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Country Music Legend Mel Tillis Has Died At 85

“Mel Tillis spent a lifetime giving us joy and laughter and music, which is why his death brings such sadness,” said Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young in a statement. “Had he never stepped on a stage, he would still have been one of the funniest and most genuine people on the planet. But his whimsy and warmth were only a part of his appeal. He wrote some of country music’s most compelling and consequential songs, he fronted a remarkable band, and he sang with power and emotion. He also shone as an inspiration, revealing what others called an impediment as a vehicle for humor and hope.”

If Tillis wasn’t onstage (and he often was: during the peak of his career, he played up to 300 dates a year), chances are he could be found fishing, gardening or painting — he’d often donate the proceeds from the sales of his art to charity. He toured with his band The Statesiders, who was named after his 1966 single “Stateside,” and regularly appeared on the Opry into his 80s. “It so happened that I found what I was good for,” Tillis, discussing his music career, told The Tennessean in 1965. “I’m lucky. A lot of people go through life and never find out.”

Tillis is survived by his longtime partner Kathy DeMonaco, his children, Pam, Carrie April, Cindy, Mel Jr. (nicknamed “Sonny”), Connie and Hannah; brother Richard; sister Linda Crosby; and six grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Funeral arrangements are unavailable at this time. Memorials will be held in Florida and Nashville.

(Source: The Tennessean)