Biography

Starting Out

Born in Kingsport, TN, Ken Mellons’ musical experiences as a child ran rich with the sound of the Appalachian Mountains. It was there in the hills of east TN where his parents Rita and Charles unknowingly groomed their son to have an appreciation for soulful harmonies and raw acoustic sounds, the same sounds that could only be found on his Dad’s Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs records. Ken would carry those melodies with him to Nashville when his father Charles took a position at the “The Tennessean” newspaper, moving the family west to “Music City USA.” At the time the Mellons’ had no idea that their little boy would grow up to have a giant sized baritone voice. Ken signed his first record deal in 1992 with Sony Music and sold over 500,000 copies of his debut album, which boasted the radio hits “Jukebox Junkie,” and “I Can Bring Her Back.” Though his commercial success is in the country music field, he can be found on any given day sitting in his living room singing a Larry Sparks song with his Martin guitar.

The Rural Route

Lately things have come full circle for the boy from Kingsport, Tn. He recently finished his first bluegrass album entitled “Rural Route ” with an all-star bluegrass line-up which reads like a who’s who of bluegrass hierarchy, Rhonda Vincent, Larry Cordle, Dale Ann Bradley, Adam Steffey, Carl Jackson, Phil Leadbetter, Sonya Isaacs, Darrin Vincent, Cody Kilby, Ronnie Stewart, Don Rigsby, Steve Gulley and Vince Gill all came in to be a part of this incredible project.

Finally Home

Ken is back where he began and couldn’t be happier “Bluegrass has always been a part of my life, ever since I was a kid. In a way bluegrass music for me is like opening an old photo album full of memories from my childhood. I can’t wait to develop the next roll of pictures and add them to my album.”……Ken Mellons


RURAL ROUTE

Musicians appearing on all tracks - Upright Bass Darrin Vincent, Acoustic Guitar Cody Kilby, Mandolin Adam Steffey, Mandolin on “Still Brand New,” Andy Leftwich. Fiddle Joe Caverlee, Banjo Ron Stewart, Dobro Rob Ickes, Dobro on "I'm Just A House" Phil Leadbetter, Percussion on "Still They Call Me Love", "Rural Route" and "Still Brand New" John Gardner.

All-Star Special Harmony Vocals:

“Rural Route” – Larry Cordle and Darrin Vincent

“Blue Wind” – Dale Ann Bradley and Steve Gulley

“Memory Remover”- Darrin Vincent

“I’m Just A House”- Sonya Isaacs and Darrin Vincent

“TN Ridge Runner”- Carl Jackson and Don Rigsby

“Still They Call Me Love”- Vince Gill and Sonya Isaacs

“Take It Like A Man”- Darrin Vincent

“A Cold One Can’t Cure”-Dale Ann Bradley and Steve Gulley

“Tennessee”-Daryle Singletary, Darrin Vincent and Rhonda Vincent

“Don’t Neglect The Rose”- Dale Ann Bradley and Steve Gulley

“Still Brand New”- Sonya Isaacs

“King Of All Kings”- Vince Gill, Sonya Isaacs and Daryle Singletary

The album “Rural Route” is owned and distributed by Jukebox Junkie Inc.

"Rural Route" will be available October 12th, 2010 thru all digital distribution outlets and www.kenmellons.net.