Posted on 11/19/2017 9:59:24 AM PST by jazusamo
Country music singer Mel Tillis, whose six-decade career included hits such as “I Ain’t Never” and “Coca Cola Cowboy” and who never let his stutter get in the way of him becoming a legend, died on Sunday, his publicist confirmed. He was 85.
Tillis passed away at Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala, Fla., his publicist Don Murry Grubbs said. The music legend is believed to have died from respiratory failure after he never recovered from intestinal issues he has been battling since 2016. He leaves behind his longtime partner, Kathy DeMonaco, his six children and six grandchildren.
Tillis recorded more than 60 albums and had 35 top ten singles in his decades-long career. His 1979 “Coca-Cola Cowboy” was one of his biggest hits, along with “Southern Rains” in 1980 and “I Believe in You” in 1978.
Tillis also appeared in television shows such as "Hee Haw" and "Hollywood Squares," as well as movies, including "Smokey and the Bandit 2." He also did commercial work for Wataburger, according to the Tennessean.
He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Tennessean reported. His daughter, Pam Tillis, who is also a country music singer, inducted him into the Grand Ole Opry in 2007. Her rep released a statement on her official Facebook fanpage saying the death "was sudden and unexpected."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Rest in peace, Mr. Tillis.
One of my favorites as well. Thanks for posting Fling. RIP Mel Tillis.
LOL - I saw what you did there!
Greatest of them all? George Jones. As I said; not a C&W fan, but his 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' even gets to me.
There are a lot of people like Mel, that I would never say was one of my favorite singers, (he was a good one) but he was just so much more. So many of the musicians of that era were.
First of all, as a songwriter. And as a TV/movie star, where he made a point of helping others who had his own disability, and made a point of making them feel comfortable.
He was a very important guy. I will be back with all the hits he wrote!!!
From everything I’ve heard, it’s because what you are about to say,sing or whatever - you have it memorized as opposed to having to think it up for yourself.
“...when he sang, the stammer vanished.”
I had a friend in the service like that. He always stammered in English, but spoke in French like a native. His mother was a French war bride. He said it was because of the rhythm.
Singing worked in "The King's Speech."
They say it’s because whatever they are going to sing is memorized
Mel’s stutter made him an endearing joke teller. In between songs he would recognize people: I I wa wa want to recognize Mi mi Miss D d Dolly Parton out there in the audience. Wh wha what? Wait. Oh uh I I I’m sorry it is just two b ba bald-headed men sitting together.”
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