Melvin Edward Price was born on October 13, 1920, in

Easton, Maryland Easton is an incorporated town in and the county seat of Talbot County, Maryland, United States. The population was 17,101 at the 2020 census, with an estimated population of 17,342 in 2022. The primary ZIP Code is 21601, and the secondary ...

. He was an American country musician, singer, songwriter, and radio host. Price was raised on a rural farm and developed an early interest in music, often singing alongside his brother at social and church gatherings. Price served in the

Army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

in the 35th Infantry Division, also known as the Santa Fe Division, where he often entertained his fellow soldiers with his music. For his service Price was awarded the

Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, ...

, a

Bronze Star The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...

, three

Battle Stars A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or service period. T ...

, a Good Conduct Medal, a

Combat Infantry Badge The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is a United States Army military decoration. The badge is awarded to infantrymen and Special Forces soldiers in the rank of colonel and below, who fought in active ground combat while assigned as members of ...

. He was present at the

Battle of the Bulge The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive or Unternehmen Die Wacht am Rhein, Wacht am Rhein, was the last major German Offensive (military), offensive Military campaign, campaign on the Western Front (World War II), Western ...

.https://www.stardem.com/obituaries/melvin-e-price/article_536c9f78-34ad-5e48-8faa-fcafb58628a6.html In 1945, he was discharged from the Army and formed a country music band, the Santa Fe Rangers, which he had promised to do while in service. Price's love for

country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

enabled him to travel around the world entertaining troops for USO tours. The Santa Fe Rangers were the only group with more overseas tours than even

Bob Hope Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was an American comedian, actor, entertainer and producer with a career that spanned nearly 80 years and achievements in vaudeville, network radio, television, and USO Tours. He appeared ...

,https://www.cecildaily.com/news/state_news/country-music-legend-mel-price-dies-at-94/article_cc5ee194-854b-5e8e-917a-70a4c8b0a09c.html and he had the opportunity to meet and perform with renowned musicians such as

Hank Williams Hiram "Hank" Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. An early pioneer of country music, he is regarded as one of the most significant and influential musicians of the 20th century. W ...

Loretta Lynn Loretta Lynn (; April 14, 1932 – October 4, 2022) was an American country music singer and songwriter. In a career spanning six decades, Lynn released multiple gold albums. She had numerous hits such as "Hey Loretta", "The Pill (song), The P ...

Ernest Tubb Ernest Dale Tubb (February 9, 1914 – September 6, 1984), nicknamed the Texas Troubadour, was an American singer and songwriter and one of the pioneers of country music. His biggest career hit song, "Walking the Floor Over You" (1941), marked ...

Patsy Cline Patsy Cline (born Virginia Patterson Hensley; September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an American singer. One of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century, she was known as one of the first country music artists to successfully Cross ...

, and

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...

. In 1946 Price began a long-running radio show, ''Mel's Old Country Music Show'', which aired every Sunday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. He recorded music from 1949 to 1966, playing guitar, harmonica, and

fiddle A fiddle is a Bow (music), bowed String instrument, string musical instrument, most often a violin or a bass. It is a colloquial term for the violin, used by players in all genres, including European classical music, classical music. Althou ...

. He recorded for Coleman, Regal, RFD, Sante Fe, Blue Hen,

Starday Starday Records was an American record label producing traditional country music during the 1950s and 1960s. History The label began in 1952 in Beaumont, Texas, when local businessmen Jack Starnes (Lefty Frizzell's manager) and Houston record di ...

, Dixie and Redwing records. Price released about 30 recordings over 15 years, and wrote several songs, including "How Many Times", "I Know I've Lost You", and "Little Dog Blues". His music career spanned over 75 years, and even in the last years of his life he continued to host his show on WAAI in Cambridge, Maryland. Price died on November 26, 2014, in Easton, Maryland, at the age of 94. Two of his

sequin A sequin ( ) is a small, typically shiny, generally disk-shaped ornament. Sequins are also referred to as paillettes, spangles, or ''diamanté'' (also spelled ''diamante''). Although the words sequins, paillettes, lentejuelas, and spangles can ...

Ed suits are on display at the Marty Stuart Museum in

Philadelphia, Mississippi Philadelphia is a city in and the county seat of Neshoba County, Mississippi, Neshoba County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 7,118 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History Philadelphia is municipal corporation, i ...

Personal life

In March 1941, Price married Daisy Chaplain, with whom he had two daughters.https://www.fhnfuneralhome.com/obituaries/DaisyChaplain-Starkey-28359/#!/Obituary In 1950, he married Hazel Draper, with whom he had three daughters.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Price, Melvin American country singer-songwriters Singer-songwriters from Maryland Country musicians from Maryland People from Frederick, Maryland 1920 births 2014 deaths