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'''Joe Melson''' (born May 1935) is an American [[singing|singer]] and a [[Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI]] Award-winning [[songwriter]].
'''Joe Melson''' (born May 1935) is an American [[singing|singer]] and a [[Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI]] Award-winning [[songwriter]].


==Life and career==
==Life and career==
Joe Melson was born in [[Bonham, Texas|Bonham]], [[Fannin County, Texas|Fannin County]], [[Texas]]. He was reared on a farm until he was sixteen. He attended [[high school]] in [[Gore, Oklahoma]], and in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], before he returned to Texas to study at the two-year [[Odessa College]] in [[Odessa, Texas|Odessa]], the seat of [[Ector County, Texas|Ector County]]. He studied and played music as a teenager and fronted a [[rockabilly]] band called the Cavaliers.
Joe Melson was born in [[Bonham, Texas|Bonham]], [[Fannin County, Texas|Fannin County]], [[Texas]], United States. He was reared on a farm until he was sixteen. He attended [[high school]] in [[Gore, Oklahoma]], and in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], before he returned to Texas to study at the two-year [[Odessa College]] in [[Odessa, Texas|Odessa]], the seat of [[Ector County, Texas|Ector County]]. He studied and played music as a teenager and fronted a [[rockabilly]] band called the Cavaliers.

⚫
Beginning in 1959,<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1005700738|title=The authorized Roy Orbison|last=Orbison|first=Roy Jr.|publisher=Center Street|others=Orbison, Wesley, Orbison, Alex, Slate, Jeff, Riesco, Marcel|year=2017|isbn=9781478976547|edition= Second |location=New York|pages=76|oclc=1017566749}}</ref> first at his home in [[Midland, Texas]], and then in [[Nashville, Tennessee]], Melson teamed up with a [[Roy Orbison]] who had just joined Monument Records,<ref name=":0" /> with whom he would soon write a string of hits. Before their collaboration, Orbison had been solely a rockabilly performer. Although Melson himself was rooted in that music genre, he had begun writing [[rhythm and blues]] songs. Melson recognized the potential in Orbison's voice, encouraging the singer to explore its power through their first collaboration, "[[Only the Lonely]]." What resulted on March 25, 1960, was the first [[operatic]] [[rock ballad]] in the history of [[popular music]]. The song went to No.&nbsp;2 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart in the United States and to [[List of Number 1 singles from the 1960s (UK)|No. 1]] in the [[UK Singles Chart]], which launched Orbison to international musical stardom.


Not only did that song influence Orbison to write such operatic ballads as "[[In Dreams (Roy Orbison song)|In Dreams]]," but a few months later it also induced Orbison's friend [[Elvis Presley]] to record "[[It's Now or Never]]," based on the Neapolitan art song "[['O Sole Mio]]."{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}
⚫
Beginning in 1959,<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1005700738|title=The authorized Roy Orbison|last=Orbison|first=Roy Jr.|publisher=Center Street|others=Orbison, Wesley,, Orbison, Alex,, Slate, Jeff,, Riesco, Marcel|year=2017|isbn=9781478976547|edition= Second |location=New York|pages=76|oclc=1017566749}}</ref> first at his home in [[Midland, Texas]], and then in [[Nashville, Tennessee]], Joe Melson teamed up with a [[Roy Orbison]] who had just joined Monument Records,<ref name=":0" /> with whom he would soon write a string of hits. Before their collaboration, Orbison had been solely a rockabilly performer. Although Joe Melson himself was rooted in that music genre, he had begun writing [[rhythm and blues]] songs.Joe Melson recognized the potential in Orbison's voice, encouraging the singer to explore its power through their first collaboration, "[[Only the Lonely]]." What resulted on March 25, 1960, was the first [[operatic]] [[rock ballad]] in the history of [[popular music]]. The song went to No.&nbsp;2 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart in the United States and to [[List of Number 1 singles from the 1960s (UK)|#1]] in the [[UK Singles Chart]], which launched Orbison to international musical stardom. Not only did that song influence Orbison to write such operatic ballads as "[[In Dreams (Roy Orbison song)|In Dreams]]," but a few months later it also induced Orbison's friend [[Elvis Presley]] to record "It's Now or Never," based on the Neapolitan art song "[['O Sole Mio]]."


Joe Melson and Orbison followed up with similar sounds such as the dramatic "[[Running Scared (Roy Orbison song)|Running Scared]]" that went to [[Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1961 (USA)|#1]] in the US. The result of their collaborative efforts produced such songs as:
Melson and Orbison followed up with similar sounds such as the dramatic "[[Running Scared (Roy Orbison song)|Running Scared]]" that went to [[Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1961 (USA)|No. 1]] in the US.


==Melson and Orbison==
==Melson and Orbison==
The result of their collaborative efforts produced such songs as:
*"Uptown" (1960)
*"Uptown" (1960)
*"[[Only the Lonely]]" (1960)
*"[[Only the Lonely]]" (1960)
Line 27: Line 30:
*"Harlem Woman" (1972)
*"Harlem Woman" (1972)


"Lana" was also recorded by [[Virgil Johnson (singer)|Virgil Johnson]]'s [[the Velvets]], based in Odessa. Orbison released the song on his second Monument LP "Crying".
"Lana" was also recorded by [[Virgil Johnson (singer)|Virgil Johnson]]'s [[the Velvets]], based in Odessa. Orbison released the song on his second Monument album, ''Crying''.


Between 1960 and 1963, Joe Melson recorded several [[single (music)|single]]s of his own (the best known being "Hey Mister Cupid") for [[Universal Music|Hickory Records]] and also through [[Acuff-Rose Music]] wrote songs for some of that label's other artists including [[Dan Folger]]. He then recorded a few songs for the [[EMP Records]] label in 1964 and 1965 that achieved limited success. His last hit collaboration with Orbison came in 1963 with the writing of "[[Blue Bayou]]," although some of their cooperative efforts would be recorded in later years. The two got together again between 1971 and 1975, but while the venture did not yield the commercial success their collaboration once had, it brought such memorable songs as "Harlem Woman".
Between 1960 and 1963, Melson recorded several [[single (music)|single]]s of his own (the best known being "Hey Mister Cupid") for [[Universal Music|Hickory Records]] and also through [[Acuff-Rose Music]]. wrote songs for some of that label's other artists including [[Dan Folger]]. He then recorded a few songs for EMP Records in 1964 and 1965 that achieved limited success. His last hit collaboration with Orbison came in 1963 with the writing of "[[Blue Bayou]]," although some of their cooperative efforts would be recorded in later years. The two got together again between 1971 and 1975, but while the venture did not yield the commercial success their collaboration once had, it brought such memorable songs as "Harlem Woman".


Over the years, Joe Melson continued to perform at rockabilly and nostalgia festivals, and in 2002 he was inducted into the International Rock-A-Billy Hall of Fame in [[Jackson, Tennessee]].
Over the years, Melson continued to perform at rockabilly and nostalgia festivals, and in 2002 he was inducted into the International Rock-A-Billy Hall of Fame in [[Jackson, Tennessee]].


In August 2014, Joe Melson released a triple-A sided single "Last Goodbye/Fields of Gold/Girl Back on Blue Bayou" with Australian artist [[Damien Leith]].<ref>{{citeweb|url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/damien-leith-joe-melson-single/id908483435|title=Damien Leith and Joe Melson - Single|publisher=iTunes Australia|accessdate=21 November 2014}}</ref>
In August 2014, Melson released a triple-A sided single "Last Goodbye/Fields of Gold/Girl Back on Blue Bayou" with Australian artist [[Damien Leith]].<ref>{{citeweb|url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/damien-leith-joe-melson-single/id908483435|title=Damien Leith and Joe Melson - Single|publisher=iTunes Australia|accessdate=21 November 2014}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 01:39, 29 December 2018

Joe Melson (born May 1935) is an American singer and a BMI Award-winning songwriter.

Life and career

Joe Melson was born in Bonham, Fannin County, Texas, United States. He was reared on a farm until he was sixteen. He attended high school in Gore, Oklahoma, and in Chicago, Illinois, before he returned to Texas to study at the two-year Odessa College in Odessa, the seat of Ector County. He studied and played music as a teenager and fronted a rockabilly band called the Cavaliers.

Beginning in 1959,[1] first at his home in Midland, Texas, and then in Nashville, Tennessee, Melson teamed up with a Roy Orbison who had just joined Monument Records,[1] with whom he would soon write a string of hits. Before their collaboration, Orbison had been solely a rockabilly performer. Although Melson himself was rooted in that music genre, he had begun writing rhythm and blues songs. Melson recognized the potential in Orbison's voice, encouraging the singer to explore its power through their first collaboration, "Only the Lonely." What resulted on March 25, 1960, was the first operatic rock ballad in the history of popular music. The song went to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and to No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart, which launched Orbison to international musical stardom.

Not only did that song influence Orbison to write such operatic ballads as "In Dreams," but a few months later it also induced Orbison's friend Elvis Presley to record "It's Now or Never," based on the Neapolitan art song "'O Sole Mio."[citation needed]

Melson and Orbison followed up with similar sounds such as the dramatic "Running Scared" that went to No. 1 in the US.

Melson and Orbison

The result of their collaborative efforts produced such songs as:

  • "Uptown" (1960)
  • "Only the Lonely" (1960)
  • "Blue Angel" (1960)
  • "I'm Hurtin'" (1961)
  • "Running Scared" (1961)
  • "Crying" (1961)
  • "The Crowd" (1962)
  • "The Actress" (1962)
  • "Gigolette" (1962)
  • "Blue Bayou" (1963)
  • "Blue Avenue" (1961)[2]
  • "Lana" (1962)[3]
  • "Harlem Woman" (1972)

"Lana" was also recorded by Virgil Johnson's the Velvets, based in Odessa. Orbison released the song on his second Monument album, Crying.

Between 1960 and 1963, Melson recorded several singles of his own (the best known being "Hey Mister Cupid") for Hickory Records and also through Acuff-Rose Music. wrote songs for some of that label's other artists including Dan Folger. He then recorded a few songs for EMP Records in 1964 and 1965 that achieved limited success. His last hit collaboration with Orbison came in 1963 with the writing of "Blue Bayou," although some of their cooperative efforts would be recorded in later years. The two got together again between 1971 and 1975, but while the venture did not yield the commercial success their collaboration once had, it brought such memorable songs as "Harlem Woman".

Over the years, Melson continued to perform at rockabilly and nostalgia festivals, and in 2002 he was inducted into the International Rock-A-Billy Hall of Fame in Jackson, Tennessee.

In August 2014, Melson released a triple-A sided single "Last Goodbye/Fields of Gold/Girl Back on Blue Bayou" with Australian artist Damien Leith.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Orbison, Roy Jr. (2017). The authorized Roy Orbison. Orbison, Wesley, Orbison, Alex, Slate, Jeff, Riesco, Marcel (Second ed.). New York: Center Street. p. 76. ISBN 9781478976547. OCLC 1017566749.
  2. ^ Orbison, Roy Jr. (2017). The authorized Roy Orbison. Orbison, Wesley,, Orbison, Alex,, Slate, Jeff,, Riesco, Marcel (First ed.). New York: Center Street. p. 251. ISBN 9781478976547. OCLC 1017566749.
  3. ^ Orbison, Roy Jr. (2017). The authorized Roy Orbison. Orbison, Wesley,, Orbison, Alex,, Slate, Jeff,, Riesco, Marcel (Second ed.). New York: Center Street. p. 250. ISBN 9781478976547. OCLC 1017566749.
  4. ^ "Damien Leith and Joe Melson - Single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 21 November 2014.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joe_Melson&oldid=875793201"