Filed under: Country News, R.I.P.
Mel McDaniel
Grand Ole Opry star Mel McDaniel has died after a lengthy battle with lung cancer. The singer, whose biggest hits included 'Stand Up,' 'Louisiana Saturday Night' and the 1984 No. 1, 'Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On,' was born in Checotah, Okla., also the birthplace of Carrie Underwood.
The son of a truck driving father, Mel grew up in Okmulgee, Okla., and was inspired to pursue music after seeing Elvis Presley perform. He taught himself a few guitar chords at 14 and soon began playing in local nightclubs. He moved to Nashville for a short time in 1969, just prior to relocating to Alaska in 1971, where he played clubs in Anchorage. He eventually returned to Nashville, singing on demos and penning tunes recorded by other artists, including Conway Twitty and Kenny Rogers.
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