Brook Benton’s career had been in a slump until he released “Rainy Night in Georgia” in 1970. His first hit song was “It’s Just a Matter of Time” in 1959. Over the years he had 49 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. As it turned out “Rainy Night in Georgia” would not only be his best selling hit but also his last big hit.

Brook, weakened from spinal meningitis, would died from pneumonia at the age of 56 on April 9, 1988.

“Rainy Night in Georgia” has been covered by numerous artists over the years. For Brook it got up to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks (March 1 – 14). On the Cash Box Top Pops chart it up to #2 for the week of March 8 – 14.