The life of Mel Tillis will be honored in celebration of life’ event at the Ryman Auditorium on January 31st at 10am. Scheduled to appear at this wonderful ceremony are the Gatlins, Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss, Ray Stevens, and members of the Tillis’ Stateside band. Mel died this past November in Ocala Florida at the age of 85.
Mel Tillis was born in Tampa, Florida, and lived the life of a country star for decades, hitting the charts with “Good Woman Blues”, “I Ain’t Never”, and “Coca-Cola Cowboy.” Mel was a prolific song writer; did you know that he also wrote the following songs?
“Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town” by Kenny Rogers, “Detroit City (I Wanna Go Home)” by Bobby Bare, “Thoughts of a Fool” from 1992 for George Strait, and Ricky Skaggs’s “Honey (Open That Door)” in 1984.
Mel Tillis received the National Medal of Arts award from President Obama a few years ago and is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. If you have the chance, be sure to join his friends and family at the Ryman Auditorium on January 31st at 10am.