Country music legend Mel Tillis will receive IFCO's Tex Ritter Award at the 2008 IFCO Fun Fest Show. The Award is presented in honor of a life-long contribution to country music, the music community, and fans everywhere. This year's show will be held Wednesday, June 4th at 7:00 p.m. at Cadillac Ranch (305 Broadway) in Nashville, Tennessee.

Mel began performing in the early fifties with The Westerners while serving as a baker in the United States Air Force, stationed in Okinawa. In 1956, Webb Pierce recorded a song written by Mel titled "I'm Tired," and it launched Mel's career. In 1976, Mel was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters International Hall of Fame, and that same year, he was named the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year. Also, for six years in the seventies, Mel won Comedian of the Year. In 1999, Mel was named Songwriter of the Decade by Broadcast Music, Inc.. He was the recipient of the Golden Voice Entertainer Award for 2001 and that same year won the Golden R.O.P.E. Songwriter Award. The Grand Ole Opry inducted Mel as a member on June 9, 2007.

Mel has written well over 1,000 songs--approximately 600 have been recorded by major artists, including:

"Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town" - Kenny Rogers
"Detroit City" Bobby Bare -
"Emotions" Brenda Lee -
"I Ain't Never" Webb Pierce -
"Burning Memories" Ray Price
"Thoughts of a Fool" George Strait
"Honey (Open That Door)" Ricky Skaggs

In 2001, Mel received a Special Citation of Achievement from BMI for 3 Million broadcast performances of "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town."

As an artist Mel has recorded more than sixty albums. He has had thirty-six top ten singles, with nine of them going to number one: "Good Woman Blues," "Coca Cola Cowboy," and "Southern Rain," to mention a few. In 1993, he recorded his first gospel album, Beyond the Sunset. One of Mel¹s most popular recordings is the Old Dogs album with Bobby Bare, Waylon Jennings, and Jerry Reed. It was released in July of 1998, and received a nomination for the 1999 Vocal Event of the Year by the CMA.

Mel has been in the entertainment business for more than fifty years. He and his band, the Statesiders, have worked concerts in all fifty states, Canada, England, and many other countries. He has appeared on such television shows as 20/20, The Tonight Show, The 700 Club, Prime Time Country, 60 Minutes, Crook & Chase, Late Night With David Letterman, and hosted both the Music City News Awards and Music City Tonight. Mel appeared in many feature films including Every Which Way But Loose with Clint Eastwood, W.W. & The Dixie Dancekings, Cannonball Run I and II, Smokey and the Bandit II with Burt Reynolds, and the lead role with Roy Clark in Uphill All the Way. He has starred in several television movies including Murder in Music City and A Country Christmas Carol. He has also been the spokesman for and done commercials for companies such as Badcock Furniture, Fina Oil Co., and Whataburger, and was the 1998 spokesman and honorary chairman for the Stuttering Foundation of America. Mel is also a proud member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Mel was raised to a 33° Mason at the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C., in 1998. On October 11, 1999, he was honored with the Grand Cross.

Visit Mel Tillis on the Internet ~ MelTillis.com