From: Flippar Date: Tue Jan 29, 2002 7:14 pm Subject: Born To Be With You - Melvin Endsley MELVIN ENDSLEY Born on January 30th, 1934 in Heber Springs, Arkansas. Melvin contracted polio when he was 3, losing the use of his legs. Inspired by the Delmores and Wayne Raney whilst listening to the radio in a Memphis hospital, he picked up a guitar and learnt to play. Leaving school in 54 back home in Drasco Arkansas, he’d already written It Happens Every time recorded later by Don Gibson and Dorsey Burnette. He trained as a teacher but played on weekend radio shows including one hosted by his early idol Wayne Raney (they became lifelong friends and close neighbours). It was on this show he debuted his new song Singing The Blues and then fortunately read an article in a country mag on what steps amateur songwriters should take to protect their rights. He duly registered this song for $4, the best money he ever spent! In July 55 he and a friend borrowed enough cash to buy a better car and drove to Nashville, sleeping in the car, with the intention of getting the song to Webb Pierce at the weekend Opry. Fortunately for MartyRobbins, he got to hear it first after agreeing to meet Melvin after the show. Both Marty and label mate Guy Mitchell had huge hits with it in late 56 (as did one Thomas Steele of Bermondsey parish!!). Follow up hit Knee Deep In The Blues proved Melvin was no one hit wonder and he got his ambition fulfilled of havinghis own recording contract and with RCA too. Melvin reckons with hindsight that it was just a way of getting first dibs on his songs rather than any particular belief in his singing talents. A listen to his excellent Bear Family cd of his recordings confirms the doubters were wrong; Melvin had a fine voice and style to interpret his stylish material. He was one of many talented RCA artists who failed to get the promotion their talents deserved, Elvis was selling zillions so the RCA staff were either rushed off their feet dispatching his material or just sitting back and watching the cows come home as they reached their monthly target sales easily on one stellar artist. Subsequently Melvin went with MGM and Hickory but nothing matched the success others (Marty, Stonewall Jackson etc) had with his superb tunes. Others like Love Me To Pieces and I Like Your Kind Of Love are rightly revered today. Despite his physical disability and ill luck as a performer Melvin crafted some of the finest country songs of the era and deserves all plaudits back home in Arkansas, both for the quality of the songs and for his fine performances on record. Highly Recommended listening I Like Your Kind Of Love Bear Family cd