Mel McDaniel
| Mel McDaniel | |
|---|---|
McDaniel in 2006. (Photo by Sisterphotography)
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Melvin Huston McDaniel |
| Born |
September 6, 1942 Checotah, Oklahoma |
| Origin | Okmulgee, Oklahoma |
| Died | March 31, 2011 (aged 68) Nashville, Tennessee |
| Genres | Country, rockabilly |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1975–1996 2005–2011 |
| Labels | Capitol |
| Associated acts | Chuck Berry |
Melvin Huston "Mel" McDaniel (September 6, 1942 – March 31, 2011) was an American country music artist. His chart-making years were mainly the 1980s with his hits from that era including "Louisiana Saturday Night", "Big Ole Brew", "Stand Up", the Number One "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On", "I Call It Love", "Stand on It", and a remake of Chuck Berry's "Let It Roll (Let It Rock)".
McDaniel's type of country music has been referred to as "the quintessential happy song" in comparison to other country artists who discuss broken hearts and lost loves. When asked why most of his songs are mostly positive, McDaniel told the Anchorage Daily News that "there's enough things in the world to keep you bummed out" and that his fans don't want to "hear me singing something that's gonna bum 'em out some more."
McDaniel was born in Checotah, Oklahoma, a small town in McIntosh County, Oklahoma. McDaniel, the son of a truck driving father, grew up in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. He was inspired to play music after seeing Elvis Presley on television. His first interest in music was when he learned the trumpet in the fourth grade, but he soon learned the guitar. At age 14, he taught himself the guitar chords to "Frankie and Johnny" and performed at a high-school talent contest. He made his professional debut at age fifteen performing in a talent contest at Okmulgee High School. While in high school, he played in several local bands, and after graduation, began working as a musician in Tulsa clubs. While in Tulsa, he recorded several singles for local label (J.J. Cale and wrote and produced his first single, “Lazy Me”. But he decided to leave Oklahoma.
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