Bluesman, Songwriter Tony Joe White

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tony

Joe White, the country bluesman and hit songwriter behind such successes as “Poke Salad Annie” and “Rainy Night in Georgia,” has died. He was 75.

A statement released Thursday from the record label Yep Roc Music Group said White’s family confirmed that the rocker died Wednesday in Nashville. The label did not have any details about the cause of his death. Yep Roc released his last album in September called

Bad Mouthin’, a collection of blues classics.

White, originally from Louisiana, had a hit in 1969 with “Poke Salad Annie,” and his songs were covered by Elvis Presley, Hank Williams Jr., Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Waylon Jennings and many more.

In his five decades as a singer-songwriter, White was best known for his swamp rock style mixing blues, country and rock ’n’ roll, which earned him the nickname the Swamp Fox especially with his fans overseas. With his deep growling voice, his song about the Southern greens wasn’t an immediate hit, but months after its release it eventually became a pop hit.

White told The Associated Press in 2006 that in the late ’60s many people thought he was singing about something else.

“Back then, people thought poke salad was grass,” White said. “They’d bring me bags of grass backstage and say, ‘Hey, we brought you a little poke.’”

Raised on a cotton farm in Goodwill, La., he became infatuated with the hypnotic sound of Lightnin’ Hopkins and has often cited hearing the song “Ode to Billie Joe” by Bobbie Gentry as his inspiration for songwriting.

After the success of “Poke Salad Annie,” R&B artist Brook Benton had a hit in 1970 with White’s song “Rainy Night in Georgia,” which also became a song often covered by other artists.

Turner recorded his song “Steamy Windows,” which was later recorded by John Anderson and Kenny Chesney.

Tanya Tucker, who recorded his song “Gospel Singer,” said in a statement that White’s writing and voice were raw and pure.

“A big part of the South is quiet now with his passing,” she said. “Reckon God wanted a little poke salad!”