Melba Montgomery

Melba Joyce Montgomery(October 14, 1938 – January 15, 2025) was an Americancountry musicsinger and songwriter. She was known for a series ofduetrecordings made withGeorge Jones,Gene PitneyandCharlie Louvin. She was also a solo artist, having reached the top of the country charts in 1974 with the song, "No Charge". Born in Tennessee but raised in Alabama, Montgomery had a musical upbringing. Along with her two brothers (songwriters Carl and Earl Montgomery), she placed in a talent contest which brought her to the attention ofRoy Acuff. For several years she toured the country as part of his band until she signed withUnited Artists Recordsin 1963.
At United Artists, Montgomery collaborated with George Jones on a series of duets. Their first was 1963's "We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds", which became a top five single on the country charts. For several years, Jones and Montgomery toured and recorded together. Among their other singles was "What's in Our Heart", "Let's Invite Them Over" and "Party Pickin'". Montgomery became more identified as a duet artist as the decade progressed. She recorded with bothGene PitneyandCharlie Louvinon several charting country singles. However, her solo career was overshadowed until she moved toElektra Recordsin 1973. Her 1974 song about motherhood called "No Charge" became a commercial success in several genres. It was followed by a series of charting singles, including the top 20 "Don't Let the Good Times Fool You" (1975).
Montgomery continued her solo career. In 1977, she reached the top 40 of the country charts again with a cover of the song, "Angel of the Morning". In the eighties, she released several recordings including the albumI Still Careand the charting single "Straight Talkin'". In the nineties, Montgomery began working as a songwriter in the country music community. She wrote songs that were recorded by a series of artists. Among them wasGeorge Strait, who recorded "What Do You Say to That", which became a top five country single. Montgomery has also continued sporadically releasing music as a country artist. Her final album was 2010'sThings That Keep You Going, issued on RPM Music.
Melba Joyce Montgomerywas born into a musical family inIron City, Tennessee, United States, on October 14, 1938.Siblings, Carl and Earl Montgomery, later became songwriters in the country music field.She was raised inFlorence, Alabamawhere her father taught vocal lessons in the localMethodistchurch.Montgomery first began singing in the Methodist churchand was later given a guitar at age ten.Montgomery and her two brothers formed a trio in their late teens. When she was age 20, the sibling trio won an amateur talent contest held at Nashville radio station WSM's Studio C, which at that time housed theGrand Ole Opry.Impressed by her singing, talent content judge,Roy Acuff, invited Montgomery to tour with him in replace of singer,June Webb.Montgomery toured with Acuff from 1958 until 1962.She also briefly recorded threesinglesfor the Nugget label in 1962.
In 1963, Montgomery signed her first major-label recording contract withUnited Artists Records. Her music was discovered byGeorge Jones(who was also on United Artists) who persuaded producerPappy Dailyto sign her to the label. The pair began recording as a duet partnership beginning in 1963.Montgomery wrote their first duet single called "We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds".In 1963, the single climbed to number three on the AmericanBillboardHot Country Songschart. The song became Montgomery's breakout single.It was followed by the double-sided top 20Billboardsingle, "Let's Invite Them Over"/"What's in Our Heart" and "You Comb Her Hair".The recordings were included on Jones and Montgomery's first studio album, also titledWhat's in Our Hearts. The disc reached number three on theBillboardCountry LP'slist in 1963. Their second studio disc,Bluegrass Hootenanny(1964), reached number 12 on the country LP's survey.Other singles by the pairing made theBillboardcountry top 40 through 1967: "Please Be My New Love", "Multiply the Heartaches" and "Party Pickin'".
Between 1963 and 1968, Jones and Montgomery recorded a series of duet singles and albums together. Their songs centered on themes about couples committing infidelity or comedic-themed songs about marital conflicts. The songs were then blended with Montgomery'sAppalachianvocal harmonies.Critics and writers took notice of the Jones-Montgomery duets. In reviewing a 1996compilation,Stephen Thomas ErlewineofAllMusicfound their songs to "illustrate how well-suited the pair was for each other" and that Montgomery was perhaps "Jones' best duet partner."Wade Jessen ofBillboarddescribed the blending of their voices to have "electrifying intensity".The duo toured together routinely throughout the 1960s as well. "It was such an honor to get to record and work shows with him. I’ve been very very blessed through my career," Montgomery recalled.
Montgomery also had a solo career during this period.Her 1963 solo singles, "Hall of Shame" and "The Greatest One of All", both made the top 30 on theBillboardcountry songs chart.Her solo recordings of this era were also produced by Pappy Daily. Her debut studio album was released in 1964 by United Artists calledAmerica's Number One Country and Western Girl Singer.It was followed in August 1964 by her second solo album,Down Home.Along withGeorge Jones, Montgomery moved toMusicor Recordsin 1966.The same year, Montgomery collaborated withGene Pitneyon the single, "Baby Ain't That Fine".The song rose to number 15 on theBillboardcountry songs chart in 1966.A collaborative album between the pair was also released in 1966 titledBeing Together.
Along with her collaborative recordings, Musicor continued releasing solo albums by Montgomery. In 1966, the label issued her first album ofsacred musictitledHallelujah Road.Other solo albums likeDon't Keep Me Lonely Too Long(1966) contained traditional country material.However, none of her solo singles were commercially successful. Only 1967's "What Can I Tell the Folks Back Home" made theBillboardcountry chart, peaking at number 61.AtCapitol Records, she began being produced byPete Drake. He was successful in pairing her as a duet partnership withCharlie Louvin.Their 1970 single, "Something to Brag About", went to number 18 on the country songs chart.It was followed by their 1971 studio LP of the same name, which made it to number 45 on theBillboardcountry albums chart.Five more of their duet singles made the country chart through 1972, including the top 40 entries "Did You Ever" and "Baby You've Got What It Takes".
Montgomery had yet to achieve commercial success as a solo artist, despite having solo material previously released.In 1973, producer Pete Drake helped her sign with the newly formed country division ofElektra Records. The label promised that Montgomery's music would receive promotion in the country field.Her first Elektra release was 1973's "Wrap Your Love Around Me". Co-written by Montgomery, it became her third solo top 40 entry on theBillboardHot Country Songs chart and her first to reach Canada'sRPMcountry chart.It was followed later in October 1973 by hereponymous album.Billboardmagazine named it among its "Top Album Picks" following its release.A second single spawned from the album in early 1974 failed to reach the top 40 in the United States and Canada.
In 1974, songwriterHarlan Howardbrought Montgomery a song he had reportedly written especially for her called "No Charge".The song was written from the point of view of a mother who tells her child how she has cared for him without ever being paid for her domestic responsibilities.Her performance on the song's recording reportedly made studio musicians weep while they were playing it.The single topped theBillboardandRPMcountry charts aroundMother's Dayin May 1974. It became her first (and only) number one song in her career.It also climbed into the top 40 of theBillboardHot 100and theRPMTop Singles chart.Elektra issued Montgomery's studio album of thesame namein April 1974, which reached number 14 on the Top Country Albums survey.The song's commercial success elevated her solo career. She appeared on bothThe Mike Douglas ShowandThe Midnight Specialin 1974. She also played multiple venues that attractedpopaudiences. "I'm delighted 'No Charge' hit the pop charts, but we cut it as country," Montgomery reflected in 1974.
Montgomery continued releasing material with Elektra Records through the mid seventies. The follow-up singles, "Your Pretty Roses Came Too Late" and "If You Want the Rainbow", both failed to reach the country top 40 in 1974.Then, the up-tempo "Don't Let the Good Times Fool You" reached the top 15 of the country charts in 1975.A studio album of thesame nameappeared in April 1975 that reached number 47 on the Top Country Albums survey. Elektra would issue a final studio album under their label in November 1975 titledThe Greatest Gift of All, which failed to chart.Montgomery returned to United Artists Records in 1976 and began working under the production ofLarry Butler.Two of her United Artists singles made the country charts. The highest-charting was a cover ofMerrilee Rush's "Angel of the Morning", which made it to number 22 on theBillboardcountry chart. A more successful version would be recorded byJuice Newtonin the 1980s.In April 1978, United Artists issued Montgomery'ssecond eponymous LPfeaturing "Angel of the Morning".
Montgomery went into a period of semi-retirement following her recordings with United Artists. She focused on her family and domestic responsibilities.She eventually returned to her recording career where she focused mostly on touring and performing.In 1980, she returned on the Kari label with "The Star", a single which made a brief appearance on theBillboardcountry chart.In 1982, the Phonarama label released a studio album by Montgomery titledI Still Care. The collection consisted of country music cover tunes.A studio album of new recordings appeared on Compass Records in 1986, which was also titledNo Charge.The label also issued Montgomery's last charting single to date titled "Straight Talkin'".In 1992, Montgomery's next studio album was released on the Playback label titledDo You Know Where Your Man Is. One year later,Pam Tilliswould have a top 20Billboardsingle with the album's title track.AllMusic's Greg Adams gave the album a two-star rating and commented, "She sounds great and the material is fine, but Do You Know Where Your Man Is isn't up to the standards of the music she made in her prime."
Beginning in the nineties, Montgomery started working more heavily in the field of country music songwriting.A new group of artists began recording her compositions, many of which were co-written withCarl Jackson.One of them wasTerri Clark, who recorded "Cure for the Common Heartache" for her 1998 album,How I Feel.She also co-wrote several songs withKostas. Among them was "You Beat All I've Ever Seen", recorded onRhonda Vincent's 1996 album,Trouble Free.Montgomery has also co-wrote songs with other recording artists, such asSara Evans. Their song, "If You Ever Want My Lovin'" was included on Evans's debut album,Three Chords and the Truth.In 1999,George Straitrecorded and had a top five single with "What Do You Say to That".Along with its co-writer,Jim Lauderdale, she was nominated for "Country Songwriter of the Year" by theBMI.She also co-wrote the single, "Out of Control Raging Fire", which was recorded in 2001 byPatty LovelessandTravis Tritt.
Montgomery also continued to record her own material. In 1997, aSwedishlabel released her next studio album titledThis Time Around. The album's ten tracks were written and co-written entirely by Montgomery. Other songwriters credited on the disc included Kostas, Jerry Salley and her husband, Jack Solomon.In 1999, she joinedJohn Prineon his studio albumIn Spite of Ourselveswhere she recorded two songs. One of them was remake of "We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds".Her last studio album was 2010'sThings That Keep You Going, which was issued on RPM Music.She continued to perform until 2015.
Montgomery's musical style is rooted in traditional country music.She has also embedded elements ofAppalachianandbluegrassinto her musical style.Montgomery's characteristic vocal delivery was often compared to her duet partner, George Jones, which led to her being nicknamed "the female George Jones". The pair's duet recordings were remarked as being influential on a generation of partnerships that followed in the country genre. Although Montgomery had a solo career, she is best remembered for her duets. "I guess I just couldn't get away from the duets. I believe, to a certain extent, that duets did overshadow my work as a solo artist," she recounted in 2003.
Montgomery wed musician Jack Solomon in 1968.Solomon first performed in George Jones's touring band called The Jones Boys and later became a session musician in Nashville. In 2014, Solomon died at the age of 71.In her final years, Montgomery haddementiaand died at a Nashville care facility on January 15, 2025, at the age of 86.Her funeral service was held at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home on January 22, 2025. She was buried in its cemetery afterwards.