Joe South. (Joe South/MySpace)

Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Joe South has died. He was 72.

The star passed away at his home in Buford, Georgia after suffering heart failure, according to Butch Lowery, president of music publisher Lowery Group.

South kickstarted his pop career in 1958 with the novelty hit The Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor, and went on to establish his songwriting skills the following year by penning two tracks which were recorded by Gene Vincent.

He won two Grammys for his 1968 song Games People Play, and as well as his own solo career, South also played guitar on tunes by stars including Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan.

South, whose last album was 2002's Classic Masters, was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1979 and was included in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2003.

Lowery has led the tributes to the singer, stating, "He's one of the greatest songwriters of all time. His songs have touched so many lives. He's such a wonderful guy and loved by many."