Mel Tillis Net Worth

Mel Tillis: A Look at His Net Worth, Career, and Legacy

Mel Tillis was a highly successful country music singer-songwriter, actor, and businessman. This article delves into his life, career, and accomplishments, including his estimated net worth at the time of his passing.

What Was Mel Tillis’s Net Worth?

Mel Tillis’s net worth was an estimated $20 million at the time of his death in November 2017. He earned this fortune through a prolific career that spanned decades, encompassing hit songs, acting roles, and entrepreneurial ventures. Tillis was a significant figure in the country music scene, particularly during the 1970s, a period often associated with the outlaw country movement.

His most iconic songs include:

• “I Ain’t Never”
• “Good Woman Blues”
• “Coca-Cola Cowboy”

In addition to his music, Tillis also made appearances in several films, further contributing to his financial success and fame.

Early Life and Education

Lonnie Melvin Tillis, known to the world as Mel Tillis, was born on August 8, 1932, in Tampa, Florida. His parents were Burma and Lonnie Tillis Sr. The family later relocated to Pahokee, Florida, near Miami. As a child, Tillis contracted malaria, which led to him developing a stutter that would become a distinctive part of his personality. Despite this challenge, he found solace and expression in music. He learned to play the drums and guitar during his formative years. At the age of 16, he won a local talent competition, showcasing his early musical abilities. For his higher education, he briefly attended the University of Florida before deciding to enlist in the U.S. Air Force.

While stationed on Okinawa, Tillis formed a band called the Westerners, honing his musical skills and gaining experience performing for others.

Career Beginnings

After leaving the Air Force in 1955, Tillis returned to Florida. He took a variety of jobs to make ends meet, including working for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. Using his railroad pass, he frequently visited Nashville, Tennessee, where he sought to establish himself in the music industry. He met and auditioned for Wesley Rose of Acuff-Rose Music, a prominent publishing house. Although Rose advised him to develop his skills further back in Florida, Tillis eventually moved to Tennessee, dedicating himself to songwriting. He had his first major country hit as a songwriter in 1957 with “I’m Tired,” which he co-wrote for Webb Pierce. Tillis continued to write hit songs for Pierce, including “Honky Tonk Song.”

During this period, he also penned charting hits for other artists, including:

• Ray Price
• Brenda Lee
• Kitty Wells

As a sought-after songwriter, Tillis signed his own recording contract with Columbia Records and had a moderate hit with “The Violet and a Rose,” marking the beginning of his solo career.

Rise to Stardom

After years of writing hits for other artists, Tillis signed with Kapp Records in the mid-1960s. He achieved his first top-15 hit as a singer with the song “Wine.” Subsequent hits included “Stateside” and “Life Turned Her That Way.” He continued to write for other artists throughout the 60s, including “All the Time” for Jack Greene, “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town” for Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, and “Mental Revenge” for Waylon Jennings. In 1968, Tillis had his first top-10 hit as a singer with “Who’s Julie.” He followed this success with more top-10 country hits in 1969, including “These Lonely Hands of Mine” and “She’ll Be Hanging Around Somewhere.”

Peak of Career

The 1970s marked the peak of Mel Tillis’s career. The decade began with him reaching the top five for the first time as a singer with “Heart Over Mind,” which peaked at number three on the Hot Country Songs chart. This success was followed by a string of hits, including “Heaven Everyday,” “Commercial Affection,” “Take My Hand,” and “Brand New Mister Me.” Tillis achieved his first number-one hit as a singer in 1972 with “I Ain’t Never,” a song he had written years earlier for Webb Pierce. Subsequent hits like “Neon Rose” and “Sawmill” reached number three and number two, respectively. Over the ensuing years, Tillis consistently released hit songs, including “Midnight, Me and the Blues,” “Stomp Them Grapes,” and “Woman in the Back of My Mind.”

Tillis found his greatest career success with MCA Records, signing with the label in 1976. That year, he had two number-one hits: “Heart Healer” and “Good Woman Blues.” Tillis was awarded Entertainer of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He had another number-one hit in 1978 with “I Believe in You,” followed by “Coca-Cola Cowboy” in 1979. Around this time, he also achieved hits with “Send Me Down to Tucson” and “I Got the Hoss.” After signing with Elektra Records in mid-1979, he had hits with “Blind in Love” and “Lying Time Again.” Tillis continued his success into the early 1980s with “Your Body is an Outlaw” and “Steppin’ Out.” In 1981, he had his final number-one hit with “Southern Rains.” That same year, he released a duet album with Nancy Sinatra. Tillis’s final top-ten hit was in 1984 with “New Patches.”

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Film Acting

Mel Tillis also pursued a career in acting. His film debut was in 1967’s “Cottonpickin’ Chickenpickers,” which featured other country music stars. He later appeared in the 1975 comedy “W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings,” starring Burt Reynolds. Tillis reunited with Reynolds in the 1980s in the action comedies “Smokey and the Bandit II,” “The Cannonball Run,” and “The Cannonball Run II.” Additional film credits include the Western comedies “The Villain” and “Uphill All the Way,” where he starred alongside fellow country music star Roy Clark.

Radio Station Ownership

In 1979, Tillis expanded his entrepreneurial ventures by acquiring the Amarillo, Texas, radio station KIXZ and transforming it into a successful country music station. He later acquired another Amarillo station, KYTX, which became KMML, and later WMML in Mobile, Alabama.

Late Career

In the 1980s, Tillis continued writing songs for other artists, including Ricky Skaggs and Randy Travis. He also published his autobiography, “Stutterin’ Boy.” He built a theater in Branson, Missouri, where he performed until 2002. In a unique collaboration, he formed the country music supergroup the Old Dogs with Bobby Bare, Waylon Jennings, and Jerry Reed. They released a double album of songs written by Shel Silverstein.

In 2007, Tillis was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2012, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Obama, recognizing his significant contributions to country music.

Personal Life and Death

Mel Tillis had six children with his first wife, Doris. Among them were successful country artists Sonny and Pam Tillis. He later married Kathy. After a long battle with several illnesses, Mel Tillis passed away from respiratory failure on November 19, 2017, in Ocala, Florida. He was 85 years old.

Real Estate

At the time of his death, Mel Tillis owned properties in Tennessee and Florida. In Ashland City, Tennessee, he had a 252-acre property with rolling hills, a 7-acre lake, multiple residences, and his recording studio.

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