Lonnie Melvin “Mel” Tillis was born on the 8th August 1932, in Pahokee, Florida USA, and is a country music singer and songwriter, best known for such hits as “Coca-Cola Cowboy”, ”I Ain’t Never”, and “Good Woman Blues”. Tillis’ career started in 1958.
Have you ever wondered how rich Mel Tillis is, as of late 2016? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Tillis’ net worth is as high as $20 million, an amount earned through his successful career as a musician. In addition to having a fruitful solo career, Tillis also associates with other artists, which has helped him to improve his wealth.
Mel Tillis Net Worth $20 Million
Mel Tillis grew up in Florida with his brother, Richard, and two sisters, Linda and Imogene. In his early age, Mellis suffered from malaria, and the disease caused stuttering; however, Mel would later discover that the stuttering didn’t affect his singing. By the age of 16, Mel had learned to play guitar and drums, while he also won a local talent show. He went to the University of Florida, but dropped out in order to join the US Air Force – during his service on the island Okinawa, Mellis formed a band called The Westerners, which performed at local nightclubs. Both jobs helped establish his net worth.
Tillis left the Air Force in 1955 and worked at various jobs including at the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in Tampa, Florida. After a while, Mel travelled to Nashville for an audition with music producer Wesley Rose of record company Acuff-Rose Music. Rose liked what he heard and encouraged Tillis to move to Nashville and launch his career. After having several hits written for notable country artists at the time, Mel signed a contract with Columbia Records. In 1958, he released two singles: “The Violet and a Rose” and “”Sawmill”, but his debut studio album – “Stateside” didn’t come out until 1966, after he switched to Kapp Records.
By the end of the ‘60s, Mel recorded six more albums, two of which entered the US Country Top 20 chart, and increased his net worth significantly. Tillis’ most prolific era of his career was in the ‘70s when he recorded 18 studio albums, including seven that reached the Top 20 in the chart. The most influential were “Sawmill” (1973) which peaked at the No. 3 spot, and “Heart Healer” (1977) No. 6 place. In the period from 1970 to 1976, Mel was under a contract with MGM Records, and he spent the next three years with MCA Records. Tillis’ solo releases never entered the US Country Top 20 chart, but he continued to be a popular figure in country music.
In the ‘80s and ‘90s, Tillis recorded nine albums with “Your Body Is an Outlaw” (1980) and “Southern Rains” (1980) among the highest rated ones. In the last 15 years, Tillis has released three more records; most recently it was “You Ain’t Gonna Believe This” in 2010, increasing further his net worth.
In addition to having a lucrative solo singing and writing career, Tillis has collaborated with such renowned artists such as Sherry Bruce in “Living and Learning” (1971), and “Let’s Go All the Way Tonight” (1974). He also worked with Nancy Sinatra on “Mel and Nancy” (1981), and with Bobby Bare, Waylon Jennings, and Jerry Reed on ”Old Dogs” (1988). Mel has also recorded five live and 17 compilation albums during his prolific career, the sales f which have added a considerable amount to his net worth.
In February 2012, President Barack Obama awarded Mel the National Medal of Arts for his contribution to country music, and he also won the Entertainer of the Year award at the CMA Awards. Tillis is a Country Music Hall of Fame since October 2007, and in March 2009, he was inducted into the Florida Artist Hall of Fame.
Regarding his personal life, Mel Tillis has six children from his marriage to Doris(1957-77). He is a big fan of University of Florida sports, and enjoys gardening, cooking, fishing, and painting.
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