Melba Montgomery circa 1970.Photo:Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Melba Montgomery, a country singer known for her duets with George Jones, Gene Pitney and Charlie Louvin, has died. She was 86.
“It is with great sadness that we announce our family has lost our mother, Melba Montgomery Solomon,” she began. “She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, sister to my uncle, sister-in-law to my aunts and aunt to my cousins.”
Solomon Barrett noted that her late mother “fought a long battle with dementia but is now with her loving husband, Jack Solomon in Heaven.”
Born in Iron City, Tenn. in 1938, Montgomery was primarily raised in Florence, Ala., where she began singing in church before forming a trio with her two brothers.
At the age of 20, she launched her music career the family trio won a Nashville talent contest where Roy Acuff — who served as a judge — offered Montgomery a job. From 1958-1962, she sang in his touring band.
During that time, Montgomery recorded a handful of singles for a small label, but it wasn’t until 1963 that her recording career began to take off after George Jones discovered her music and brought it to his label, United Artists.
Montgomery and Jones also earned hits with 1963’s “Let’s Invite Them Over” and “What’s in Our Heart,” 1972’s “Party Pickin'” and more.
Montgomery also scored hits with Charlie Louvin, including 1970’s “Something to Brag About” and “Did You Ever,” as well as 1965’s “Being Together,” which she sang with Gene Pitney.
However, Montgomery earned her biggest solo hit in 1974 with “No Charge.”
Her song “Don’t Let the Good Times Fool You” reached the No. 15 spot in 1975, while her take on “Angel of the Morning” reached No. 22 in 1977, ahead of Juice Newton’s No. 1 smash in 1981.
Over the years, Montgomery continued her music career and focused on songwriting from the 1990s onward.
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Melba Montgomery.GAB Archive/Redferns
GAB Archive/Redferns
Artists includingSara Evans,Patty Loveless,Travis TrittandTerri Clarkrecorded her songs over the years. In 2000,George Straitscored a No. 4 hit with “What Do You Say to That,” which she wrote.
source: people.com
