Knight pays tribute to 'Midnight Train to Georgia' songwriter Jim Weatherly

Gladys Knight says Jim Weatherly was about life and love. Picture: David Jensen/PA Wire
Gladys Knight has paid tribute to Jim Weatherly, the country music singer-songwriter behind her biggest hit
, following his death at the age of 77.Weatherly died of natural causes at his home near Nashville, Tennessee, music publisher Charlie Monk told
newspaper.He was a prolific songwriter also responsible for hits including
and , both for Gladys Knight & The Pips.Weatherly will perhaps be best remembered for 1973's
.Following his death, Knight, "the empress of soul," paid tribute on social media.
She said:
Over a career spanning five decades, Weatherly, a former quarterback at the University of Mississippi, released almost a dozen studio albums while writing hits for other artists.
was inducted into the Grammys hall of fame in 1999 and was named one of the 500 greatest songs ever by .