O.C. Smith Dead At 65

O C Smith, best known for his 1968 hit "Little Green Apples," died of a heart attack on Nov 24 in Los Angeles at age 65. "Little Green Apples," written by Bobby Russell, won Grammy Awards for song of the year and best country song. Smith also had hits with "Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp" and "Daddy's Little Man."

Since 1985, Smith had been a minister at the City of Angeles Church of Religious Science. He began his musical career as a jazz vocalist and later sang country and rhythm and blues. He replaced Joe Williams as the lead singer for the Count Basie Band in the early 1960's before striking gold as a solo artist.