"After the success of 'Juke Box Junkie,' I continued touring and writing and have really rediscovered who I am and what I'm about musically. What I do best is still very traditional, lyric-driven, honky-tonk real music, which is where the musical pendulum seem to be swinging back to," says Mellons. 

With his sophomore project for Curb, Mellons collaborates with one of country music's most respected producers, Emory Gordy Jr. "Emory is not known for taking on many projects, so I'm so honored he decided to make time to work with me."

The project has become an "event" with the likes of classic country writers such as Bob McDill ("She's Gone Country"), and Max D. Barnes ("Chiseled in Stone") both coming out of  retirement to write with Ken, reflecting the kind of respect Mellons has earned. Mellons counts among his pals and collaborators a who's who of songsmiths including Dean Dillon, Billy Lawson, Jamie Richards, Keith Perry, John Scott Sherrill, Skip Ewing, Gary Nicholson, Troy Seals, Larry Alderman, Paul Overstreet and John Northrup. If it's true that you are known by the company you keep, then indeed Ken Mellons is in high cotton!

Born in Kingsport, TN and raised in Nashville, his earliest musical influences were sparked by his Dad's passion for bluegrass as well as the Opry and the long running Porter Wagoner TV show. Outfitted in cowboy gear, complete with fringed vest and guitar, the precocious toddler would climb on the family coffee table and wail out a country standard for anyone who'd listen. Throughout school, Ken nurtured his two passions, music and a distant second, sports. He played baseball and football until he was a sophomore in high school.

After graduation at 18, college never beckoned, but the stage spotlights did. Odd jobs at Kroger, Food Town and as a carpet and shoe salesman finally yielded to a pivotal gig (1989-1992) at Opryland's "Country Music USA" show. At last he could hone his craft in front of thousands of people. There he met future stars, Chely Wright, James Bonamy and "Lonestar's" Dean Sams. 

This was not Mellons' first brush with stardom. In 1987, Mellons auditioned, unsuccessfully, for the Nashville Network's popular show, "You Be A Star." He, nonetheless, attended the taping as an audience member. During a commercial break, Ken was asked to stand and tell a joke. Mellons seized the opportunity to sing a song. After he finished, he was approached by RCA star, Keith Whitley. "After I finished, Keith Whitley, who happened to be a judge that day, said to me 'Hoss, you're one of the finest country singers I've ever heard. Don't you ever give up! One day you'll be a star," recalls Mellons. "He had no idea they had turned me down for the show." After that point Whitley became a major musical influence for Mellons. After Whitley's untimely death, Ken met Keith's mother at Fan Fair and recounted the story of meeting her son. "I was floored. 
She said to me 'Yes I know. Keith came home and told me the same story of how he met you,'" 
he said. " I felt like I was in the 'Twilight Zone.'" 

Mellons soon caught the considerable attention of Hal Durham and Bud Wendall who invited him to play a Friday night Opry Show where he met producer, Jerry Cupit. The two began a collaboration, which would land Mellons a deal on Epic in 1992 and begin the whirlwind success of "Juke Box Junkie." The signature song is still a radio favorite achieving the #8 chart slot (Billboard? or RR?), 32 weeks on the charts and just won an ASCAP Millionaire Award for one million radio spins. But true to form, Ken remains characteristically humble.

"That song has really blessed me and enabled me to make a lot of friends at radio and win a lot of loyal country music fans," says Ken. Fans who eagerly await another Ken Mellons' roots country album, and his timing couldn't be better. "I just want to cut the best songs possible, whether I write them or not. It's about realism. I'm not trying to be the 'in thing.' For me, its performance over perfection. I'm proud of what I'm a part of."