Ken Mellons
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Edward "Ken" Mellons (born July 10, 1965) is an American country music
artist who released his self-titled debut album
in 1994. This album produced the single "Jukebox Junkie
", a Top Ten hit on the Hot Country Songs
charts. Mellons followed up his debut album with three more albums — 1995's Where Forever Begins
, 2001's The Best of Ken Mellons
and 2004's Sweet — in addition to charting six more singles on the country charts.
. He has been a native of Nashville, Tennessee
since the age of three. He entered in many talent shows in high school, and played at various clubs around Nashville to help perfect his skill, while working day jobs to pay the bills. In 1989, Ken earned a spot at a show called Country Music USA at Opryland USA
, a theme park in Nashville. Later, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry
, and was signed to Epic Records
in 1993. His debut, self-titled album produced a Top 10 single in "Jukebox Junkie
", a song which also received ASCAP and BMI
awards for surpassing one million spins
on radio. His second album, Where Forever Begins, failed to produce any successful singles, and by 1997, Mellons left Epic Records.
Shortly after leaving Epic, Mellons signed to Curb Records
. Although he spent six years on that label, he released only two non-charting singles and one album (The Best of Ken Mellons) during his tenure on Curb. He later became frustrated with the label and asked out of his record deal with them in 2003. Mellons then moved to the independent Home Records, releasing the album Sweet in 2004. The album featured "Paint Me a Birmingham", which became a Top 5 country hit for Tracy Lawrence
in the first half of 2004. Mellons also co-wrote the songs "Honk If You Honky Tonk" on George Strait's "Honkytonkville" album and "The Shoes" on Dierks Bentley
's self-titled debut album
.
Mellons continues to perform throughout the US and recorded Rural Route in 2009.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist who released his self-titled debut album
Ken Mellons (album)
Ken Mellons is the self-titled debut album of American country music artist Ken Mellons. Released in 1994 on Epic Records, it contains his single "Jukebox Junkie", a Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts...
in 1994. This album produced the single "Jukebox Junkie
Jukebox Junkie
"Jukebox Junkie" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Ken Mellons. It was released in July 1994 as the second single from his debut album, Ken Mellons...
", a Top Ten hit on the Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
charts. Mellons followed up his debut album with three more albums — 1995's Where Forever Begins
Where Forever Begins (Ken Mellons album)
Where Forever Begins is the second studio album by American country music artist Ken Mellons. Released in 1995 on Epic Records, it contains the singles "Workin' for the Weekend", "Rub-a-Dubbin'", and "Stranger in Your Eyes". The first two singles were both #39 hits on the Billboard country charts...
, 2001's The Best of Ken Mellons
The Best of Ken Mellons
The Best of Ken Mellons is an album, released in 2001, by American country music artist Ken Mellons. Despite its title, it is not a compilation album, but rather a studio album composed of nine new tracks and a dance mix of his 1994 hit "Jukebox Junkie". Prior to this album, Mellons had released a...
and 2004's Sweet — in addition to charting six more singles on the country charts.
Biography
Mellons was born in 1965 in Kingsport, TennesseeKingsport, Tennessee
Kingsport is a city located mainly in Sullivan County with some western portions in Hawkins County in the US state of Tennessee. The majority of the city lies in Sullivan County...
. He has been a native of Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
since the age of three. He entered in many talent shows in high school, and played at various clubs around Nashville to help perfect his skill, while working day jobs to pay the bills. In 1989, Ken earned a spot at a show called Country Music USA at Opryland USA
Opryland USA
Opryland USA was an amusement park located in suburban Nashville, Tennessee. It operated seasonally from 1972 until 1997...
, a theme park in Nashville. Later, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
, and was signed to Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
in 1993. His debut, self-titled album produced a Top 10 single in "Jukebox Junkie
Jukebox Junkie
"Jukebox Junkie" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Ken Mellons. It was released in July 1994 as the second single from his debut album, Ken Mellons...
", a song which also received ASCAP and BMI
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
awards for surpassing one million spins
Spin (radio)
In radio broadcasting, a spin is a single play of a song. The term is also used as a unit to measure popularity, typically in spins per week...
on radio. His second album, Where Forever Begins, failed to produce any successful singles, and by 1997, Mellons left Epic Records.
Shortly after leaving Epic, Mellons signed to Curb Records
Curb Records
Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963...
. Although he spent six years on that label, he released only two non-charting singles and one album (The Best of Ken Mellons) during his tenure on Curb. He later became frustrated with the label and asked out of his record deal with them in 2003. Mellons then moved to the independent Home Records, releasing the album Sweet in 2004. The album featured "Paint Me a Birmingham", which became a Top 5 country hit for Tracy Lawrence
Tracy Lawrence
Tracy Lawrence is an American country music artist. He started at a country music restaurant called "Live At Libby's" where owner Libby Knight would help local talent find their way into country music...
in the first half of 2004. Mellons also co-wrote the songs "Honk If You Honky Tonk" on George Strait's "Honkytonkville" album and "The Shoes" on Dierks Bentley
Dierks Bentley
Dierks Bentley is an American country music artist who has been signed to Capitol Records Nashville since 2003. That year, he released his self-titled debut album. Both it and its follow-up, 2005's Modern Day Drifter, are certified platinum in the United States. A third album, 2006's Long Trip...
's self-titled debut album
Dierks Bentley (album)
Dierks Bentley is the first major-label album of country music singer Dierks Bentley. It was released August 19, 2003...
.
Mellons continues to perform throughout the US and recorded Rural Route in 2009.
Albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country |
US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
||
| Ken Mellons Ken Mellons (album) Ken Mellons is the self-titled debut album of American country music artist Ken Mellons. Released in 1994 on Epic Records, it contains his single "Jukebox Junkie", a Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts... |
|
42 | 8 |
| Where Forever Begins Where Forever Begins (Ken Mellons album) Where Forever Begins is the second studio album by American country music artist Ken Mellons. Released in 1995 on Epic Records, it contains the singles "Workin' for the Weekend", "Rub-a-Dubbin'", and "Stranger in Your Eyes". The first two singles were both #39 hits on the Billboard country charts... |
|
— | — |
| The Best of Ken Mellons The Best of Ken Mellons The Best of Ken Mellons is an album, released in 2001, by American country music artist Ken Mellons. Despite its title, it is not a compilation album, but rather a studio album composed of nine new tracks and a dance mix of his 1994 hit "Jukebox Junkie". Prior to this album, Mellons had released a... |
Curb Records Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963... |
— | — |
| Sweet |
|
— | — |
| Rural Route |
|
— | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
|||
| 1994 | "Lookin' in the Same Direction" | 55 | 52 | Ken Mellons |
| "Jukebox Junkie Jukebox Junkie "Jukebox Junkie" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Ken Mellons. It was released in July 1994 as the second single from his debut album, Ken Mellons... " |
8 | 6 | ||
| "I Can Bring Her Back" | 42 | 49 | ||
| 1995 | "Workin' for the Weekend" | 40 | 40 | |
| "Rub-a-Dubbin'" | 39 | 65 | Where Forever Begins | |
| "Stranger in Your Eyes" | 55 | 89 | ||
| 1997 | "Mr. DJ" | — | — | singles only |
| 1998 | "Ladies Night" | — | — | |
| 2003 | "Paint Me a Birmingham Paint Me a Birmingham "Paint Me a Birmingham" is a song written by Buck Moore and Gary Duffy. It was concurrently released by American country music artists Ken Mellons and Tracy Lawrence, whose versions entered the country charts within one week of each other... " |
54 | * | Sweet |
| 2004 | "Climb My Tree" | — | * | |
| 2009 | "Still They Call Me Love" | — | * | Rural Route |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart * denotes unknown peak positions |
||||
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | "Lookin' in the Same Direction" | Marc Ball |
| "Jukebox Junkie" | ||
| "I Can Bring Her Back" | Jeffrey Phillips | |
| 1995 | "Rub-a-Dubbin'" | Jon Small |
| 1998 | "Ladies Night" | chris rogers |