His biggest hit song, "Midnight Train to Georgia", was originally titled "Midnight Plane to Houston".
His songs were recorded by artists in country, pop, gospel and R&B, including Gladys Knight and the Pips, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Neil Diamond, Ray Price, and Kenny Rogers.
He was recruited by the University of Mississippi football team, and eventually became a star quarterback.
He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014.