Country music songwriter Jim Nesbitt drew critical acclaim for songs that drew both laughter and critical acclaim. ” border=0> His son says his father died Thursday in his South Carolina home of congestive heart failure. He was 75. Nesbitt was known by some as the ‘King of Country Comedy.’ He made the charts 13 times between 1961 and 1970, including “Looking for More in ‘64″ that climbed to Number Seven on the Billboard charts and “Please Mr. Kennedy,” which came in at Number Eleven in 1961.

FLORENCE, S.C. — Jim Nesbitt, who wrote country music songs that drew both laughter and critical acclaim, has died. He was 75. Nesbitt died of congestive heart failure Thursday at his South Carolina home, his son, Timothy Nesbitt told The Associated Press. “He always wanted to be a musician, but the comedian part just came so natural, everyone wanted him for his comedy,” his son said.

“He loved comedy, but I really think he loved the music more.” Known by some as the “King of Country Comedy,” Nesbitt made the Billboard country charts 13 times between 1961 and 1970. “Looking for More in ‘64″ reached No. 7 and “Please Mr. Kennedy,” which had the same melody as “The Ballad of Davy Crockett,” hit No. 11 in 1961. Nesbitt also wrote “Runnin’ Bare,” a novelty version of Johnny Preston’s No.

1 pop hit “Running Bear.” Nesbitt’s son, who at one time played bass in his father’s band, said Nesbitt was always joking around, right up until the day he died. “He was just fun to be around. Never a dull moment,” said Timothy Nesbitt, 41. Cashbox Magazine president Bruce Elrod planned to put Nesbitt on the cover this month as a surprise for what would have been his 76th birthday Saturday.

Elrod said the magazine, which used to rival Billboard a half century ago, will keep Nesbitt on the front, only the tone will be different. “He was a South Carolina institution. He was the Hootie of the 60s,” Elrod said, referring to the pop band Hootie and the Blowfish, whose members are also from the state. Funeral services were scheduled for Sunday.