Chanteur Rockabilly US né en 1935 à Bonham (Texas), Joe Melson a enregistré au début des années soixante pour le label Hickory Records de Nashville (Tennessee). Il fut coauteur avec Roy Orbison de nombreux succès de celui-ci (Only The Lonely, Crying, Blue Bayou, Blue Angel, Running Scared, etc..).

Rockabilly singer Joe Melson found his greatest success not as a performer, but as a songwriter, collaborating with Roy Orbison on many of his best-known hits. Melson was born in the west Texas town of Bonham in 1935, and later led a rockabilly band called the Cavaliers, who were based in Midland. He met Orbison, then trying to revive his career after leaving Sun, through a mutual friend, and the two struck up a songwriting partnership. Their first collaboration, "Up Town," was Orbison's first single for the Monument label, and it became his biggest hit in four years when it was released in early 1960. However, it was their follow-up, "Only the Lonely," that made Orbison a star, establishing the operatic ballad style that became his trademark. Over 1960-1961, Orbison and Melson spun off a succession of hits that included "Blue Angel," "I'm Hurtin'," the smash "Running Scared," and the number one hit "Crying." In the meantime, Melson cut several singles of his own for the Hickory label over 1960-1963, also working as a songwriter for some of the label's other artists. He ended his regular partnership with Orbison around 1961; Orbison preferred to write while on tour, and Melson eventually quit the road life to spend more time with his family. His last hit collaboration with Orbison came in 1963 with "Blue Bayou," which went on to become a country standard in the hands of Linda Ronstadt and others; late that year, he also released his final single on Hickory. Nonetheless, Melson continued to perform at rockabilly festivals up through the new millennium.

www.joemelson.com

Talents : Vocals, Songwriter

Style musical : Rockabilly, Rock 'n' Roll

Years in activity :

DISCOGRAPHY

Singles

05/1960	SP HICKORY 45-1121 (US)	Oh Yeah / What's The Use (I Still Love You)
10/1960	SP HICKORY 45-1128 (US)	Shook Up / Barbara
03/1961	SP HICKORY 45-1143 (US)	No One Really Cares / Hey Mister Cupid
10/1961	SP HICKORY 45-1155 (US)	Wake Up, Little Susie / Take It Like A Man
06/1962	SP HICKORY 45-1175 (US)	Dance / Love Is A Dangerous Thing
03/1963	SP HICKORY 45-1200 (US)	Any Little Thing Can Start The Flame Of Love / Raining In My Heart
10/1963	SP HICKORY 45-1229 (US)	His Girl / Stay Away From Me
04/1964	SP EMP 10-002 (US)	Heartbreak / This Hurt Inside Of Me
1964	SP EMP 10-003 (US)	True Love Never Dies/ A Dream Of You
1971	SP SHUE SR 1977 (US)	Sweet Vibrations / Our Love Won't Come And Go

Albums

1979	LP 12" BEAR FAMILY BFX 15027 (GER)		A MILESTONE IN ROCK 'N ROLL MUSIC - BARBARA - Barbara / Shook Up / Oh Yeah / Love Is A Dangerous Thing / What's The Use / Any Little Thing Can Start The Flame Of Love / Raining In My Heart / Stay Away From Her / Dance / Wake Up, Little Susie / Hey Mister Cupid / His Girl / No One Really Cares / Take It Like A Man
2006	CD JM 07451 (US)		THE HICKORY RECORDS COLLECTION - Wake Up, Little Susie / Take It Like A Man / No One Really Cares / Oh Yeah / Raining In My Heart / Shook Up / Stay Away From Her / Love Is A Dangerous Thing / Dance / Barbara / Any Little Thing (Can Start The Flame Of Love) / His Girl / What's The Use (I Still Love You) / Hey, Mr. Cupid

© Rocky Productions 14/04/2007