Otha Young | Musician, 66

Otha Young, 66, who wrote the 1980s hit "The Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known)" for Grammy-winning singer Juice Newton during their long musical partnership, died of cancer Aug. 6 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, said his wife, Brenda.

Mr. Young played guitar with Newton since the 1970s, appearing on all her albums. He wrote primarily for Newton and was a singer, producer, and, for a time, also was Newton's road manager.

"The Sweetest Thing" was a No. 1 hit on adult-contemporary and country charts.

They first appeared as Sweet Jubal and later as Dixie Peach, working coffeehouses in Northern California. The band became known as Juice Newton and Silver Spur and started recording under Newton's name in the mid-1970s.

Mr. Young toured with Newton until March, and they finished a CD called The Gift of Christmas, his wife said. - Los Angeles Times