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Mel Tillis




Tillis has scored nearly six dozen country and crossover hits from the years 1958 to 1988 . His biggest country hit, 1972 's, "I Ain't Never" had been a major hit for Webb Pierce in 1959 . He was honored as the Country Music Association "Entertainer of the Year" in 1976 . As a songwriter, Tillis' song "Detroit city" was a number one hit on the U.S. country charts in 1963 for Bobby Bare , and has since been covered by a number of other artists, including Dolly Parton .

In addition to his musical talents, Mel Tillis has acted in a number of motion pictures, including The Cannonball Run and Smokey And The Bandit II , as well as making guest appearances on a number of Television Series .

Tillis is known for a trademark Stutter which disappears when he sings. A story about Tillis was that he would order "grits" in a restaurant he would frequent at as a struggling singer, because this was the only dish that he could pronounce clearly. His autobiography is titled "Stuttering boy".

In 1972 , he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame .

His daughter is the successful country music artist Pam Tillis . As of 2005 , Mr. Tillis is living in Ocala, Florida .


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