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Topic: Mel Tillis- The Ultimate Country Balladeer |
Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2006 10:03 am |
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I'm settled on the notion that Mel Tillis is the country steel player's most prominent vocalist. His voice is not surpassed by the standards set to country music entertainment. Take time out to listen to "One More Drink", and compare anyone to his voice quality and style. |
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Terry Bethel
From:
Hollister, Missouri (deceased)
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Posted 4 Dec 2006 12:59 pm
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Bill,
I have to agree with you, but I am a little pregudice( I don't know if I spelled that right), however I still enjoy every show I get to play for Mr. Tillis,
Terry Bethel
Mel Tillis Show again.
The third time around is a charm they say. |
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Doug Earnest
From:
Branson, MO USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2006 1:24 pm
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| M-M-M-Mel gets my vote! Truly a class act. That old blonde guy that plays steel for him is pretty good, too! |
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Clyde Mattocks
From:
Kinston, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2006 1:53 pm
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Mel and band will be at the Crystal Coast
Jamboree Theater in Morehead City, North
Carolina this coming Sunday (Dec. 10), for
an afternoon and night show. I'm told it is
almost sold out. Call toll free 866 580
7469. I know, events and announcements, but I figured it would be pertinent to this thread. |
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Chris Schlotzhauer
From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2006 2:47 pm
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| When people speak of the country shuffle, they always reference Ray Price, Johnny Bush, Paycheck, Buck. Mel Tillis had some of the greatest shuffles ever. Very underrated IMO. Thanks for bringing him up. |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2006 3:19 pm
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Terry, thanks for taking a stand, by supporting the notion that Mel's voice is the perfect blend of country goodness. I feel that his country shuffles remain unchallenged as of this time, as they cry out for a steelie to back the lyrics. I recognized his potential years ago when he signed on with Kapp Records in 1966. "Life Turned Her That Way" (Harlan Howard's) song made the charts for Mel about that time.
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JW Day
From:
Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2006 3:32 pm
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| I have A cousin that is A personal friend with Mel. He says that he is one the nicest persons you could ever meet |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2006 3:36 pm
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I only saw Mel Tillis once. His featured steel guitarist at the time was Paul Franklin, Jr.. I enjoyed the show very much, and got to meet Paul afterwards.
------------------
 Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6) My Blog
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Theresa Galbraith
From:
Goodlettsville,Tn. USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2006 4:04 pm
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I only saw Mel once too and my brother was on steel. Mel is a performer & features his musicians!  |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2006 4:11 pm
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Bobby Lee, I'll wager that Paul's original fill was second to none at that show. Thanks for sharing how much you enjoyed the show. Many great talents have originated in the state of Florida, including Mel and Doug Jernigan. |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2006 7:04 pm
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JW Day, are you a relative of the late Jimmy Day? Perhaps you've heard of Buzz Evans, who was a close friend of the late Jimmy Day. |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 5 Dec 2006 1:47 am
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Theresa, Could you fill me in on more of your brother's experience at the Mel Tillis Show? Do you remember if they included Mel's "Detroit City", or "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town"; at the show? Of course, I'm sure you are aware that those songs were huge successes. While scanning for information, could you add something about the fire that claimed his Gibson guitar? It was the guitar that he wrote the Lyrics of "Ruby" on. There was a famous fiddle lost in the same blaze, I do believe. Thanks... |
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gene brown
From:
Bowie, Texas Montague
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Posted 5 Dec 2006 8:01 am
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| I agree with Terry.I saw Mel lots of times in Branson when Snuffy Elmore was playing with him.Got to know lot of his band. He is the best. Gene. |
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Ron Page
From:
Penn Yan, NY USA
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Posted 5 Dec 2006 8:26 am
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I've long been a Mel Tillis fan and unfortunately had a lot of his stuff on 8-tracks; Sawmill and those years... 
I always liked "Mental Revenge", which Waylon had a hit on, "Brand New Mister Me", "Commercial Affection", "Heaven Every Day" and "Old Fateful", to name a few.
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HagFan
[This message was edited by Ron Page on 05 December 2006 at 08:34 AM.] |
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Steve Hinson
From:
Hendersonville Tn USA
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Brandon Ordoyne
From:
Needville,Texas USA
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Posted 5 Dec 2006 9:49 am
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| Steve, I agree with you 100%. Hall of Fame for Mel Tillis! |
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Mike Wolfenbarger
From:
El Paso, Texas, USA
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Posted 5 Dec 2006 1:17 pm
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Steve said what a lot of us have been thinking for a long time.
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Mike
Pro-III (a lot)
Vegas 400
Evans
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 5 Dec 2006 3:38 pm
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I agree that Mel has provided the entertainment that is deserving of the highest honor. I'll be in there, pitching for him all the way. I still maintain that his shuffles can put him over the top in both showmanship and vocalizing. To ignore his achievements would detract from what country music stands for. |
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Wally Taylor
From:
Hardin, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 5 Dec 2006 7:29 pm
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Besides Mel, Nashville has all but ignored his daughter Pam, who also is a great singer/songwriter in her on right! But then again, what should we expect out of Nashville these days? If you listen real close, you might be able to hear background singers and steel.........if you listen real close. Mel has one of the greatest all around bands going. I did not know he WASN'T in the Hall of Fame. Oh they will all sing his praises AFTER he is gone. But like the song said, "Nashville is hard on the living, but it sure speaks well of the dead". True words for sure.
Just my venting I guess. But, thanks for listening.
Wally |
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Billy Joe Bailey
From:
Jackson, Mississippi, USA
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Posted 5 Dec 2006 8:13 pm
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I was in Branson 14 teen years ago and I attended the Mel Tillis Show and I suspose I heard the best Steel player that old Mel has ever had.
I think back then,this steelplayer was wearing his hair alittle kinky????? but they still called him Terry Bethel . When I saw this Terry Bethel up in St Louis this set behind that steel, he had his hair laid back????????
What you reckon he did't have his permanet wave in??
Or the steel that he plays now dont shock him as bad??? Just my crazy joking--Old Mel knows he's got a good thing with having Terry Bethel on his team |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2006 2:50 am
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Wally Taylor, thanks for venting about relevancies that instill a crippling effect on individual selectivity, of what is good for country music standards. As usual, the almighty DOLLAR fits snugly into the configuration. Whenever there is a cash flow circulating, management quickly ascertains ways and means to hop on the bandwagon. It's all about money, and even though failures to achieve certain exemplary goals is relevant to successes in the recording industries, management shares in the blame. You've written about Pam Tillis, (Mel's daughter), and I couldn't agree more, after hearing her sing "Don't Tell Me What To Do". I spent some time sorting through various "Country Music Superstars" tapes, and located a classic country song by Mel. It's called: "Woman In The Back Of My Mind". I'll never tire of the rich blend of Mel's vocalizing, and the excellent blend of accompaniment in the recording.
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Joe Casey
From:
Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)
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Posted 6 Dec 2006 4:56 am
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| I am surprised the Okie from pah-ho-kee is not in the HOF. But then again its hard for any truly great Country artist to get in nowadays. |
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