Mel Tillis
Induction Year: 1972
Birth Name: Lonnie Melvin Tillis
Birth Date: August 08, 1932
Place of Birth: Tampa, FL
Biography
"Some sophisticated critics put down country lyrics as shallow, crudely written stuff for simple-minded rednecks. They say our songs are all about broken hearts, triangle love affairs, and homesick truckers. That's far from true. We have plenty of upbeat songs, happy ones, even funny ones. There are a lot more funny country songs than you'll find on pop and rock records. And we're not the least bit ashamed of writing about the hurt and loneliness as well as the joys of love, 'cause that's what's happening...I think the songs country writers create do something else that's important. Since we deal with the basic things of life, and aren't ashamed to do so, our audiences feel especially close to us. That's an honor for us. We're grateful that they think of us country writers and performers as flesh-and-blood men and women, just as they are. " Mel Tillis, from Questionnaire
Former Occupations:
Baker
Cook
House painter
Strawberry picker
Railroad fireman
Truck driver
U.S. Air Force
Education:
High School--in Pahokee, Florida
College--University of Florida (Gainesville
Discography / Career Highlights
Career Milestones:
late 1940s--first radio performance on WIS in Columbia, SC
early 1950s--had a regular job on radio singing country music on the Armed Forces Far Eastern network radio station (in Okinawa during the Korean War)
1951--first professional gig at the Mayflower Hotel in Jacksonville, FL
1952--first songwriting attempt, "Honky-Tonk Song" (went to #1 in 1957 for Webb Pierce)
1956--came to Nashville for the first time
1957--moved to Nashville
1957--first cut, "I'm Tired," recorded by Webb Pierce
1957--signed recording contract with Columbia Records (first song recorded was "Honky-Tonk Song")
early 1960s--first television appearance on the "Mike Douglas Show" as a guest and on Porter Wagoner's weekly series as a regular
Awards:
1976--CMA\Entertainer of the Year
Catalog Highlights:
"Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" -Artists: Johnny Darrell (1967), Kenny Rogers 1969)
"Detroit City" - Artists: Bobby Bare (1963)
"Heart Over Mind" - Artists: Ray Price (1961), Mel Tillis (1970)
"Mental Revenge" - Artists: Waylon Jennings (1967), Mel Tillis (1976)
"All the Time" - Artists: Kitty Wells (1959), Jack Greene (1967)
Comments:
Was owner of Cedarwood, Sawgrass, and a number of other publishing companies until 1987
Wrote "Stutterin' Boy," his autobiography
Backup band was called The Statesiders
Appeared in the following feature films: "W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings" (his first), "Smokey and the Bandit II," "Uphill All the Way," and "Murder in Music City"
