Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Mel McDaniel: February 2011
Gene Watson's peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as 'the singer's singer' - and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson's Peers who were contacted during 2011 were most gracious with their time and words. It is here, within this special part of the Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Mel McDaniel, which he submitted to this site on Sunday 13 February 2011.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Mel McDaniel who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Mel McDaniel
This quote was submitted on Sunday 13 February 2011.
'One of my best friends and one fine singer!
Gene Watson is a man I've respected for many years.
Gene, you're still 'fourteen carat' to me'.
Thank you, Mel McDaniel, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Mel McDaniel...
Mel McDaniel was born on Sunday 6 September 1942; the son of a truck driving father, Mel grew up in Okmulgee, Oklahoma and was inspired to play music after seeing Elvis Presley (Tuesday 8 January 1935 - Tuesday 16 August 1977) perform on television.
When he was fourteen years old, Mel McDaniel taught himself the guitar chords to 'Frankie & Johnny' and performed at a high-school talent contest.
Mel McDaniel first performed on stage on Halloween 1958 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. From there, he had an unsuccessful trip to Nashville, followed by quite a bit of success in Anchorage, Alaska where he honed his performing skills at King X's Lounge.
After two years in Alaska, Mel McDaniel returned to Nashville where he landed a job as a demo singer and songwriter with Combine Music; one of the demos he sang on was 'A Tear Fell', which was a hit for Billy 'Crash' Craddock on ABC Records in late 1977.
With the help of music publisher Bob Beckham, Mel McDaniel signed to Capitol Records in 1976 and saw the release of his first single; 'Have A Dream On Me' was included on Mel McDaniel's debut album 'Gentle To Your Senses' (Capitol Records, 1977).
In August 1978, Mel McDaniel saw the release of his second album for Capitol Records; 'Mello' (Capitol Records, 1978) included 'Oklahoma Wind', a track after which he named his backing band.
In 1980, Mel McDaniel saw the release of his third album for Capitol Records; 'I'm Countrified' (Capitol Records, 1980) included Bob McDill's 'Louisiana Saturday Night', which reached No.7 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1981.
'I'm Countrified' (Capitol Records, 1980) also included Bob McDill's 'Right In The Palm Of Your Hand', which reached the Top 5 of the Billboard country music singles chart in 1981.
Alan Jackson recorded Bob McDill's 'Right In The Palm Of Your Hand' and included the track on 'Under The Influence' (RCA Records, 1999).
In 1982, Mel McDaniel saw the release of his fourth album for Capitol Records; 'Take Me To The Country' (Capitol Records, 1982) included 'Big Ole Brew', which reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1982.
In 1983, Mel McDaniel saw the release of his fifth album for Capitol Records; 'Naturally Country' (Capitol Records, 1983) included 'Old Man River (I've Come To Talk Again)', which reached No.22 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983.
In 1984, Mel McDaniel saw the release of his sixth album for Capitol Records; 'Oklahoma Wind' (Capitol Records, 1984) included 'I Call It Love', which reached the Top 5 of the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984.
In 1984, Mel McDaniel saw the release of his seventh album for Capitol Records; 'Let It Roll' (Capitol Records, 1984) included 'Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On', which was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in February/March 1985.
'Let It Roll' (Capitol Records, 1984) also included a rendition of Chuck Berry's 'Let It Roll (Let It Rock)', which reached No.6 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1985.
In 1985, Mel McDaniel saw the release of his eighth album for Capitol Records; 'Stand Up' (Capitol Records, 1985) included 'Stand up', which reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1985.
On Saturday 11 January 1986, Mel McDaniel became the 62nd member of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and made frequent appearances on the show.
In 1986, Mel McDaniel saw the release of his ninth album for Capitol Records; 'Just Can't Sit Down Music' (Capitol Records, 1986) included 'Stand On It', which reached the Top 10 of the Billboard country music singles chart in 1986.
In 1986, Mel McDaniel saw the release of his first 'Greatest Hits' collection on Capitol Records; 'Greatest Hits' (Capitol Records, 1986) included two previously unreleased tracks, 'Anger And Tears' (No.49, 1986) and 'Love Is Everywhere' (No.60, 1987).
Before he departed Capitol Records in mid-1989, Mel McDaniel saw the release of his final two albums for the label; 'Now You're Talking' (Capitol Records, 1988) and 'Rockabilly Boy' (Capitol Records, 1989).
In 1990, Mel McDaniel signed with the independent record label DPI Records and saw the release of the critically acclaimed 'Country Pride' (DPI Records, 1990), which was produced by Roger Murrah and Keith Stegall.
In 1996, Mel McDaniel had a near-fatal fall into an orchestra pit, which he suffered while he was performing at a show in Lafayette, Louisiana.
On Tuesday 16 June 2009, Mel McDaniel suffered a heart attack, which put him into a medically induced coma in a Nashville area hospital; Mel has since recovered from his heart attack.
On Wednesday 9 March 2011, the Gene Watson Fan Site received this sad news from Barry, Manager for Mel McDaniel:
'Mel McDaniel has been diagnosed with stage 3b terminal lung cancer and only has a short time. Mel thought a lot of the Gene Watson Fan Site; just thought that you might want to announce his last album, which was completed the day before he entered the hospital (on Saturday 19 February 2011).
Thank you again & God Bless,
Barry, Manager to Mr. McDaniel'
'Mel McDaniel: The Last Ride' was the final career album by Mel McDaniel. The album was recorded in late February 2011; Mel entered the hospital on the final day of the recording and insisted on completing the album before he went.
Mel McDaniel and Gene Watson backstage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Thursday 2 April 2009
On Thursday 31 March 2011, family and friends of country music icon Mel McDaniel confirmed that he had died of cancer. The Grand Ole Opry member passed away at his home in Tennessee; he was 68 years old.
Mel McDaniel was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1986. His last Opry appearance took place on Tuesday 28 September 2010, when the fabled Tennessee venue re-opened after sustaining flood damage in May 2010.
A public memorial service for Mel McDaniel was held on Wednesday 13 April 2011 between 2.00pm and 4.00pm CST at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
In lieu of flowers, Mel McDaniel’s family requested that memorial donations be made to the Opry Trust Fund at this address: Opry Trust Fund, 2804 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN 37214.
Mel McDaniel
Sunday 6 September 1942 - Thursday 31 March 2011