Senator Merle Kilgore was a businessman bridging his early music experience with today’s growing country music industry.  He was voted by his peers as CMA’s first Manager of the Year in 1990.  His vast knowledge stems from his involvement in every facet of show business. He was an accomplished singer, songwriter (inducted into the Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 1998) and actor.  All inventories taken, Merle turned opportunities into successes as both a manager and an entertainer.

Merle began his career in Shreveport, Louisiana at the age of 14, carrying Hank Williams Sr.’s guitar.  Entering professional show business at 18, Merle wrote his first number one hit, “More and More”, which became a million-seller for Webb Pierce in 1954.  Not long after, young Merle wrote a 10 million seller, “Wolverton Mountain”, recorded by Claude King, and then co-wrote “Ring of Fire” with June Carter-Cash, as recorded by Johnny Cash.  The song sold more than 16 million records.  Merle continued to write hit after hit making his song catalog over 300 songs, and all sold close to 50 Million records.

Merle’s first Top Ten record was self penned “Dear Mama”, followed by “Love Has Made You Beautiful” on Starday Records and then on Mercury, “42 in Chicago” on Mercury, and “Fast Talking Louisiana Man” on Columbia.  His last chart record before turning music executive was “Guilty” on Warner Bros., but his favorite record was “Mr. Garfield” by Merle Kilgore and Friends on Elektra Records, recorded with long-time friends Hank Williams Jr. and Johnny Cash.

As an actor, Merle has been featured in the box office hits Coal Miner’s Daughter, Robert Altman’s Nashville, W.W. and the Dixie Dance Kings, Roadie, and the CBS-TV movie, Willa.  His biggest role to date co-starred him in NBC-Telelcom’s Living Proof, the life story of Hank Williams Jr., where he played himself.

Merle moved to Nashville in 1962 and began his management career by representing the prestigious Shapiro Bernstein and Al Gallico music companies.  In 1969, Merle became the general manager of Hank Williams Jr. ’s music publishing companies.  On April 7, 1986, he was named Executive Vice President and head of management of Hank Williams Jr. Enterprises.  Merle has been affiliated with Hank for more than 30 years, serving as his personal manager for the last 16.

In addition to managing Hank’s career (along with that of Hank’s Bama Band), Merle had a number of successful business ventures and held numerous leadership positions.  Merle’s prominence in the country music community  grew  through his involvement as Vice President of the Country Music Association and he served on the CMA Board of Directors since 1989.  Also contributing to his success was his position as President of both the Nashville Songwriter’s Foundation as well as the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International.  These positions Merle cites as part of his lifelong dream.

In 1987, he was named an honorary State Senator for Tennessee.  In 1993, Merle was inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame in Lafayette, Louisiana and was also inducted into Shreveport’s Byrd High School Hall of Fame.  In 1998, Merle received the Legendary Songwriter’s Award from the North American County Music Association.  Most recently, he hosted and performed at NSAI’s Tin Pan South Legendary Songwriter’s Acoustic Concert and was presented a prestigious award honoring him as “One of the world’s outstanding songwriters.”  Merle also served two terms as President of ROPE, International (Reunion of Professional Entertainers, Int.).

Merle was a long-time member of the Academy of Country Music and an active member of the Screen Actors Guild.  As well as belonging to the NSAI and the American Federation of Musicians, Merle served as a board member for several organizations including the Hank Williams Museum in Montgomery, Alabama, the Texas Hall of Fame and the Tex Ritter Museum, both in Carthage, Texas.  He also directed the operations of two offices, Hank Williams Jr. Enterprises in Paris, Tennessee and Merle Kilgore Management in Nashville, where he managed several other artists. 

The distinctive voice of Merle Kilgore, one of the most significant songwriters and entertainers in American musical history was forever silenced February 6, 2005. He died from congestive heart failure onset from medical complications related to ongoing treatment for cancer over the last few months. He passed away in a hospital in Mexico seeking alternative ways to fight the cancer.

The Official Merle Kilgore Website