Lonnie Melvin Tillis - Clarksville, Tennessee - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Mel Tillis was born on August 8, 1932, in Tampa, Florida, and became one of the most popular star in Country Music. As a child he contracted malaria which resulting in him developing a stutter that would stay with him the rest of his life. While he stuttered when he talked, he didn’t stutter when he sang and often made fun of himself during his shows. Early in his career he was known as one of the best songwriters in Nashville, writing such hits as “I’m Tired,” “Tupelo County Jail,” and “I Ain’t Never.” As a performer Mel’s popularity began to soar with hits like “I Believe in You,” and “Coca-Cola Cowboy.” He was the 1976 Country Music Entertainer of the Year. On June 9, 2007, Mel became a member of the Grand Ole Opry and later that same year was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Mel continued to perform on both the Grand Ole Opry and at his Music Theater in Branson, Missouri until health issues force him to retire in 2016. Mel Tillis passed away in Ocala, Florida on November 19, 2017, and is resting in the Woodall Cemetery in Clarksville, Florida.
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Description: Lonnie Melvin Tillis was born in Tampa, Florida on August 8, 1932, and was raised in Pahokee. During his childhood he came down with malaria and developed a stutter which would stay with him the rest of his life. He also developed a love for music as a teenager, learning to play the guitar. By 16, he had won some local talent show and became well known throughout Central Florida. After dropping out of the University of Florida, Mel joined the United States Air Force and while in Japan he formed a band he called “The Westerners,” and played in nightclubs in Japan and the United States. After being discharged from the Military, Mel continued to play music and eventually auditioned for Acuff-Rose Publishing Company. He eventually moved to Nashville where he wrote several hit songs including “I’m Tired,” “Tupelo County Jail,” and “I Ain’t Never.” While he was regarded as one of the top Nashville Songwriters he continued to perform with his band “The Statesiders,” and became a regular performer on “The Porter Wagoner Show. Mel’s popularity as both a songwriter and a performer continued to soar with hits like “I Believe in You,” and “Coca-Cola Cowboy.” He was named the Country Music Entertainer of the Year in 1976. On June 9, 2007, The Stuttering Boy, Mel Tillis became a member of the Grand Ole Opry a few months later he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He continued to tour and perform on the Grand Ole Opry and at his music theater in Branson, Missouri until he developed health issues early in 2016. For almost 2-years, Mel’s health continued to decline, and he passed away on November 19, 2017. He was buried in the Woodall Cemetery near Clarksville, Tennessee. Date of birth: 08/08/1932 Date of death: 11/19/2017 Area of notoriety: Entertainment Marker Type: Headstone Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Daylight Hours Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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