Lonnie Melvin Tillis (August 8, 1932 – November 19, 2017) was a prominent American country music singer and songwriter. While he began recording songs in the late 1950s, his major breakthrough came during the 1970s as part of the outlaw country movement, earning him a string of impressive Top 10 hits.
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Among Tillis’ greatest successes were chart-topping songs like “I Ain’t Never,” “Good Woman Blues,” and “Coca-Cola Cowboy.” In recognition of his contributions to country music, President Barack Obama presented Tillis with the National Medal of Arts on February 13, 2012. Additionally, he earned the esteemed title of Entertainer of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards.
Throughout his illustrious career, Lonnie Melvin Tillis was esteemed as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Notably, he was also recognized for his unique ability to sing flawlessly despite his stutter, which had no impact on his impressive singing voice. His daughter is none other than the 1990s country hitmaker, Pam Tillis.
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Mel Tillis’s Profile Summary
| Name | Mel Tillis |
| First Name | Mel |
| Last Name | Tillis |
| Occupation | Country Singer |
| Birthday | August 8 |
| Birth Year | 1932 |
| Place of Birth | Tampa |
| Home Town | Florida |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birth Sign | Leo |
| Spouse | Doris Tillis, Kathy DeMonaco |
| Children(s) | Pam Tillis, Mel Tillis, Jr., Carrie April Tillis, Connie Tillis, Hannah Tillis, Cindy Tillis |
Early life
Mel Tillis was born in Tampa, Florida, USA, to parents Burma (née Rogers; 1907–1990) and Lonnie Lee Tillis (1907–1981). During his early years, the family relocated to Pahokee, Florida, near West Palm Beach. Unfortunately, a bout of malaria during his childhood resulted in him developing a stutter. Nonetheless, Mel Tillis displayed a talent for music from a young age, learning both the drums and the guitar. At the age of 16, he showcased his skills and won a local talent show.
While pursuing higher education at the University of Florida, Tillis eventually decided to drop out and instead enlisted in the United States Air Force. During his service, stationed in Okinawa, he pursued his passion for music and formed a band named The Westerners. The band performed at local nightclubs, allowing Mel Tillis to further hone his musical talents.
Rise to fame
While Mel Tillis had his own successful chart-topping hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs list, his true triumph came as a skilled songwriter, especially for Webb Pierce. He penned notable hits such as “I Ain’t Never,” which would become one of Tillis’ own future hits, and “Crazy, Wild Desire.” His compositions were also covered by acclaimed artists like Bobby Bare, Tom Jones (with “Detroit City”), Wanda Jackson, and Stonewall Jackson.
During his time with Columbia Records, Tillis had several well-known songs, including “The Brooklyn Bridge,” “Loco Weed,” and “Walk on, Boy.” In 1967, his co-written song “All the Time” reached No. 1 on the charts when Jack Greene recorded it. Although he continued to release his own music, initial major success on the country charts proved elusive.
In the mid-1960s, Tillis made a switch to Kapp Records, and in 1965, he achieved his first Top 15 hit with “Wine.” More hits followed, including “Stateside” and “Life Turned Her That Way,” later covered by Ricky Van Shelton in 1988, reaching No. 1. His talent as a songwriter extended to other country stars like Charley Pride with “The Snakes Crawl At Night,” Kenny Rogers and The First Edition with “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town,” and Waylon Jennings with “Mental Revenge.”
In 1968, Tillis celebrated his first Top 10 hit with “Who’s Julie” and became a regular featured singer on The Porter Wagoner Show. Throughout his career, Mel Tillis left an indelible mark on the country music scene with his exceptional songwriting and unforgettable contributions as a performer.
Professional Career
In 1969, things took a turn for the better for Mel Tillis as he achieved the success he had always desired. He scored two Top 10 country hits, namely “These Lonely Hands of Mine” and “She’ll Be Hanging Around Somewhere.” The following year, he reached the Top 5 with “Heart Over Mind,” peaking at an impressive No. 3 on the Hot Country Songs chart. From this point on, Tillis’ career as a country singer soared to new heights, with hits pouring in effortlessly.
Among the notable hits recorded on MGM Records, his early record company were “Heaven every day” (1970), “Commercial Affection” (1970), “Arms of a Fool” (1970), “Take My Hand” (a duet with Sherry Bryce in 1971), and “Brand New Mister Me” (1971). In 1972, Tillis achieved his first chart-topping success with his rendition of the song “I Ain’t Never.” Although previously a hit by Webb Pierce, Tillis’ version became the more recognized one.
Continuing his string of successes, Tillis had another near No. 1 hit in 1974 with “Neon Rose,” followed by “Sawmill,” which reached No. 2. “Midnight, Me and the Blues” came close to topping the charts in 1974. Other hits on MGM included “Stomp Them Grapes” (1974), “Memory Maker” (1974), “Woman in the Back of My Mind” (1975), and his version of “Mental Revenge” (1976).
Tillis’ career soared to new heights when he signed with MCA Records in 1976. He scored back-to-back No. 1 hits in 1976 with “Good Woman Blues” and “Heart Healer.” His remarkable songwriting skills came to light as he mentioned writing five hits in one week. This immense success earned him the coveted Entertainer of the Year award at the Country Music Association Awards in 1976 and induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame the same year. He also made an appearance on the game show Match Game in 1977.
In 1978, Tillis achieved another No. 1 hit with “I Believe In You,” followed by the success of “Coca-Cola Cowboy” in 1979, featured in Clint Eastwood’s movie Every Which Way but Loose, where Tillis also had a cameo appearance. He co-hosted a short-lived variety series on ABC television, Mel and Susan Together, with Susan Anton in 1978. Other hits during this time included “Send Me Down to Tucson,” “Ain’t No California,” and “I Got the Hoss.” In mid-1979, he transitioned to Elektra Records.
Under Elektra Records, Tillis continued to produce hit songs like “Blind In Love” and “Lying Time Again” in 1979. Until 1981, he remained one of country music’s most successful vocalists, with hits like “Your Body Is an Outlaw” reaching No. 3 in 1980, and “Steppin’ Out” landing in the Top 10. His last No. 1 hit came in 1981 with “Southern Rains.” During this time, he collaborated with Nancy Sinatra on the album Mel and Nancy, which produced two hit singles, “Texas Cowboy Night” and the double A-side, “Play Me or Trade Me/Where Would I Be.”
In 1982, Tillis switched back to MCA for a brief period, scoring a Top 10 hit with “In The Middle Of The Night” that summer. His last Top 10 hit, “New Patches,” came in 1984. By this time, Tillis had established a significant financial empire through wise investments in music publishing companies like Sawgrass and Cedarwood.
Mel Tillis’s Film
Tillis showcased his acting skills in several movies, making appearances in films like “Cottonpickin’ Chickenpickers” (1967), “W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings” (1975), “Smokey and the Bandit II” (1980), “The Cannonball Run” (1981), “The Cannonball Run II” (1984), “Beer for My Horses” (2008), as well as comedy westerns “The Villain” (1979) and “Uphill All the Way” (1986), where he starred alongside fellow country singer Roy Clark.
Personal life and death
Tillis was a father to six children, including the talented singer-songwriter Pam Tillis. Pam made her mark in the 1990s, recording for Arista Nashville and delivering multiple country hit singles, such as “Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life)” and “Maybe It Was Memphis.” Another one of his children, Mel “Sonny” Tillis Jr., followed in his father’s footsteps as a songwriter. Sonny co-wrote Jamie O’Neal’s hit single “When I Think About Angels” in 2001.
In January 2016, Tillis faced various health issues, which took a toll on his well-being. Sadly, on November 19, 2017, at the age of 85, he passed away in Ocala, Florida, due to respiratory failure. Following his father’s passing, Sonny Tillis embarked on touring as a tribute act, keeping his father’s legacy alive through heartfelt performances.
Mel Tillis’s Net Worth
Mel Tillis’ estimated net worth is $20 million dollars. He accumulated this significant wealth primarily through his successful career as a singer-songwriter, actor, and composer.
