Obit: Merle Kilgore

Subject: Obit: Merle Kilgore
From: M.Ted
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 05:48 PM

From AP:

Merle Kilgore, co-writer of 'Ring of Fire,' dies at 70

2/6/2005, 11:22 p.m. CT
The Associated Press                 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Merle Kilgore, who co-wrote "Ring of Fire" during a wide-ranging career in music that started in north Louisiana, died Sunday evening in Mexico of medical complications related to his treatment for cancer. He was 70.

Kilgore was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2004, and also had heart surgery in the same year and two operations on his back.

"There wasn't a star you could name that he didn't come into contact with," said Joe Soto of public relations firm Webster and Associates, and also a family friend.

During his career, Kilgore was a singer, songwriter, disc jockey, radio program director, actor and manager.

As a songwriter, he co-wrote "Ring of Fire" with June Carter, which became a hit in 1963 for Johnny Cash. Carter later become Cash's wife.

He also wrote "Wolverton Mountain," a hit in 1962 by Claude King, and "Johnny Reb," a hit in 1959 by Johnny Horton.

Behind the scenes, he was personal manager for Hank Williams Jr., and negotiated the deal for Williams' performances to open ABC's "Monday Night Football." He also worked with Hank Williams Sr.

Williams Jr. was unable to make a statement Sunday when he learned of Kilgore's death.

Kilgore also did some acting, appearing in "Coal Miner's Daughter," "Nashville," "Nevada Smith" and "Five Card Stud."

As a singer, he had a Top 10 country hit in 1960, "Love Has Made You Beautiful." Kilgore had recording contracts with all the major Nashville record labels at one time or another.

Additionally, he and Elvis Presley performed together in the South just as Presley was launching his career in the mid 1950s.

In Shreveport, La., on the old Louisiana Hayride country music show, Kilgore witnessed a rarity: a Presley failure.

"The first time he sang on the Hayride, he bombed," Kilgore recalled in an Associated Press interview in 1990. "It was shocking the way he shook when he sang, and the audience just gasped. He came off the stage and looked at me and said, 'I can't believe this is not going over.'"

Kilgore was born Aug. 9, 1934, in Chickasha, Okla., and grew up in Shreveport.

In October 2004, Kilgore received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Entertainment Buyers Association.

"I'm scratching and fighting my way back to the top," he said at the time.

Kilgore was named an honorary state senator in Tennessee and was inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame.

Greg Oswald Sr., agent for Williams Jr., said Sunday he was in constant communication with Kilgore during the treatment for his illness.

"He was family not only to Hank, but to me and so many in the industry," Oswald said. "We have suffered the loss of a truly unique and great man in the country music community of the caliber we'll never see again in our lifetime within the industry."

Kilgore is survived by his wife, Judy, sons Steve and Duane Kilgore, daughters Pam Compton, Kim Pomeroy and Shane McBee, eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Hendersonville Memory Gardens will be handling funeral arrangements, which are incomplete.

Subject: RE: Obit: Merle Kilgore
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 01:17 AM

I heard the story of how he and June Carter came to write "Ring of Fire" just this weekend on National Public Radio (on Ira Glass's program). It was a powerful song.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: Merle Kilgore
From: Tam the man
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 08:35 AM

I didn't know him but it's sad when a fello musician dies.

Subject: RE: Obit: Merle Kilgore
From: GUEST,Captain Jim
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 04:02 AM

Merle Kilgore had a great sense of humor and he loved to entertain, his act was really very good. I was glad to be able to see him perform in a club I worked in for a 2 week period in 1980 playing with Hank Jr's Bama Band and he put on a heck of a show. He was down to earth and very easy to talk too. He was not your typical star.

Subject: RE: Obit: Merle Kilgore
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 05:56 PM

very sad that he's gone. in a way the spirit of an artist like that is always with us in their songs, but very sad for his family, friends, and fans.

Subject: RE: Obit: Merle Kilgore
From: Once Famous
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 07:09 PM

I saw him a number of years ago open for Hank,Jr. which as his manager and promoter is what he did most always.

Another link to the old Nashville days gone.

Subject: RE: Obit: Merle Kilgore
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 08:22 PM

I never met him, but I have thought about him any number of times over the last few years, every time I pass by Wolverton Mountain on my way to matches during volleyball season.

Over the years we have had a pretty good discussion of how he came to write that particular song. thread.cfm?threadid=7634

In that thread Bob Schwarer posted a long and impressive list of his accomplishments and awards through the years.