Having lived in Nashville from the age of three onward, Ken Mellons secured his first Music City recording agreement with Epic in 1994 once repeated Grand Ole Opry guest spots had drawn industry attention to his abilities. Born July 10, 1965, in Kingsport, TN, he relocated with his family during early childhood and absorbed the classic honky-tonk influences of Merle Haggard, George Jones, and Lefty Frizzell. He performed guitar and vocals at school talent shows, then began playing clubs immediately after high-school graduation. One such club performance so impressed the Grand Ole Opry’s general manager that Mellons received an invitation to appear as a guest; the invitations continued, resulting in a regular Opry presence that extended from 1989 through 1992. While contemporaries attended college, he refined his songwriting and stagecraft alongside Chely Wright and Dean Sams of Lonestar.
After performing regularly on the Opry’s Country Music USA showcase, Mellons attracted the notice of Hal Durham and Bud Wendall, who advanced him to a Friday-night slot. Producer Jerry Cupit soon expressed interest, leading to an Epic contract offered in 1993. His self-titled debut appeared the following year; the single “Jukebox Junkie” became a hit that sustained radio airplay throughout the remainder of the decade. In 1995 Mellons released Where Forever Begins. That same year he married and transferred from EMI to Curb Records, which issued Best of Ken Mellons in 2001. Despite its title, the album contained entirely new recordings except for a dance remix of “Jukebox Junkie.” Early in 2003 he issued the successful single “Mr. DJ,” yet left Curb before completing an accompanying album. He signed quickly with the Home label and delivered Sweet in 2004, which included the single “Paint Me a Birmingham.”
