Mel Tillis

Mel Tillis ( born August 8, 1932 as Lonnie Melvin Tillis in Tampa, Florida) is an American country music singer and songwriter, who in the 1960s and 1970s could celebrate chart success and composed several classics of country music. His trademark is a very pronounced stutter, but that makes the singing is not noticeable.

Mel Tillis grew up in Pahokee, Florida. At the age of three he began to stutter. The cause of a malaria disease, or contact with a stuttering neighbor boy is adopted. His handicap was to accompany him throughout his life and even his trademark are (he called his autobiography " Stutterin 'Boy ", his private jet " Stutter One", an LP was given the title "MM - Mel" ).

At an early age he began to play the guitar and violin. In the school band, he was the drummer. Although unmistakably highly talented, he initially chose a career as a football player. Trying to get a pilot training with the U.S. Air Force, failed because of his speech impediment. He remained in the Air Force and served his military service in Okinawa, Japan from. In 1955, he studied briefly at a college and then overturned by doing odd jobs. In 1956, he appeared with some self- written songs in Nashville, but could not at first take root and returned to Florida in the local country scene.

Career

A first important step in his career he succeeded in 1957, when Webb Pierce reached with his song I'm Tired third place on the country charts. Encouraged by the success he settled permanently on with his pregnant wife to Nashville. At the Columbia label, he received the coveted recording contract. His first single was not a success, but with the song composed by him the B-side, Honky Tonk Song, Webb Pierce managed to place one. Tillis was the first time in 1958 represented with The Violet And A Rose in the charts. In the following years he was able to place several times in the central region of the country charts. Web Pierce, however, the love grossed still Mel Tillis - songs, so that was clearly successful. Also others like George Morgan or Ray Price made ​​his songs hits. The mid-1960s he was co -author of the classic Bobby Bare Detroit City.

1966 Mel Tillis moved to Kapp label. Here he was able to repeatedly penetrate with Stateside, Life Turned Her That Way and Goodbye Wheeling same in the top 20. In 1969 he wrote another classic, Ruby, Do not Take Your Love To Town, with the Kenny Rogers had a worldwide hit. The 1970s were his most successful decade. After several top 10 successes he achieved in 1972 with I Is not Never, his first number - one hit. By the end of the decade, followed by five more top hits and several top- 10 finishes. He also appeared in several films. In 1976 he was elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and CMA "Entertainer of the Year".

In the 1980s, his achievements were gradually wear out. In 1981, he made ​​a few duets with Nancy Sinatra once again attracted attention. Despite frequent label changes were made ​​chart positions. Others had with his songs still top hits. From the mid- 1980s, his daughter Pam Tillis tied almost seamlessly on its successes. Also noteworthy are his achievements as a businessman and investor. He is involved in several music publishers. In 1998 he became honorary chairman of the " Stuttering Foundation of America ."

Discography

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