Mel Tillis Info Page Header
Mel Tillis
    (If you are paying with a gift card, you must call to purchase tickets 260.768.4725)
Mar 07, 2015 Saturday @ 7:00pm
Event Details
Facts about... Mel Tillis

Country music legend, Mel Tillis, started performing in the early '50's with a group called 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 entitled "I'm Tired", and it launched Mel's musical career.


Awards: In 1976, Mel Tillis was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters International Hall of Fame, and that same year, he was named Country Music Association's (CMA) Entertainer of the Year. Also, for six years in the 70's, Mel Tillis won Comedian of the Year.

On September 21, 1999, Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) named Mel Tillis the Songwriter of the Decade for two decades.

Mel was the recipient of the Golden Voice Entertainer Award for 2001. He also won the 2001 Golden R.O.P.E. Songwriter Award

The Grand Ole Opry inducted Mel Tillis as its newest member on June 9, 2007.

In October of 2007, Mel Tillis became a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Tillis' home state of Florida honored him on March 25, 2009 — inducting him into the Florida Artist Hall of Fame.

2010 — The Academy of Country Music chose Mel to receive the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award

2012 — Mel received the National Medal of Arts from the President of the U.S.

Songwriting: Mel has written well over 1,000 songs, and approximately 600 have been recorded by major artists. The following is a list of a few of those songs and artists:

"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 June 2001, Mel received a Special Citation of Achievement from BMI for 3 Million broadcast performances of "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town". Songs which have reached this coveted status are in a very select group of world-wide favorites.


Singer/Entertainer: Mel has recorded more than 60 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. This album is entitled "Beyond the Sunset".

One of Mel's recent 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 Country Music Association.

Mel Tillis has been in the music/entertainment business now for 50 plus years. He and his band, the Statesiders, have worked concerts all over the 50 states, Canada, England, and 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, David Letterman, and he has served as host for Music City News Awards and Music City Tonight.


Acting: Mel has appeared in numerous 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 as well including "Murder in Music City" and "A Country Christmas Carol."

Mel Tillis has also been the spokesman for and done numerous commercials over his career for companies such as Badcock Furniture, Fina Oil Co., Whataburger.

Mel's Hobbies: Gardening, cooking, fishing, painting, and watching University of Florida ball games.

One of Mel's hobbies – painting – has turned into a charitable event. 1000 limited edition signed and numbered prints of his painting "Masonic America" are being sold with all profits going to the Scottish Rite Foundation which benefits speech and hearing clinics all over this great nation.


Other Information:
  • Mel was the 1998 spokesman and honorary chairman for the Stuttering Foundation of America.
  • Mel was raised to a 33 Mason at the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C., in 1998. On October 11, 1999, Mel was honored with the Grand Cross.


Plan Your Visit:
Parking: Free parking is available at the venue. Please have patience and be respectful when leaving our parking lots after the show.

Ticket Office: For ticket sales and assistance with ticket orders, please visit our box office or call 260-768-4725. Box Office hours are Monday thru Saturday, 10am to 7pm. All ticket sales are final and non-refundable, no exception.

Tickets: Your phone is your ticket. Make sure you have downloaded your ticket before arriving at the venue to present at ticket check. Will Call tickets can be picked up at the box office window, and you must present a photo ID. If you need your tickets printed for any reason, visit the venue box office prior to entering ticket check. Tickets that include a dining package will need to be printed prior to visiting the restaurant since they serve as your dining voucher.

Rain or Shine Events: All events are rain or shine. In the event of hazardous weather during an event, please follow the safety directions given by venue staff and displayed on digital screens.

Bag Policy: For safety and efficiency, we recommend entering without a purse or bag at our venues. If essential items are needed, we encourage guests to bring them in a small, clear purse. All non-clear purses will be searched, and this will be enforced upon entry at our Performing Arts Center. Diaper Bags for families with small children and bags with required medical items are permitted. No oversized purses, tote or duffel bags, or backpacks of any type will be allowed.

Prohibited Items: Please review the prohibited items list before you come to an event. This list can be found on our FAQ page.

Concessions: Refreshments are available for purchase within the venue. No outside food, candy, or beverages are allowed.

Bar Service: We do have beer and wine service available at most of our PAC concerts. Hours of service vary, depending on show schedule, but the bar is typically open for at least 90 minutes once doors are open.

No Smoking: Smoking and vaping are strictly prohibited inside the venue.

Safety and Security Policies: All members of your party must have a ticket to enter the venue. All individuals entering the facility are required to go through a security screening which includes metal detection and checking bags for prohibited items. These security screenings may vary on some events, so please refer to your "Know Before You Go" email to plan your visit accordingly. Re-entry is not permitted without a ticket. For a complete list of prohibited items and venue policies, visit our FAQ page.

Accessibility: For complete information on our services, please visit the Accessibility section of our FAQ page.

Dining Packages: Buffet dining at our Blue Gate Restaurant can be added to any ticket price for your convenience. Price would include meal but not gratuity. To ensure guests have time to dine, we suggest arriving no later than 2 hours prior to show time, in case the restaurant is on a wait.

Hotel Reservations: If you need hotel accommodations, consider staying at our Blue Gate Garden Inn – adjacent to the Performing Arts Center! For more information and to check availability, visit https://www.bluegategardeninn.com/ or call 260.768.4725.

For more information, simply visit our FAQ page.
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