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- Soundtrack
Country singer Mel McDaniel was born on September 6, 1942 in Checotah,
Oklahoma. His father was a truck driver. McDaniel grew up in Okmulgee,
Oklahoma. Mel was inspired to play music after he saw
Elvis Presley on television. McDaniel
learned how to play the trumpet in fourth grade and subsequently
learned how to play the guitar. At age fourteen Mel taught himself the
guitar chords to "Frankie and Johnny" and performed in a high school
talent contest. He made his professional debut at age fifteen
performing in a talent contest at Okmulgee High School. Moreover,
McDaniel played in several local bands while in high school and began
working as a musician at clubs in Tulsa, Oklahoma following graduation
from high school. While in Tulsa Mel recorded several singles as well.
McDaniel began performing in Tulsa clubs after marrying his high school
sweetheart. He then made an unsuccessful trip to Nashville, Tennessee
and had a brief stint performing in the oil fields in Anchorage,
Alaska. He eventually returned to Nashville and secured himself a job
as a demo singer and songwriter for Combine Music. In 1976 he signed up
with the label Capitol Records and released his first single "Have a
Dream on Me." Mel's career really took off in 1981 with the rousing hit
song "Louisiana Saturday Night." He had his only #1 country hit with
the catchy "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On" in 1985. McDaniel's other
notable country hits from the 1980's are "Right in the Palm of Your
Hand," "Take Me to the Country," "Big Ole Brew," "I Call It Love,"
"Stand on It," and "Real Good Feel Good Song."
A member of the Grand Ole Opry since January 11, 1986, McDaniel made
frequent appearances on the show. Mel was inducted into the Oklahoma
Music Hall of Fame in 2006. Diagnosed with lung cancer in February,
2011, he died at his home from the disease at age 68 on March 31, 2011.- Kenedee Rittenhouse was born on 5 November 1997 in Checotah, Oklahoma, USA.
- Tracy Scroggins was born on 11 September 1969 in Checotah, Oklahoma, USA.