Blonde. As a performer, South was known best for his 1969 Grammy-winner “Games People Play” and “Walk A Mile In My Shoes” (covered by the likes of Elvis, Bryan Ferry and Coldcut).

Other hit records that South wrote include Billy Joe Royal’s “Down in the Boondocks,” Deep Purple’s “Hush,” and “Yo-Yo” by the Osmonds. His biggest hit, the monster crossover county-pop classic he penned for singer Lynn Anderson in 1971, “(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden” will probably be remembered until the end of time. Rest in peace, Joe South.