Mel McDaniel

Country singer Mel McDaniel was born on September 6, 1942 in Checotah, Oklahoma. His father was a truck driver. McDaniel grew up in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Mel was inspired to play music after he saw Elvis Presley on television. McDaniel learned how to play the trumpet in fourth grade and subsequently learned how to play the guitar. At age fourteen Mel taught himself the guitar chords to "Frankie and Johnny" and performed in a high school talent contest. He made his professional debut at age fifteen performing in a talent contest at Okmulgee High School. Moreover, McDaniel played in several local bands while in high school and began working as a musician at clubs in Tulsa, Oklahoma following graduation from high school. While in Tulsa Mel recorded several singles as well. McDaniel began performing in Tulsa clubs after marrying his high school sweetheart. He then made an unsuccessful trip to Nashville, Tennessee and had a brief stint performing in the oil fields in Anchorage, Alaska. He eventually returned to Nashville and secured himself a job as a demo singer and songwriter for Combine Music. In 1976 he signed up with the label Capitol Records and released his first single "Have a Dream on Me." Mel's career really took off in 1981 with the rousing hit song "Louisiana Saturday Night." He had his only #1 country hit with the catchy "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On" in 1985. McDaniel's other notable country hits from the 1980's are "Right in the Palm of Your Hand," "Take Me to the Country," "Big Ole Brew," "I Call It Love," "Stand on It," and "Real Good Feel Good Song." A member of the Grand Ole Opry since January 11, 1986, McDaniel made frequent appearances on the show. Mel was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2006. Diagnosed with lung cancer in February, 2011, he died at his home from the disease at age 68 on March 31, 2011.