Representative Albums: "Greatest Hits", "Original Artist Hit List", "The Best of Mel McDaniel
Representative Songs: "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On", "Big Ole Brew", "Stand Up
Biography
Mel McDaniel decided on a career in music at age 14, after seeing Elvis Presley on television. After establishing himself in the bars and clubs of his hometown of Tulsa, OK, McDaniel briefly landed in Nashville before settling in Anchorage, AK. It was there that he refined his songwriting and performance skills; when McDaniel returned to Nashville in 1976, he promptly signed a record deal with Capitol. He had some early success with the single "Have a Dream on Me," but really began to steamroll thereafter, ending up with a string of country Top Tens that stretched through the 1980s. His biggest hit came in 1984 with "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On," a song that was nominated for a Grammy and a CMA. McDaniel continued to perform throughout the '90s and into the 2000s, usually at the Grand Ole Opry, of which he became a member on January 11, 1986. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
McDaniel is a member of the Grand Ole Opry and makes frequent appearances on the show.
Since 1996, the singer has been recovering from a near-fatal fall into an orchestra pit, suffered while he was performing at a show in Lafayette, Louisiana. On June 16, 2009, McDaniel suffered a heart attack, putting him in a medically-induced coma in a Nashville area hospital according to The Tennessean. Mel's wife, Peggy, requested the prayers of the singer's fans, saying his situation was "not good." Country Weekly Magazine McDaniel is currently recovering from his heart attack, and is working with doctors and rehabilitation specialists. [1]
