CLASSIC COUNTRY/HONKEY TONK/&BLUEGRASS

Country Music Hall of Fame Member Ken Nelson Dead at 96
Produced Hits for Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Hank Thompson
January 7, 2008; Written by Edward Morris

Ken Nelson, former head of country A&R for Capitol Records and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, died Sunday (Jan. 6) at his home in Somis, Calif., 13 days short of his 97th birthday. He had not been ill prior to his death, his daughter Claudia Nelson told CMT.com.

In his prime during the '50s and '60s, Nelson produced such artistically pivotal acts as Hank Thompson, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and Wanda Jackson and is credited with helping define the distinctive Bakersfield Sound through his low-key studio guidance.

According to The Encyclopedia of Country Music, a publication of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Kenneth F. Nelson was born Jan. 19, 1911 in Caledonia, Minn. Raised in a Chicago orphanage, Nelson developed a early interest in music and even worked briefly as a singer before turning to radio. He joined the staff of Chicago's giant WJJD in the late 1930s and eventually ascended to the post of music director. Although his interest at the time was in classical music, his job also required him to oversee WJJD's massively popular live country show, Suppertime Frolic.

Nelson's experience in working with WJJD's country roster led to a job in 1948 with Capitol Records in Hollywood, where he was initially put in charge of the transcription department. In 1951, he was named head of the label's country artist and repertoire division. His big break came when he produced Thompson's 1952 hit, "Wild Side of Life," which topped the country charts for 15 weeks.

In the ensuing years, Nelson also produced hits for Ferlin Husky, Wynn Stewart, Tommy Collins and Jean Shepard, among others. He was also one of the co-founders of the powerful West Coast music publishing company, Central Songs, and a prime mover in the creation and growth of the Country Music Association.

By the way, one of Mr. Nelson's artists, Wanda Jackson, was announced today as a finalist for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Hall of famer Ken Nelson dies, signed Haggard, Owens

Tuesday, January 8, 2008 �?Country Music Hall of Fame member Ken Nelson, who helped develop the West Coast and Bakersfield Sound by producing Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, died Sunday at his home in Somis, Cal. at 96. Nelson was a key figure at Capitol Records, particularly in the 1950's and 1960's and also signed Hank Thompson and Wanda Jackson.

Nelson was born in Caledonia, Minn. Jan. 19, 1911. His family moved to Chicago when he was a young boy. At 12, he became a stockboy at the Melrose Music Co. in Chicago for five years and was an announcer at several Chicago radio stations. Nelson worked at WJJD as music director and was chief announcer of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He also was put in charge of his radio stations's "Suppertime Frolic" show, a competitor to the National Barn Dance show. The job involved finding and booking acts to play at the station, leading Nelson to become aware of the best country acts.

Nelson moved to Hollywood to work for Capitol in 1946. In December 1951, he produced Thompson's huge hit "The Wild Side of Life." He signed many acts including Ferlin Husky, Tommy Collins, Wynn Stewart, Jean Shepard, Jerry Reed and Jackson.

In 1957, Nelson worked in rock, signing Gene Vincent to Capitol, although he continued working in country. He produced the Louvin Brothers's "Satan Is Real" disc.

He also signed his one-time session guitarist Buck Owens and later Haggard in 1962. Nelson produced Haggard for many years, even after he left as head of country production for Nashville. He retired in 1976.

Nelson was a founding member of the Country Music Association, serving two terms as president. At the age of 90, Nelson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

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