MEL STREET
I would like to start this series of artists’s
biographies with the singer who is, more than 25 years after his untimely and
tragic death, still the quintessential honky tonk singer in Country Music –
Mel Street. It seems to be one of the tragic details of his life that fans of
pure Country Music are more aware of his talents now than they were while he was
struggling for opportunities to record his music and getting record contracts to
pursue his musical career.
Mel Street was born in Bluefield, West Virginia
on October 21, 1935 and started singing locally in the area, also appearing on
local television. In 1970 he signed his first recording contract and finally
moved to Nashville. His first hit on the charts was a self-penned ballad called
“Borrowed Angel” that immediately caught the attention of listeners and
lovers of pure Country Music. It finally reached the #7 position on the Charts
in 1972. Unfortunately, he started
his recording career in a time when the pure, Texas-influenced, honky tonk sound
wasn’t the major success anymore. In the 1970’s, record producers seemed to
follow more and more the slick and urbane sounds of the new stars like Kenny
Rogers and Anne Murray on one hand, or the so-called “Outlaw Sound” of
Waylon, Willie, Tompall and others. The pure and classic honky tonk sound
wasn’t selling enough to have the major labels sign new acts.
Mel Street continued to record for small labels
like Polydor, Metromedia and GRT, his music remained pure and simple. Shortly
before his untimely death he signed a contract with Mercury Records, promising
another step in the hard way to the top. He always
tried to stay close to his musical roots, a mixture of melodic ballads,
traditional Country Shuffles and some uptempo songs, without the use of strings
and horns. His music relied heavy on the sound of Steel Guitar and Fiddles, the
Steel played by the great Lloyd Green, whose playing added so much to make those
recordings timeless gems for every serious music lover. Lloyd still considers
Mel Street to be his favorite among all the artists he has recorded with in his
musical career that includes (acc. to Lloyd’s information) over 25,000
recorded sides!
On October 21, 1978, his 43rd
birthday, Mel Street, who had been depressed by the continuing struggle for
success as well as by the separation from his family,
took his life. The first album for Mercury was finally released after his
passing. George Jones, who rates Mel Street among his all-time favorite singers,
sang at his funeral.
His musical career is still overlooked by the
major labels, only one “Greatest Hits” compilation was released on CD, his
other records are only available on old vinyl discs, but these records are
sought after by record collectors all over the world.
In 1998, a group of musicians incl. Dale Watson,
Rosie Flores and Kelly Willis recorded a project called “Wandering Eyes –
Songs Of Forbidden Love” dedicated to “Mel Street – The King Of The
Cheatin’ Songs”, that includes several of Mel’s famous songs like
“Forbidden Angel” and “Lovin’ On Backstreets”. Lloyd Green also did
more than his share to keep Mel’s music alive by playing and recording Mel’s
songs, especially the unforgettable “Borrowed Angel”. Please see the
“Info/News” section of this website (Record Reviews) for information about Lloyd
Green’s new CD “Revisited”.
Discography:
The Town Where You
Live/Walk Softly On The Bridges (Metromedia 1-0281)
Many Mood Of Mel (Sunbird
S-1000)
Two Way Street GRT 8002)
Country Soul (Polydor PDL
1-6144)
Greatest Hits (LSM 511)
Keep Me In Mind (Janus
6.23862)
Mel Street (Mercury 5014)
I would like to say a very special “Thanks” to Mr. Nashville Sound, Lloyd Green, for his comments and helpful information!
