Mel Street


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King Malachi Street (October 21, 1935 – October 21, 1978), commonly known as Mel Street, was an American country music singer.

Street was born in Grundy, Virginia to a coal mining family. Publications cite his year of birth as 1933, although his family maintains that he was born in 1935. He began performing on western Virginia and West Virginia radio shows at the age of sixteen. Street subsequently worked as a radio tower electrician in Ohio and as a nightclub performer in the Niagara Falls area. He moved back to West Virginia in 1963 to open up an auto body shop.

From 1968 to 1972, Street hosted his own show on a Bluefield, West Virginia television station. He recorded his first single, Borrowed Angel, in 1970 for a small regional record label. A larger label, Royal American Records, picked it up in 1972, and it became a top-10 Billboard hit. He recorded the biggest hit of his career, Lovin' on Back Streets, in 1973.

Street continued to flourish throughout the mid-1970s, recording several hits such as You Make Me Feel More Like a Man, Forbidden Angel, I Met a Friend of Yours Today, If I Had a Cheatin' Heart, and Smokey Mountain Memories. He signed with Mercury Records in 1978. But, suffering from clinical depression and alcoholism, he committed suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, on October 21, 1978, his 43rd birthday. He had a record debut on the country charts on October 21 as well, called Just Hangin' On. Street later charted four posthumous songs.

ALBUMS


Mel Street
30 Songs
2012, 2xCD, Comp, Gusto Records (2)
Mel Street
Mel Street / Country Soul
2009, CD, Comp, Poker Records
Mel Street
20 Greatest Hits
2005, CD, Comp, Gusto Records (2),
Mel Street
25th Anniversary Memorial Edition: His Greatest Hits
2004, CD, MPi Nashville
Mel Street
Remember
1982
Mel Street & Sandy Powell
Slip Away / Let's Put Out The Fire
1981, 7", Promo, Sunbird Records, ,
Country
Mel Street
Many Moods Of Mel
1980
Mel Street
Mel Street's Greatest Hits
1980
Mel Street
The Very Best Of Mel Street
1980
Mel Street
Tonight Let's Sleep On It Baby
1980, ,
Country
Mel Street
Keep Me In Mind
1979, LP, Comp, GRT Corporation, Janus Records
Mel Street
Just Hangin' On
1978, 7", Mercury
Mel Street
Country Soul
1978
Mel Street
Shady Rest
1978
Mel Street
If I Had A Cheating Heart
1977
Mel Street
Rodeo Bum / Guilty As Sin
1977
Mel Street
Mel Street
1977
Mel Street
Mel Street
1977, ,
Country
Mel Street
Barbara Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know
1977
Mel Street
Close Enough For Lonesome
1977
Mel Street
This Ain't Just Another Lust Affair / Borrowed Angel
1976, 7", Single, GRT
Mel Street
Lovin' On Back Streets / Smokey Mountain Memories
1976, 7", GRT Gold
Mel Street
You Cared Enough To Send The Very Best
1976, 7", Single, Promo, GRT
Mel Street
Country Colors
1976
Mel Street
The Devil In Your Kisses (And The Angel In Your Eyes)
1976
Mel Street
I Met A Friend Of Yours Today / She Boogies When He's Gone
1976
Mel Street
Mel Street's Greatest Hits
1976
Mel Street
Looking Out My Window Through The Pain
1976
Mel Street
Smokey Mountain Memories
1975
Mel Street
Even If I Have To Steal / Country Pride
1975
Mel Street
This Ain't Just Another Lust Affair / Strange Empty World
1975
Mel Street
Smokey Mountain Memories
1975
Mel Street
Forbidden Angel / Don't Lead Me On
1974
Mel Street
Two Way Street
1974
Mel Street
Green River
1974, ,
Country
Mel Street
The Town Where You Live
1973, 7", Single, Metromedia Records
Mel Street
The Town Where You Live / Walk Softly On The Bridges
1973
Mel Street
The Town Where You Live
1973
Mel Street
Walk Softly On The Bridges
1973
Mel Street
Lovin' On Borrowed Time
1973
Mel Street
Lovin' On Back Streets / Who'll Turn Out The Lights
1972
Mel Street
Borrowed Angel
1972, ,
Country
Mel Street
Borrowed Angel / House Of Pride
1971, Vinyl,
Mel Street With The Nashville Edition
Hide Me From The World / Muddy Mississippi
1971, ,
Country
Mel Street
Things Go Bump In The Night / Gypsy Tea Leaves
1969, 7", Upland
Mel Street
The Moonshine Man / She Doesn't Wear My Ring
1965
Mel Street
Who'll Turn Out the Lights
7", Single, Styrene, Sunbird Records
Mel Street
Forbidden Angel / Lovin' On Borrowed Time
7", Single, GRT
Mel Street
Many Moods Of Mel
Cass, Album, Lake Shore Music, ,
Country
Mel Street
The One Thing My Lady Never Puts Into Words
Mel Street
Mel Street's Greatest Hits
8-Trk, Comp, Unofficial, Not On Label (Mel Street)

APPEARANCES +


Michelle Hannan, Jason Hannan, Howard Parker
Out There in the Dark
2022, CD, Album, Waiting For Lester
Quinten Voss
The Next Best Thing
2020, CDr, Album, Not On Label, ,
Country
Gregg Welty
Community
2018, CD, ,
Bluegrass
Anthony Wilson
My Friend The Jukebox
2011, CD, Album, Ah Ha Records
Lynn Davis
Borrowed Angel
2009, CD, Mini, Promo, BSW Records
Billy Keeble
The Real Me
2005, CD, Global Records
Honky Tonk Team
Speed I Feel - Country With Honky Tonk Team
2002, CD, Album, Not On Label
The Wandering Eyes
Sing Songs Of Forbidden Love
1998, CD, Album, Lazy S.O.B. Recordings
Ricky Van Shelton
Making Plans
1997
George Jones
The Grand Tour
1996
Various
Contemporary Country • The Early '70s • Hot Hits
1993, ,
Country
Livewire
Wired!
1990, Cassette, ,
Bluegrass
Ernie Cash
Send It To Heaven
1989, Cass, Album, Dol, $ilver Dollar
The Midnite Rodeo Band
MRB 2
1984, LP, Album, RCA Victor
Ernie Court
Lingering Feelings
1980, LP, Album, Shannon Records (6), ,
Country
Jimmy Gateley
Don't Lead Me On / I Thought I Could Depend On You
1977, 7", Single, Promo, ABC Dot, ,
Country
Mel Tillis And The Statesiders
24 Great Hits By Mel Tillis And The Statesiders
1977
Ronnie Milsap
Night Things
1975, ,
Country
Charlie Cline
Country Dobro
1974, ,
Bluegrass
Bobby Attwood
Bobby Attwood Picks The Nashville Sounds
1973
Mel Tillis And The Statesiders
Sawmill
1973, Vinyl, ,
Country
Tom Eldridge
Sunday Lonesome
LP, Album, Cheyenne Records (6), ,
Country
Roger Shirley
Borrowed Angel / Fool
7", Stone Sound (3)
Various
Original Country Stars On CD
2017, 3xCD, Comp, Gusto Records (2), ,
Country
Various
Out Of Left Field - Where Soul Meets Country
2016, CD, Comp, Mono, Ace, ,
Country
Various
Best Selling Downloads Now On CD
2011, CD, Gusto Records (2),
Various
Opry Video Classics - Jukebox Memories
2008, DVD-V, NTSC, Time Life, Opry Music
Various
Acuff Rose Collection
2003, 16xCD, Comp, Promo + Box, Sony / ATV Music Publishing,
Various
Country Stars On C.D. • 62 Hits
1996, 3xCD, Comp, King Records (3)
Various
Contemporary Country • The Early '70s • Pure Gold
1992
Various
Wanted - Country Legends (22 Great Hits)
1991, Cass, Comp, Music World, ,
Country
Various
Country USA 1972
1990
Various
Trucker Songs
1988, Cass, Comp, TELDEC, TELDEC, ,
Country
Various
Trucker Hits Vol. 2
1984, Cass, Comp, TELDEC, TELDEC
Various
30 Years Of Country Gold
1984, 6xLP, Comp, Warner Special Products
Various
Keep On Truckin'
1984, LP, Comp, TELDEC, ,
Country
Various
Country & Western Classics: Honky-Tonkin'
1983, 3xLP, Comp + Box, Time Life Records, ,
Country
Various
Stars On LP Vol. 4
1983
Various
Country Cavalcade Of Stars And Friends
1982, LP, Album, Phonorama
Various
Motels And Memories
1981, LP, Comp, Lake Shore Music, Warner Special Products
Various
Country Hits Of The '70s
1980, 6xLP, Comp, Club, Columbia House
Various
Forever Country
1980, LP, Comp, CSP
Various
Country Hits Of The '70s
1980, 4x8-Trk, Comp, Club, Columbia House, Columbia House, Columbia House, Columbia House, ,
Country
Various
Country Music: Then & Now
1979, 6xLP, Comp, Columbia House
Various
Trucker's Special - 12 Fine Songs For The Road
1979
Various
Country Celebration: 60 Of The Greatest Country Songs For All Your Good-Time Gatherings
1979, 6x Vinyl Box Set, ,
Country
Various
Highways, Trucks & Country Music
1978, LP, Comp, Janus Records
Various
36 Original Country Hits
1978, 3xLP, Comp, Sessions (2), ,
Country
Various
American Country Countdown
1978, 3xLP, Transcription + Box, American Country Countdown
Various
American Country Countdown
1978, 3xLP, Comp, Transcription, Watermark, ,
Country/Public Broadcast
Various
Great Country: Treasury Of 60 Love Songs
1978
Donna Fargo
Social Security Presents-Country Music Time Starring Donna Fargo-Shows #40-52
1977, LP, Comp, Transcription, U.S. Department Of Health, Education, And Welfare
Various
Country Gold From KGBS
1977, 2xLP, Comp, Festival Records (14), Festival Records (14), ,
Country
Ralph Emery
The Ralph Emery Show (October 24-October 28, 1977)
1977, 5xLP, Transcription, Show Biz, Inc., ,
Country
Various
WSHO Sunshine Souvenirs Collector's Edition
1976, LP, Comp, Festival Records Distribution, Inc.
Donna Fargo
Social Security Presents: The New Donna Fargo Show: Shows #27-39
1975, 2xLP, Transcription, U.S. Department Of Health, Education, And Welfare, Social Security Administration
Various
20 Big Country Artists (27 Hits)
1974, 2xLP, Comp, GRT, ,
Country
Various
American Country Countdown
1973, 3xLP, Comp, Transcription, Watermark, ,
Country
Various
Sounds Of Solid Country Vol. 10
7xLP, S/Sided, Comp + Box, United States Marine Corps
Various
Sounds Of Solid Country Vol. 3
7xLP, Transcription + Box, United States Marine Corps
Various
Trucker's Delight
LP, Comp, Telefunken
Various
20 Selected Country Songs Vol. 2
Cass, Comp, Accord (2), Pulse (20), ,
Country
Various
Country Stars on CD
3xCD, Comp, Gusto Records (2)
Various
Country & Western Express
2xLP, Comp, Smplr, Gat, Polydor
Various
Country Blue
2xLP, Comp, Silver Eagle Records
Various / Pee Wee King
Untitled / Swing West
LP, Comp, RE, Transcription, Afrts
Eagle Studio Musicians
Only One Love In My Life & 11 Other Top Country Hits
1978
Various
Steal Away
8-Trk, Album, Comp, Unofficial, Not On Label