Joe South, an American songwriter who had hits with Games People Play and Walk a Mile in My Shoes, has died, according to his music publisher. He was 72.

South died of a heart attack at his home in Buford, Ga., northeast of Atlanta.

Singer-songwriter Joe South attends the 31st Annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards on Sept. 19, 2009. He died of a heart attack at his home at age 72. (Rick Diamond/Getty Im)

"He's one of the greatest songwriters of all time," said Butch Lowery, president of the Lowery Group, which published South's music. "His songs have touched so many lives. He's such a wonderful guy and loved by many."

1969’s Games People Play — its title taken from Eric Berne's self-help book — won two Grammy Awards, for song of the year and contemporary song of the year. First recorded by South himself, it was covered by dozens of artists, including Dolly Parton, Petula Clark, Ike and Tina Turner and Jools Holland.

South also wrote hits such as Birds of a Feather for the Raiders, Yo-yo for the Osmonds and Hush for Deep Purple. His Down in the Boondocks was a 1965 hit for his former roommate, singer Billy Joe Royal.

I Never Promised You (a Rose Garden)

South’s biggest commercial hit was I Never Promised You (a Rose Garden) for Lynn Anderson, which earned him a Grammy for songwriting. It was translated into 16 languages and covered by numerous artists.

Born Joseph Souter in Atlanta on Feb. 28, 1940, he was interested in technology as a child and developed his own radio station with a one-mile transmission area. He also was a big innovator on guitar.

He began his career as a country musician, performing on an Atlanta radio station and joining steel guitar great Pete Drake's band in 1957.

In 1958, South recorded a novelty single, The Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor, beginning a singing career that he returned to throughout the 1960s.

Session musician

As a solo singer, he had hits with Games People Play, Don't It Make You Want to Go Home and Walk a Mile in My Shoes which showed off his deep voice and skill at arrangements.

He also was a session musician in Nashville, playing for artists such as Eddy Arnold, Marty Robbins, Wilson Pickett and Simon and Garfunkel. His guitar playing can be heard on Aretha Franklin's Chain of Fools, Tommy Roe's Sheila and Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde.

The suicide of his brother Tommy Souter in 1971 sent him into a deep depression and he moved to Maui and retired from recording.

South briefly returned in 1975 with the album Midnight Rainbows and again in 1994 with a concert showcasing American Southern performers. His last album was Classic Masters, recorded in 2002.

He was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.