Tributes to Harper Valley writer

Country music singer and songwriter Tom T Hall, best known for the hit Harper Valley PTA, has died at the age of 85.

Hall, known as The Storyteller, composed the famous 1968 song about small-town hypocrisy that was recorded by Jeannie C Riley and became a worldwide hit.

It sold millions of copies and won Riley a Grammy for best female country vocal performance.

In 1986, Hall said of the song: “Suddenly, it was the talk of the country. It became a catchphrase.

“You’d flip the radio dial and hear it four or five times in 10 minutes. It was the most awesome time of my life; I caused all this stir.”

Hall died at his home in Franklin, Tennessee, on Friday.

His death was announced by his son Dean, also a singer-songwriter.