Mel Tillis

Mel Tillis

Lonnie Melvin Tillis (August 8, 1932 – November 19, 2017) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Although he recorded songs since the late 1950s, his biggest success occurred in the 1970s as part of the outlaw country movement, with a long list of Top 10 hits. Tillis' biggest hits include "I Ain't Never", "Good Woman Blues", and "Coca-Cola Cowboy". On February 13, 2012, President Barack Obama awarded Tillis the National Medal of Arts for his contributions to country music. He also won the Country Music Association Awards' most coveted award, Entertainer of the Year. Tillis was a member of the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Country Music Hall of Fame. Additionally, he was known for his stutter, which did not affect his singing voice. His daughter is 1990s country hitmaker Pam Tillis.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 8, 1932 (Tampa), Died November 19, 2017 (Ocala)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1958 - 1964

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, guitar

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Role
Decca	NA 10308	7/5/1958	Falling back to you	Webb Pierce	instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	NA 10309	7/5/1958	Sittin' alone	Webb Pierce	instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	NA 10310	7/5/1958	I'm letting you go	Webb Pierce	instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	NA 10311	7/8/1958	I'm letting you go	Webb Pierce	instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	NA 10312	7/8/1958	Let forgiveness in	Webb Pierce	instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	NA 10313	7/8/1958	Tupelo County jail	Webb Pierce	instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	NA 10391	10/3/1958	Waiting a lifetime	Webb Pierce	instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	NA 10392	10/3/1958	True love never dies	Webb Pierce	instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	NA 10393	10/3/1958	I think of you	Webb Pierce	instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	NA 10394	10/3/1958	I won't be crying anymore	Webb Pierce	instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	NA 12099	6/6/1962	How come your dog don't bite	Webb Pierce ; Mel Tillis	vocalist
Decca	NA 12100	6/6/1962	Half laughing, half crying	Mel Tillis	vocalist
Decca	NA 12101	6/6/1962	Couldn't see the forest for the trees	Mel Tillis	vocalist
Decca	NA 12102	6/6/1962	So soon	Mel Tillis	vocalist
Decca	NA 12330	1/22/1963	Don't tell Mama	Mel Tillis	vocalist
Decca	NA 12331	1/22/1963	It's no surprise	Mel Tillis	vocalist
Decca	NA 12332	1/22/1963	Makin' the round	Mel Tillis	vocalist
Decca	NA 12811	2/3/1964	I'm gonna act right	Mel Tillis	vocalist
Decca	NA 12812	2/3/1964	Are we drifting apart	Mel Tillis	vocalist
Decca	NA 12813	2/3/1964	It'll be easy	Mel Tillis	vocalist

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tillis, Mel," accessed November 10, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/210185.

Tillis, Mel. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 10, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/210185.

"Tillis, Mel." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 10 November 2024.