Mel Tillis 1932-2017
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, with a long list of Top 10 hits.
Born in Tampa, Florida, but later raised in Pahokee, Florida, Tillis developed a stuttering problem during his childhood, a result of a bout with malaria. As a child, Tillis learned the drums as well as guitar and at age 16, won a local talent show. He attended the University of Florida but dropped out and joined the United States Air Force. While stationed as a baker on Okinawa, he formed a band called The Westerners, which played at local nightclubs. After leaving the Air Force in 1955, Tillis returned to Florida where he worked a number of odd jobs, eventually finding employment with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in Tampa, Florida. He used his railroad pass to visit Nashville and eventually met and auditioned for Wesley Rose of famed Nashville publishing house Acuff-Rose Music. Rose encouraged Tillis to return to Florida and continue honing his songwriting skills. Tillis eventually moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and began writing songs full-time. Tillis wrote I'm Tired, a No. 3 country hit for Webb Pierce in 1957. Other Tillis hits include Honky Tonk Song and Tupelo County Jail. Ray Price and Brenda Lee also charted hits with Tillis' material around this time. In the late 1950s, after becoming a hit-making songwriter, he signed his own contract with Columbia Records. In 1958, he had his first Top 40 hit, The Violet and a Rose, followed by the Top 25 hit Sawmill. Although Tillis charted on his own Billboard's Hot Country Songs list, he had more success as a songwriter. In the mid-1960s, Tillis switched to Kapp Records, and in 1965, he had his first Top 15 hit with Wine. Other hits continued to follow, such as Stateside and Life Turned Her That Way, which was later covered by Ricky Van Shelton in 1988, going to No. 1. In 1968, Tillis achieved his first Top 10 hit with Who's Julie. In 1970, he reached the Top 5 with Heart Over Mind, which peaked at No. 3 on the Hot Country Songs list. After this, Tillis' career as a country singer went into full swing. Hits soon came quite easily, such as Heaven Everyday (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-topper with his version of his song I Ain't Never. Since his heyday in the 1970s, Tillis remained a songwriter in the 1980s, writing hits for Ricky Skaggs and Randy Travis. He also wrote his autobiography called Stutterin' Boy. (The title comes from Tillis' speech impediment.) Tillis' recording career was dented by changes in the country music industry in the early 1990s and decided to build a theater in Branson, Missouri, where he performed on a regular basis until 2002. The Grand Ole Opry inducted Mel Tillis on June 9, 2007 and on February 13, 2012, President Barack Obama awarded Tillis the National Medal of Arts for his contributions to country music.
Tillis passed away on November 19, 2017, at the age of 85.
Music for this video:
Prelude No. 1 by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (
Source:
Artist:
LBAM: There Ain't No Moths On Me
Eradicate this senseless eradication program. The Light Brown Apple Moth, a.k.a. LBAM, is rather harmless. Yet, there are several draconian measures in the works to expose our kids and the places they play to toxins in a feeble attempt to annihilate this bug from the face of the earth. As long as it is declared an emergency, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) will get it's hundreds of millions in funding from the USDA of the DHS (Department of Homeland Security).
The solution is worse than the problem here, and the kids are the most vulnerable to side effects, which include nausea, headache, shortness of breathe, asthma, brain damage, cancer, death, and a few other unpleasant things.
Top Ten Reasons to Oppose LBAM Spray
(from About.com: )
1. The Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) is Not an Emergency - No Crop Damage
2. The Light Brown Apple Moth Has Likely Been in California For Years
3. The Light Brown Apple Moth Can Be Safely Managed
4. Aerial Spraying is an Experiment Without Our Consent
5. It's Not Simply a Pheromone - It's a Chemical Mix
6. The Delivery System: A Tiny Plastic Microcapsule That Can Be Inhaled
7. Long-Term Health, Environmental & Wildlife Effects Are Unknown
8. Years of Aerial Spraying May Damage Local Economy
9. Effects on Other Moths, Butterflies and Bees are Unknown
10. Opposition to the Aerial Spraying is Not an Isolated Group of Activists
BOTTOM LINE - The LBAM Eradication Program is:
Not necessary
Not effective
Not safe.
GET EDUCATED AND INVOLVED:
Or, Hear The Other Side of the Story:
ABOUT THIS VIDEO
This video includes shots of the kids and parks and schools and playgrounds and beaches in San Francisco that have been targeted for regular pesticide applications, until every last moth is completely eradicated and none of them show up for at least two mating cycles.
As a father of two boys, I am very concerned that the kids will be most vulnerable, as they climb trees, roll in the mud, and ingest all sorts of things, and their metabolism is much higher than the rest of us.
The tune is There Ain't No Moths on Me, compliments of one of our kids' favorite bands. Visit their site to learn more and find out when their next gig is:
Charity and the JAMband:
Photos by Kevin Krejci and Esther San Miguel:
The Lyrics to There Ain't No Moths on Me!
CHORUS
oh there ain't no moths on me
there ain't no moths on me
why you wanna spray the places we play
when there ain't no moths on me?
VERSE 1
once upon a time there was a bug
livin' 'longside the birds and the bees
they called her the light brown apple moth
'cause she liked to nibble fruit trees
well everything was goin' on just fine
there sure was no need to hate her
but then one day the CDFA
decided to eradicate her
VERSE 2
this chemical they wanna spray
it's TOXIC! and it hasn't been tested
there isn't even even proof it'll do the job
the moths might be unaffected
but what's it gonna do to the rest of us
our whole ecosystem's at stake
hey there Sac you're ignorin' the facts
come on! gimme a break!
VERSE 3
over there in new zealand land
there's proof of a sane solution
the moths and the people live in harmony
and there's never been a need to nuke 'em
they've lived down under for a century
and haven't hurt a single soul
we've got the same natural predators here
so what's all the rigamarole
KAZOO CHORUS
(playing We Shall Overcome)
VERSE 4
they're all obsessin' on this little moth
who's not even hurtin' our crops
but the politically motivated behemoth
is who really must be stopped
well I got kids and you got kids
and you know they've got some too
so why in the heck would they pass this dreck
it's all of us they screw
TAG
oh you ain't gonna spray no more no more
you ain't gonna spray no more
no you ain't gonna spray the places we play
no you ain't gonna spray no more
stop the spray!
stop the spray!
stop the spray!
stop the spray!
Video was produced with help of a cool tool called ANIMOTO: animoto.com
Mel Tillis Stateside
1967 on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium
Branson City Lights 1999 Lawrence Welk Waltz
Kat and myself waltzing.
Thunderbirds Air Show Branson, MO
Created on May 16, 2009 using FlipShare.
Rhonda Vincent, Billy Dean, Oak Ridge Boys Joe & Duane, & Gatlin Brothers Larry & Rudy
Starlite Theater in Branson. Rhonda is surprised by Joe, Duane, Larry, and Rudy along with Billy Dean on stage for her finale!
Branson Western 1
Sheriff at my door
Ozark Jubilee December 24, 1955 segment 1
The Ozark Jubilee was a live, nationally broadcast country-western variety show originating from the Jewell Theater -- “the heart of the Ozarks” -- in downtown Springfield from 1955 through 1960. Many country music stars began or advanced their careers by appearing on the Jubilee including Porter Wagoner, Patsy Cline, Brenda Lee, Johnny Cash, and the Philharmonics. Missouri State University Libraries is raising money to digitize 60 episodes that reside in kinescope form in the University of California, Los Angeles Film and Television Archive. For more information see
Episode Listing
1:45 Here comes Santa Claus Red Foley
4:33 Square dance Jubilee Promenaders with caller L.D. Keller
6:05 Regal Pale commercial
8:00 Christmas Island Slim Wilson
12:45 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Santa Claus
14:22 Regal Pale commercial
16:10 Will Santa come to Shantytown? Chuck Bowers
19:15 Lenny and Goo Goo comedy
22:30 Cowboy's Christmas Song Billy Walker
25:43 Regal Pale commercial
27:00 White Christmas Billy Walker and Red Foley
Listen To The Mockingbird by Wes Westmoreand lll
4 time World Fiddle Champion Wes Westmoreland lll playing “Listen To The Mockingbird” on September 14, 2019 at an old Time Fiddle contest in Gatesville, Texas. He has been a 7 time state champion. He played for Mel Tillis for 10 years in Branson, Missouri and across United States. Before then he played with Boxcar Willie for a year in Branson also. Needless to say, he was the announcer at the fiddle contest and not a contestant. It was such an amazing treat to hear him play!
Best Branson Country Show Hank Willams influence on Jim Owe
The best Branson Country show features many of Jim Owen's hits, here he talks about how the story and music of Hank Williams, Senior influenced him. Jim's Show returns August 24th to Branson
Paranormal Techs - Owen Theatre, Branson, MO Investigation Teaser
We recently investigated the historic Owen Theatre in Branson, Missouri. There was so much activity that we felt compelled to share some of the evidence with you in advance of our new premiere!
Margot Robbie Does Tonya Harding & Robbie Williams Does Dolly Parton! The WOW Report for Radio Andy!
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Skip forward to:
10) Hot Flick #1: Call Me By Your Name @00:58
9) Hot Flick #2: Justice League @07:04
8) Hot Flick #3: I, Tonya @11:27
7) Chris Rock’s Total Blackout Tour @17:58
6) Museum Hopping in St. Petersburg, FL @23:22
5) Apple’s Ground Scraper @27:29
4) Rose Marie: Wait For Your Laugh @33:35
3) Robbie Does Dolly @39:54
2) A New Gold Record @42:05
1) Fake Friends @46:31
Resistors of the Week – Billy Bush/Patagonia/Silence Breakers @50:05
From World of Wonder, the producers of The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Party Monster, The Strange History of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, The Last Beekeeper, RuPaul's Drag Race, Life With La Toya, and Million Dollar Listing.
Schedule:
Mondays: Alyssa Edwards' Secret
Tuesdays: James St James' Transformations
A-11
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A-11 · Johnny Paycheck
Take This Job and Shove It
℗ 2012 Dance Plant Records/TMC
Released on: 2012-05-03
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JIM FERGUSSON - MEL TILLIS!!! (3/4) - 1983 RADIO STORY - FERGUSSON/TRAX - RS 251C
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JIM FERGUSSON'S RADIO STORY - MEL TILLIS!!!
TRAX STUDIO 1983... MEL TILLIS STARS IN THIS SEGMENT OF JIM FERGUSSON'S RADIO STORY... IT'S MEL TILLIS AT HIS BEST!!!... THIS EXTENDED LIVE PERFORMANCE RECORDING IS A COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSIC!!!... AND WILL I BELIEVE BECOME THE DEFINITIVE MEL TILLIS LIVE RECORDING!!!...
IN 1983 AND 1984 MY GOOD FRIEND... JOURNALIST AND BIOGRAPHER ALANNA NASH AND I PRODUCED A SERIES OF 21 RADIO BROADCAST FOR A MAJOR RADIO NETWORK... THESE SHOWS USUALLY INCLUDED A 15 MINUTE STAR INTERVIEW SEGMENT WHICH ALANNA DID AFTER THE SHOW IN THE DRESSING ROOM BACKSTAGE OR SOMETIMES ON THE STAR'S BUS... IT WAS ALWAYS A PLEASURE WORKING WITH ALANNA... SHE WAS MOST PROFESSIONAL...
ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE... I THINK WHAT MAKES THIS SERIES OF RECORDINGS SO GREAT... IS THE SPECIAL ATTENTION I PAID TO CAPTURING THE AUDIENCE... AND IT'S REACTION TO THE ARTIST!!!... AS A LISTENER... YOU ARE PLACED EXACTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT AUDIENCE... THUS COMPLETING THE YOU ARE THERE APPROACH TO LIVE RECORDING... THINK ABOUT IT... I HAVE TAKEN YOU BACK IN TIME... BACK DECADES... AND PLACED YOU ABSOLUTELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT LIVE AUDIENCE... TIME TRAVEL CAPTURED...
THESE LIVE RECORDINGS WERE ALWAYS VERY STRESSFUL!!!... THERE COULD BE NO MISTAKES OR ERRORS IN THE RECORDING!!!... THERE WOULD BE NO CHANCE TO MAKE IT UP... OR FIX IT IN THE MIX!!!!...
..... This Segment
.... Complete Show
More... Additional...
11/19/17... MEL TILLIS PASSED AWAY TODAY... AFTER A LONG ILLNESS... HE WAS 85 YEARS OLD..... HERE IS MORE INFO FROM THE INTERNET...
Mel Tillis was born on August 8, 1932, in Tampa, Florida to Burma (née Rogers; 1907 – 1990) and Lonnie Lee Tillis (1907 – 1981).While he was still young, the family moved to Pahokee, Florida (near West Palm Beach). He attended the University of Florida but dropped out and joined the United States Air Force. While stationed as a baker on Okinawa, he formed a band called The Westerners, which played at local nightclubs.
After leaving the Air Force in 1955, Tillis returned to Florida where he worked a number of odd jobs, eventually finding employment with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in Tampa, Florida. He used his railroad pass to visit Nashville and eventually moved to Nashville, and began writing songs full-time.
Things turned around in 1969 for Tillis. He finally achieved the success he always wanted with two Top 10 country hits, These Lonely Hands of Mine and She'll Be Hanging Around Somewhere. In 1970, he reached the Top 5 with Heart Over Mind, which peaked at No. 3 on the Hot Country Songs list. After this, Tillis' career as a country singer went into full swing. Hits soon came quite easily,
After the success of I Ain't Never, Tillis had another hit, which came close to No. 1 (reaching No. 3), titled Neon Rose, followed by Sawmill, which reached No. 2. Midnight, Me and the Blues was another near chart-topper in 1974. Other hits Tillis had on MGM include Stomp Them Grapes (1974), Memory Maker (1974), Woman in the Back of My Mind (1975), and his version of Mental Revenge (1976). Tillis achieved his biggest success with MCA Records, with which he signed in 1976. It started with a pair of two No. 1 hits in 1976, Good Woman Blues and Heart Healer. (In an interview, he mentioned having written five hits in one week.)
Tillis had been unwell since January 2016 with various illnesses. On November 19, 2017, Tillis died of respiratory failure in Ocala, Florida, at the age of 85. He is survived by his six children: singer-songwriter Pam Tillis, songwriter Mel Sonny Tillis, Jr., Carrie April, Connie, Cindy and Hannah Tillis.
PART OF JIM FERGUSSON'S RADIO STORY!!!... FOR THE WHOLE STORY VISIT US AT...
(CO-PRODUCER TERESA FERGUSSON)
SUBSCRIBE!!!.............SUBSCRIBE!!!............SUBSCRIBE!!!
... JIM FERGUSSON... I HOPE THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF RADIO STORY WILL SERVE AS AN INSPIRATION TO ALL KIDS EVERYWHERE TO BECOME INVOLVED IN BROADCASTING... RADIO STORY ILLUSTRATES THE POINT ... THAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE ALL THINGS DREAMED... BY HARD WORK... AND BEING PREPARED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BREAKS... AND IN SOME CASES CREATE YOUR OWN BREAKS... FINALLY... RADIO STORY IS A CELEBRATION OF BROADCASTING IN GENERAL... WHERE WOULD ANY OF THESE ARTIST BE... WITHOUT RADIO... NOBODY WOULD KNOW THEM... OR THEIR MUSIC!!!! LET'S HEAR IT FOR RADIO!!!...
... SINCE ALL OUR VIDEOS ON RADIO STORY DEAL WITH THE EDUCATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT OF POTENTIAL RADIO BROADCASTERS THROUGH THE USE OF ACTUAL RADIO PRODUCTION EXAMPLES... WE RECOGNIZE FROM TIME TO TIME THERE MAY BE ISSUES...
Copyright Disclaimer... Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976...
BRANSON MISSOURI PART 2
This is Part 2 there is a few clips repeated from the Part 1. I hope you enjoy.
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Lauren Mascitti - My God's Bigger Than the Law
Lauren is a country singer/songwriter, guitarist, pianist, and mandolin player from Louisville, OH. Raised by her grandparents, she has been singing since the age of 7 and writing since she was old enough to make up jingles on her toy tape recorder. “I grew up surrounded by classic country music.
My papaw is a huge fan of the Highwaymen, especially Waylon Jennings, so Waylon became a big musical inspiration to me. My Nana would let me stay up late to watch the Statler Brothers show on TV, especially when Crystal Gayle was on. I even got the music bug watching Disney movies like Fantasia and Pocahontas. Music and lyrics have always been my way of expressing myself, and country and gospel music have always been the most honest outlet for me.”
She has sung at many of the theaters in Branson, MO including the Mickey Gilley Theater (in the Mickey Gilley show) Hamner Barber Theater, Mansion America, Tri Lakes, Mo Bandy Theater, the Americana, the Whitehouse Theater, and the Radisson Hotel. She also lived in Branson while doing Southern Gospel Sundays and over 30 shows with gospel legend Gary McSpadden at the Americana Theater.
She has studied under the vocal genius of Nashville, Brett Manning, and the very beautiful and talented Jana King3 Evans of Branson, MO. Lauren was also blessed to be in the top 8 for the Inspiration Network's National Christian Artist Talent Search for 2008 where she worked with Southern Gospel vocalist, Jason Crabb. At the age of 16, Lauren’s first radio release, an original titled “Child of God”,
debuted at #70 on the national Southern Gospel radio charts.
In February 2009, she was a runner up in the Miss Italia USA pageant held at The Landerhaven in Cleveland OH. Lauren was blessed to be the Colgate Country Showdown 2009 winner for the state of Ohio. In 2011, Lauren was excited to have had
two #1s on Radioactive Airplay, one of which she wrote (“Save Me from Myself”). This past April, Lauren had another #1 on Radioactive airplay with “Mercy and Grace”, a dynamic duet with well-known gospel recording artist, Buddy Mullins.
Lauren recently moved to Nashville after spending most of her summers there doing songwriter showcases at different venues throughout Nashville and working with country music legend and good friend, Pam Tillis. Since she started singing and recording at 7 years old, Lauren has recorded 9 CDs.
Her 2010 album titled Thought I'd get a Love Song was produced by Jana King Evans, Buddy Mullins, Pam Tillis, and Adam Kohout, and is composed mostly of songs she has written. It is available on iTunes and CD Baby. Her album titled A Gypsy Point of View was produced by Lauren and Jana King Evans, composed solely of original songs, and is available on iTunes and CD Baby. Lauren just finished her newest album It's Never Just a Song and it will be available mid-September.
Although she sings many places out of state, including the Wheeling Jamboree, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Iowa, North Carolina, Virginia, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Lauren also performs at many churches and music venues in her native state of Ohio, including Ohio's 3 Oprys (The Lebanon Opry, The Ohio Valley Opry, and The Southern Ohio Opry.) I give all the glory to my wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He's my Hero.
Lauren has shared the stage with artists such as Larry Gatlin, Eddy Raven, Frank Myers, Leslie Satcher, Pam Tillis, Carrie Tillis, Bobby Tomberlin, Jason Crabb, Gerald Crabb, Mickey Gilley, Deana Martin, actor, screenwriter, and producer Paul Borghese, actor Lou Martini, Clay Aiken, Gary McSpadden, The Browns, the World Famous Platters, the Booth Brothers, the Down East Boys, the Virginia Boys, Jesse Dixon, Karen Peck and New River, Kurt Tally, The Hoskins, Tim & Alice Lovelace, The Steeles, Gordon Jenson, and many others.
Current Location: Nashville, TN
Official:
(No Copyright Infringement Intended to Any Content)
AMERICANS THATS WHO - Bear Creek Productions - Performed By Gatlin Brothers
Video created as background for the live performances at the Mansion Theatre in Branson, Missouri. Some footage used for the video were shot in Iraq in 2009 by Michael Johnson and Kimberly Barber. The final video was displayed on a 60 ft. wide and 20 ft. tall screen behind the Gatlin Brothers live performance.
Mel Tillis & The Statesiders with Marty Stuart - Heart Over Mind - Coca Cola Cowboy
Marty Stuart's 10th Anniversary Late Night Jam @Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee - 8. June 2011
JIM FERGUSSON - MEL TILLIS!!! (1/4) - 1983 RADIO STORY - FERGUSSON/TRAX - RS 251A
Please share my shows... subscribe... and leave comments!!!
JIM FERGUSSON'S RADIO STORY - MEL TILLIS!!!
TRAX STUDIO 1983... MEL TILLIS STARS IN THIS SEGMENT OF JIM FERGUSSON'S RADIO STORY... IT'S MEL TILLIS AT HIS BEST!!!... THIS EXTENDED LIVE PERFORMANCE RECORDING IS A COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSIC!!!... AND WILL I BELIEVE BECOME THE DEFINITIVE MEL TILLIS LIVE RECORDING!!!...
IN 1983 AND 1984 MY GOOD FRIEND... JOURNALIST AND BIOGRAPHER ALANNA NASH AND I PRODUCED A SERIES OF 21 RADIO BROADCAST FOR A MAJOR RADIO NETWORK... THESE SHOWS USUALLY INCLUDED A 15 MINUTE STAR INTERVIEW SEGMENT WHICH ALANNA DID AFTER THE SHOW IN THE DRESSING ROOM BACKSTAGE OR SOMETIMES ON THE STAR'S BUS... IT WAS ALWAYS A PLEASURE WORKING WITH ALANNA... SHE WAS MOST PROFESSIONAL...
ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE... I THINK WHAT MAKES THIS SERIES OF RECORDINGS SO GREAT... IS THE SPECIAL ATTENTION I PAID TO CAPTURING THE AUDIENCE... AND IT'S REACTION TO THE ARTIST!!!... AS A LISTENER... YOU ARE PLACED EXACTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT AUDIENCE... THUS COMPLETING THE YOU ARE THERE APPROACH TO LIVE RECORDING... THINK ABOUT IT... I HAVE TAKEN YOU BACK IN TIME... BACK DECADES... AND PLACED YOU ABSOLUTELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT LIVE AUDIENCE... TIME TRAVEL CAPTURED...
THESE LIVE RECORDINGS WERE ALWAYS VERY STRESSFUL!!!... THERE COULD BE NO MISTAKES OR ERRORS IN THE RECORDING!!!... THERE WOULD BE NO CHANCE TO MAKE IT UP... OR FIX IT IN THE MIX!!!!...
..... This Segment
.... Complete Show
More... Additional...
11/19/17... MEL TILLIS PASSED AWAY TODAY... AFTER A LONG ILLNESS... HE WAS 85 YEARS OLD..... HERE IS MORE INFO FROM THE INTERNET...
Mel Tillis was born on August 8, 1932, in Tampa, Florida to Burma (née Rogers; 1907 – 1990) and Lonnie Lee Tillis (1907 – 1981).While he was still young, the family moved to Pahokee, Florida (near West Palm Beach)(JIM FERGUSSON'S HOMETOWN). He attended the University of Florida but dropped out and joined the United States Air Force. While stationed as a baker on Okinawa, he formed a band called The Westerners, which played at local nightclubs.
After leaving the Air Force in 1955, Tillis returned to Florida where he worked a number of odd jobs, eventually finding employment with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in Tampa, Florida. He used his railroad pass to visit Nashville and eventually moved to Nashville, and began writing songs full-time.
Things turned around in 1969 for Tillis. He finally achieved the success he always wanted with two Top 10 country hits, These Lonely Hands of Mine and She'll Be Hanging Around Somewhere. In 1970, he reached the Top 5 with Heart Over Mind, which peaked at No. 3 on the Hot Country Songs list. After this, Tillis' career as a country singer went into full swing. Hits soon came quite easily,
After the success of I Ain't Never, Tillis had another hit, which came close to No. 1 (reaching No. 3), titled Neon Rose, followed by Sawmill, which reached No. 2. Midnight, Me and the Blues was another near chart-topper in 1974. Other hits Tillis had on MGM include Stomp Them Grapes (1974), Memory Maker (1974), Woman in the Back of My Mind (1975), and his version of Mental Revenge (1976). Tillis achieved his biggest success with MCA Records, with which he signed in 1976. It started with a pair of two No. 1 hits in 1976, Good Woman Blues and Heart Healer. (In an interview, he mentioned having written five hits in one week.)
Tillis had been unwell since January 2016 with various illnesses. On November 19, 2017, Tillis died of respiratory failure in Ocala, Florida, at the age of 85. He is survived by his six children: singer-songwriter Pam Tillis, songwriter Mel Sonny Tillis, Jr., Carrie April, Connie, Cindy and Hannah Tillis.
PART OF JIM FERGUSSON'S RADIO STORY!!!... FOR THE WHOLE STORY VISIT US AT...
(CO-PRODUCER TERESA FERGUSSON)
SUBSCRIBE!!!.............SUBSCRIBE!!!............SUBSCRIBE!!!
... JIM FERGUSSON... I HOPE THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF RADIO STORY WILL SERVE AS AN INSPIRATION TO ALL KIDS EVERYWHERE TO BECOME INVOLVED IN BROADCASTING... RADIO STORY ILLUSTRATES THE POINT ... THAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE ALL THINGS DREAMED... BY HARD WORK... AND BEING PREPARED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BREAKS... AND IN SOME CASES CREATE YOUR OWN BREAKS... FINALLY... RADIO STORY IS A CELEBRATION OF BROADCASTING IN GENERAL... WHERE WOULD ANY OF THESE ARTIST BE... WITHOUT RADIO... NOBODY WOULD KNOW THEM... OR THEIR MUSIC!!!! LET'S HEAR IT FOR RADIO!!!...
... SINCE ALL OUR VIDEOS ON RADIO STORY DEAL WITH THE EDUCATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT OF POTENTIAL RADIO BROADCASTERS THROUGH THE USE OF ACTUAL RADIO PRODUCTION EXAMPLES... WE RECOGNIZE FROM TIME TO TIME THERE MAY BE ISSUES...
Copyright Disclaimer... Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976...
The Oak Ridge Boys receive The American Legion Patriot Award
The Oak Ridge Boys accept The American Legion Patriot Award members during the general session at the 97th American Legion National Convention in Baltimore.