Joe Melson

In 1957 Joe Melson teamed up with a virtual unknown by the name of Roy Orbison at Monument Records where together they wrote a string of hits.

Melson had recognized the potential in Orbison's voice, and encouraged the singer to explore its power through their first collaboration, Only The Lonely. What resulted on March 25, 1960 was the first Operatic rock ballad in the history of popular music, launching Orbison to international musical stardom.

Between 1960 and 1963, Joe Melson recorded several singles of his own for Hickory Records and also wrote songs for some of that label's other artists including Dan Folger. He recorded a few songs for the EMP Records label in 1964 and 1965.

Over the years, Joe Melson continued to perform at rockabilly and nostalgia festivals and in 2002 he was inducted into the International Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Jackson, Tennessee.

Joe Melson

The Hickory Records Collection Joe Melson £11.99