Gene Watson's Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as 'the singer's singer' - and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson's Peers, who were contacted during 2011, were most gracious with their time and words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Mel McDaniel, which he submitted to this site on Sunday 13 February 2011.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Mel McDaniel who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Mel McDaniel
This quote was submitted on Sunday 13 February 2011.
'One of my best friends and one fine singer!
Gene Watson is a man I've respected for many years.
Gene, you're still 'Fourteen Carat' to me'
Thank you, Mel McDaniel, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Mel McDaniel...
Mel McDaniel was born on Sunday 6 September 1942; the son of a truck driving father, Mel McDaniel grew up in Okmulgee, Oklahoma and was inspired to play music after seeing Elvis Presley (Tuesday 8 January 1935 - Tuesday 16 August 1977) perform on television.
When he was fourteen years old, Mel McDaniel taught himself the guitar chords to 'Frankie & Johnny' and performed at a high-school talent contest.
Mel McDaniel first performed on stage at Halloween in 1958 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. From there, he had an unsuccessful trip to Nashville, followed by quite a bit of success in Anchorage, Alaska where he honed his performing skills at King X's Lounge.
After two years in Alaska, Mel McDaniel returned to Nashville where he landed a job as a demo singer and songwriter with Combine Music.
One of the demos which Mel McDaniel sang on was 'A Tear Fell' (written by Eugene Randolph and Dorian Burton), which was recorded by Billy 'Crash' Craddock, who included the track on 'Crash' (Dot Records, 1976); the track reached No.7 on the Billboard country music singles chart, for Billy 'Crash' Craddock, in 1977.
In 1975, Hoyt Axton (Friday 25 March 1938 - Tuesday 26 October 1999) & Arlo Guthrie recorded Mel McDaniel's 'Roll Your Own'; the track was included on Hoyt Axton's 'Southbound' (A&M Records, 1975).
Commander Cody (George Frayne IV (Wednesday 19 July 1944 - Sunday 26 September 2021) & His Lost Planet Airmen recorded Mel McDaniel's 'Roll Your Own' and included the track on 'Tales From The Ozone' (Warner Bros. Records, 1975).
Between 1975 and 1977, Mel McDaniel saw the release of a number of non-album singles, including the following:
'Lazy Me' / this track was released in 1975, but it did not chart
'Have A Dream On Me' (No.51, 1976)
'I Thank God She Isn't Mine' (No.70, 1976)
'All The Sweet' (No.39, 1977)
With the help of music publisher Bob Beckham, Mel McDaniel signed to Capitol Records in 1976 and saw the release of his first single; 'Have A Dream On Me', which reached No.51 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1976, was included on Mel McDaniel's debut album, 'Gentle To Your Senses' (Capitol Records, 1977), which was released in September 1977.
Mel McDaniel's debut album, 'Gentle To Your Senses' (Capitol Records, 1977), included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Gentle To Your Senses (Easy On Your Mind)' (No.18, 1977)
'Soul of A Honky Tonk Woman' (No.27, 1977)
'God Made Love', which was written by Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 - Friday 22 December 2006), Mel McDaniel, Johnny MacRae (1929 - Wednesday 3 July 2013) and Len Pollard (No.11, 1977)
Mel McDaniel's debut album, 'Gentle To Your Senses' (Capitol Records, 1977), also included the following tracks:
'I'll Just Take It Out In Love'
'Roll Your Own'
'T.J.'s Last Ride'
'Takin' My Dreams Out On You'
'Plastic Girl'
'Reachin' High For Rainbows'
'Have A Dream On Me'
Mel McDaniel's debut album, 'Gentle To Your Senses' (Capitol Records, 1977), reached No.45 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1977.
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Mel McDaniel’s 'Grandest Lady of Them All' and included the track on 'Georgia Keeps Pulling On My Ring' (MCA Records, 1978); the track reached No.16 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1978.
In August 1978, Mel McDaniel saw the release of 'Mello' (Capitol Records, 1978), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'The Farm' (No.80, 1978)
'Bordertown Woman Blues' (No.26, 1978)
Mel McDaniel's 'Mello' (Capitol Records, 1978) also included the following tracks:
'Dim The Lights (& Pour The Wine)'
'It's About Time'
'Love Is A Miracle'
'Black & White Memory'
'Every Square Has An Angle'
'Grandest Lady of Them All'
'Oklahoma Wind' / this was the track after which Mel McDaniel named his backing band
'They'll Never Take Her Love From Me'
In 1979, Mel McDaniel saw the release of three non-album tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Love Lies' (No.33, 1979)
'Play Her Back To Yesterday' (No.24, 1979)
'Lovin' Starts Where Friendship Ends' (No.27, 1979)
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 - Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Mel McDaniel's 'Goodbye Marie', which was co-written with Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 - Friday 22 December 2006), and included the track on 'Kenny' (United Artists Records, 1979); a remixed version of the track was included on Kenny Rogers' 'Short Stories' (Liberty Records, 1985).
Johnny Rodriguez recorded Mel McDaniel's 'Goodbye Marie', which was co-written with Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 - Friday 22 December 2006), and included the track on 'Rodriguez Was Here' (Mercury Records, 1979).
Bobby Goldsboro recorded Mel McDaniel's 'Goodbye Marie', which was co-written with Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 - Friday 22 December 2006), and included the track on 'Bobby Goldsboro' (Curb Records, 1980); the track reached No.17 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1981.
In October 1980, Mel McDaniel saw the release of 'I'm Countrified' (Capitol Records, 1980), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Hello Daddy, Good Morning Darling' (No.39, 1980)
'I'm Countryfied' (No.23, 1980)
'Louisiana Saturday Night' (written by Bob McDill) (No.7, 1981)
'Right In The Palm of Your Hand' (written by Bob McDill) (No.10, 1981) / this track was also recorded by Alan Jackson, who included it on 'Under The Influence' (RCA Records, 1999)
Mel McDaniel's 'I'm Countrified' (Capitol Records, 1980) also included the following tracks:
'If I Keep On Going Crazy'
'Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed'
'Cold Hard Facts of Love'
'Ten Years, Three Kids, Two Loves, Too Late'
'Goodbye, Marie'
'My Ship's Comin' In'
Mel McDaniel's 'I'm Countrified' (Capitol Records, 1980) reached No.24 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1980.
In April 1982, Mel McDaniel saw the release of 'Take Me To The Country' (Capitol Records, 1982), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Preaching Up A Storm' (No.19, 1981)
'Take Me To The Country', which was written by Ronny Scaife (1947 - Wednesday 3 November 2010), Don Singleton and Larry Rogers (No.10, 1982)
'Big Ole Brew', which was written by Russell Smith (Friday 17 June 1949 - Friday 12 July 2019) (No.4, 1982)
'I Wish I Was In Nashville' (No.20, 1982)
Mel McDaniel's 'Take Me To The Country' (Capitol Records, 1982) also included the following tracks:
'It's Like Falling In Love (Over & Over Again)'
'Stars'
'Some Things I Want To Sing About'
'When You Held Me In Your Arms'
'We've Got A Good Love Going On'
'Big Time'
Mel McDaniel's 'Take Me To The Country' (Capitol Records, 1982) reached No.43 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1982.
In May 1983, Mel McDaniel saw the release of 'Naturally Country' (Capitol Records, 1983), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Old Man River (I've Come To Talk Again)' (No.22, 1983)
'Hot Time In Old Town Tonight' (No.39, 1983)
Mel McDaniel's 'Naturally Country' (Capitol Records, 1983) also included the following tracks:
'Gathering'
'Mountain Eyes'
'Some Folks Are Dying To Live Like This'
'Nobody Said It Was Easy'
'Livin' For The Weekend'
'Just Because It Feels Good'
'Hard Earned Country Livin'
'Maximum Living On A Minimum Wage'
Mel McDaniel's 'Naturally Country' (Capitol Records, 1983) reached No.63 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1983.
In February 1984, Mel McDaniel saw the release of 'Mel McDaniel With Oklahoma Wind' (Capitol Records, 1984), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'I Call It Love' (written by Bob McDill) (No.9, 1983)
'Where'd That Woman Go' (No.49, 1984)
'Most of All, I Remember You', which was written by Ronny Scaife (1947 - Wednesday 3 November 2010) and Phil Thomas (1944 - Saturday 5 January 2019) (No.59, 1984)
Mel McDaniel's 'Mel McDaniel With Oklahoma Wind' (Capitol Records, 1984) also included the following tracks:
'Come Early Morning'
'Callin' Me Back'
'Cheatin's Only Cheatin'
'Gunfighter's Song'
'Waiting For A Train'
'Born To The Night'
'You've Got Another Thing Comin'
Mel McDaniel's 'Mel McDaniel With Oklahoma Wind' (Capitol Records, 1984) reached No.64 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1984.
In December 1984, Mel McDaniel saw the release of 'Let It Roll' (Capitol Records, 1984), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On' (written by Bob McDill) (No.1 for one week in February / March 1985)
'Let It Roll (Let It Rock)', which was written by Chuck Berry (Monday 18 October 1926 - Saturday 18 March 2017) (No.6, 1985)
Mel McDaniel's 'Let It Roll' (Capitol Records, 1984) also included the following tracks:
'Mississippi (Roll On Forever)'
'Little More Country'
'Lovelight'
'You Sneaky Thing You'
'Hustler'
'Dreamin' With You'
'My Ol' Four Wheel Drive'
'I Can Never Get You Off My Mind'
Mel McDaniel's 'Let It Roll' (Capitol Records, 1984) reached No.4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1984.
In October 1985, Mel McDaniel saw the release of 'Stand Up' (Capitol Records, 1985), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Stand Up' (written by Bruce Channel, Ricky Ray Rector and Sonny Throckmorton) (No.5, 1985)
'Shoe String' (No.22, 1986)
'Doctor's Orders' (No.53, 1986)
Mel McDaniel's 'Stand Up' (Capitol Records, 1985) also included the following tracks:
'Reminders'
'Make It With The Blues'
'If You Still Want A Fool Around'
'Thank You, Nadine'
'Worn Out Shoe'
'Love Is Goin' Round'
'Whatever Gets You Through The Night'
Mel McDaniel's 'Stand Up' (Capitol Records, 1985) reached No.25 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1985.
On Saturday 11 January 1986, Mel McDaniel became the 62nd member of The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and made frequent appearances on the show.
In September 1986, Mel McDaniel saw the release of 'Just Can't Sit Down Music' (Capitol Records, 1986), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Stand On It' (written by Bruce Springsteen) (No.12, 1986)
'Oh, What A Night' (No.56, 1987)
Mel McDaniel's 'Just Can't Sit Down Music' (Capitol Records, 1986) also included the following tracks:
'Love Will'
'Memphis Might As Well Be On The Moon'
'Lower On The Hog'
'57 Chevy & You'
'Just Can't Sit Down Music'
'In Oklahoma'
'Oh, Naomi'
'Chain Smokin'
Mel McDaniel's 'Just Can't Sit Down Music' (Capitol Records, 1986) reached No.25 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1986.
It was also in September 1986 when Mel McDaniel saw the release of his first 'Greatest Hits' collection; 'Greatest Hits' (Capitol Records, 1986) included the following tracks, two of which were previously unreleased:
'Louisiana Saturday Night' (written by Bob McDill) (No.7, 1981)
'Anger & Tears' (No.49, 1986) / this track was previously unreleased
'Stand Up' (written by Bruce Channel, Ricky Ray Rector and Sonny Throckmorton) (No.5, 1985)
'Hello Daddy, Good Morning Darling' (No.39, 1980)
'Let It Roll (Let It Rock)' (written by Chuck Berry) (No.6, 1985)
'Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On' (written by Bob McDill) (No.1 for one week in February / March 1985)
'Old Man River (I've Come To Talk Again)' (No.22, 1983)
'Love Is Everywhere' (No.60, 1987) / this track was previously unreleased
'Big Ole Brew', which was written by Russell Smith (Friday 17 June 1949 - Friday 12 July 2019) (No.4, 1982)
'Do You Want To Say Goodbye' / this track was previously unreleased
Mel McDaniel's 'Greatest Hits' (Capitol Records, 1986), reached No.43 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1986.
Before he departed Capitol Records in mid-1989, Mel McDaniel saw the release of his final two albums for the label; 'Now You're Talking' (Capitol Records, 1988) and 'Rockabilly Boy' (Capitol Records, 1989).
In June 1988, Mel McDaniel saw the release of his penultimate album for Capitol Records, 'Now You're Talking' (Capitol Records, 1988), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Now You're Talkin', which was written by Ronny Scaife (1947 - Wednesday 3 November 2010), Don Singleton and Phil Thomas (1944 - Saturday 5 January 2019) (No.64, 1987)
'Ride This Train' (No.58, 1988)
'Real Good Feel Good Song', which was written by Richard Fagan (Thursday 24 April 1947 - Friday 5 August 2016) and Larry Alderman (No.9, 1988)
'Henrietta' (No.62, 1988)
Mel McDaniel's penultimate album for Capitol Records, 'Now You're Talking' (Capitol Records, 1988), also included the following tracks:
'She's A Lover of Lost Causes'
'Under My Skin'
'Hey, Y'all'
'Sunday Mornin' Preachers'
'Jump Into Love'
'Bye Bye Johnny'
Mel McDaniel's penultimate album for Capitol Records, 'Now You're Talking' (Capitol Records, 1988), reached No.51 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1988.
In June 1989, Mel McDaniel saw the release of his final album for Capitol Records, 'Rockabilly Boy' (Capitol Records, 1989), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Walk That Way' (No.54, 1989)
'Blue Suede Blues' (No.70, 1989)
'You Can't Play The Blues (In An Air Conditioned Room)' (No.80, 1989)
Mel McDaniel's final album for Capitol Records, 'Rockabilly Boy' (Capitol Records, 1989), also included the following tracks:
'Reverend Luther & The Madam'
'Way You Do The Things You Do'
'Country Heart'
'Tractor'
'Still Got You Baby'
'Rockabilly Boy'
'Oklahoma Shines'
In 1990, Mel McDaniel signed with the independent record label DPI Records and saw the release, on Monday 13 May 1991, of the critically acclaimed 'Country Pride' (DPI Records, 1990), which was produced by Roger Murrah and Keith Stegall, and included the following tracks:
'Country Pride' (written by John Schweers, Keith Stegall and Roger Murrah)
'The Annual Blount County Snuff Dipper's Ball' (written by Roger Murrah)
'Turtles & Rabbits' (written by Keith Stegall and Roger Murrah)
'(If I Live To Be A Hundred) I'll Die Young', which was written byMae Boren Axton (Monday 14 September 1914 - Wednesday 9 April 1997), Ed Hunnicutt and Roger Allan Wade
'You Can't Go Back' (written by Keith Stegall and Roger Murrah)
'My Ex-Life' (written by Bob McDilland Layng Martine Jr.)
'I'll Keep Your Memory Around', which was written by written by Keith Stegall, Charlie Craig (Friday 30 September 1938 - Friday 1 July 2011) and Roger Murrah
'Losing You Wouldn't Hurt At All' (written by JB Rudd and Roger Murrah)
'That Ole Gravel Road (Was Easy Street)' (written by Billy Lawson and Roger Murrah)
'Mama's Bible' (written by Mel McDaniel)
Personnel involved in the recording of Mel McDaniel's critically acclaimed, 'Country Pride' (DPI Records, 1990), included the following:
Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Bobby Ogdin and Hargus 'Pig' Robbins (keyboards)
Jimmy Capps (Thursday 25 May 1939 - Monday 1 June 2020) (acoustic guitar)
Paul Franklin and Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
Dave Pomeroy (bass)
Jerry Kroon (drums)
Kirk 'Jelly Roll' Johnson and Charlie McCoy (harmonica)
Denny Henson and Roger Murrah (back-up singers)
On Wednesday 7 July 1993, Mel McDaniel saw the release of 'Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On' (Branson Entertainment, 1993), which included the following tracks:
'C'mon Sixty-Five' (written by Jackson Leap)
'Louisiana Moon' (written by Bob Carlisle and Randy Thomas)
'Mama's Bible' (written by Mel McDaniel)
'Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On' (written by Bob McDill)
'Stand Up' (written by Bruce Channel, Ricky Ray Rector and Sonny Throckmorton)
'Big Ole Brew', which was written by Russell Smith (Friday 17 June 1949 - Friday 12 July 2019)
'Let It Roll (Let It Rock)', which was written by Chuck Berry (Monday 18 October 1926 - Saturday 18 March 2017)
'Louisiana Saturday Night' (written by Bob McDill)
'Stand On It' (written by Bruce Springsteen)
'Hello Daddy, Good Morning Darling'
'Out of The Question', which was written by Layng Martine Jr. and Kent M. Robbins (Wednesday 23 April 1947 - Saturday 27 December 1997)
'Inseparable' (written by Dennis Morgan and Jo-El Sonnier)
On Thursday 14 November 1996, Mel McDaniel had a near-fatal fall into an orchestra pit, which he suffered while he was performing at a show at Heymann Performing Arts Center in Lafayette, Louisiana. This event ended his touring career and he underwent several surgeries thereafter. Mel McDaniel never recovered from his injuries.
In 2006, Mel McDaniel was was inducted into Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, along with induction classmate Leon Russell.
On Tuesday 25 April 2006, Mel McDaniel & Oklahoma Wind saw the release of 'Reloaded: Tried, True & New' (Aspirion Records, 2006), which included one track, which was released as a single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
'Horseshoes & Hand Grenades' (written by Michael Patrick Heeney and Trent Summar) / this track was released as a single in 2006, but it did not chart
Mel McDaniel & Oklahoma Wind's 'Reloaded: Tried, True & New' (Aspirion Records, 2006) also included the following tracks:
'Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On' (written by Bob McDill)
'Doo-Ma-Flatchey' (written by Billy Lawson)
'Help Me Make It Through The Night' (written by Kris Kristofferson)
'Louisiana Saturday Night' (written by Bob McDill)
'Jukin' (written by Dickey Betts)
'I Can Live With It, If You Can Live Without It' (written by Mel McDaniel)
'Shoeshine Man' (written by Tom T. Hall)
'You Really Never Loved Her Anyway' (written by Jay Knowles and Trent Summar)
'She Knows What To Do With A Saturday Night' (written by Gary Nicholson and Trent Summar)
'My Plastic Girl' (written by Kent Finlay)
'Stand Up' (written by Bruce Channel, Ricky Ray Rector and Sonny Throckmorton)
Gene Watson & Mel McDaniel backstage at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Thursday 2 April 2009
On Tuesday 16 June 2009, Mel McDaniel suffered a heart attack, and was put in a medically induced coma in a Nashville area hospital. Mel McDaniel's wife, Peggy, requested the prayers of the singer's fans, saying his situation was 'not good'. Mel McDaniel recovered from his heart attack.
On Tuesday 28 September 2010, Mel McDaniel made his last appearance on the hallowed stage of The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, when the fabled Tennessee venue re-opened after sustaining flood damage in May 2010.
On Saturday 19 February 2011, Mel McDaniel entered hospital and was diagnosed with lung cancer.
On Wednesday 9 March 2011, Gene Watson's Fan Site received this sad news from Barry, Manager for Mel McDaniel:
'Mel McDaniel has been diagnosed with stage 3b terminal lung cancer and only has a short time. Mel thought a lot of The Gene Watson Fan Site; just thought that you might want to announce his last album, which was completed the day before he entered the hospital (on Friday 18 February 2011).
Thank you again & God Bless,
Barry, Manager to Mr. McDaniel'
'Mel McDaniel: The Last Ride' (Creative & Dreams Music Network, 2012) was the final career album by Mel McDaniel, which was recorded in late February 2011; Mel McDaniel entered the hospital on the final day of the recording and insisted on completing the album before he went.
Mel McDaniel's 'Mel McDaniel: The Last Ride' (Creative & Dreams Music Network, 2012) included the following tracks:
'Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On' (written by Bob McDill)
'My Plastic Girl' (written by Kent Finlay)
'Stand Up' (written by Bruce Channel, Ricky Ray Rector and Sonny Throckmorton)
'Help Me Make It Through The Night' (written by Kris Kristofferson)
'Roll Your Own' (written by Mel McDaniel)
The Grandest Lady of Them All' (written by Mel McDaniel)
'Chain Smokin'
'The Last Ride'
'Damn The Loser (Mary's Song)'
'Like A Motel 6'
'Sugar Mountain'
'The Gunfighter'
On the evening of Thursday 31 March 2011, family and friends of country music icon Mel McDaniel confirmed that he had succumbed to cancer; The Grand Ole Opry member passed away at his home in Tennessee and was 68 years old.
On Wednesday 13 April 2011, a public memorial service for Mel McDaniel was held between 2:00pm and 4:00pm CST at The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. In lieu of flowers, Mel McDaniel’s family requested that memorial donations be made to The Opry Trust Fund in Nashville.
Mel McDaniel
Sunday 6 September 1942 - Thursday 31 March 2011
Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen recorded Mel McDaniel's 'Roll Your Own' and included the track on 'Roll Your Own' (Klondike Records, 2016).
• Visit Mel McDaniel's CMT Profile at cmt.com
