Birth Name: Wyatt Merle Kilgore

Induction Year: 1998

Date of Birth: 8/9/1934

Place of Birth: Chickasha, OK

Former Occupations:

delivered glasses for American Optical during high

school

insurance salesman

Education:

Grade School--Creswell (Shreveport, LA) (from 1940-1947)

High School--Byrd High (Shreveport, LA) (graduated in 1952)

College--Louisiana Tech (Ruston, LA) (from 1952-1953)

Career Milestones:

1948--at age 14, started carrying Hank Williams Sr.'s guitar at Louisiana Hayride

1950--started performing on the Louisiana Hayride

1952--first job as a Disc Jockey at KRUS Radio (Ruston, LA)

1953--hosted his own tv show as "The Tall Texan" on KFAZ-TV and KNOE Radio & TV (Monroe, LA)

1953--wrote first song "More and More," a million seller, recorded by Webb Pierce and pop artist Guy Lombardo

1953--signed first recording contract with Imperial Records in March; first release was "More and More"

1955--worked as a DJ at KBSF-Radio (Springhill, LA)

1956--worked as a DJ at KCIJ-Radio (Shreveport, LA)

1957--became the DJ at KENT-Radio (Springhill, LA)

1958--became the DJ and manager of KZEA-Radio (formerly KFIJ)in Shreveport, LA

1959--became the DJ and manager of KBSF-Radio (Springhill, LA)

1959--had first top ten record with self-penned song "Dear Mama" on Starday Records

1959--wrote "Johnny Reb," a million seller for Johnny Horton

1960--hosted the Big Ten Jamboree on Channel 10 in Eldorado, AR

1960--made first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry on May 23; received the WSM Mr DJ Award

1961--signed recording contract with Mercury Records

1961--moved to Nashville on December 31 to become the manager of the Nashville office of Shapiro-Bernstein Music

1962--started performing as a regular guest on the Grand Ole Opry

1962--Multi-million seller "Wolverton Mountain" was recorded by Claude King

1962--joined the Johnny Cash road show

1962--performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City

1962--performed at the Hollywood Bowl

1963--named one of Billboard Magazine's Top Ten Songwriters

1963--co-wrote "Ring of Fire" with June Carter

1963--appeared in first feature film, "Country Music on Broadway"

1963--record LP for Starday, "Gold In Them Thar Hills"

1963--signed with MGM Records

1964--joined the Hank Williams Jr. road show as opening act on May 1

1965--starred in the movie "Second Fiddle To a Steel Guitar"

1965--signed with Epic Records

1966--starred in the gospel movie "Sing a Song For Heaven's Sake"

1967--signed with Columbia Records

1968--signed with Ashley Records

1969--became General Manager of Hank Williams Jr.'s publishing companies

1970--starred in the movie "Educated Heart"

1972--re-signed with Starday Records

1974--signed with Warner Bros. Records 1974--appeared in the feature film "W.W. and the Dixie Dance Kings" starring Burt Reynolds

1975--appeared in Robert Altman's movie "Nashville"

1978--accepted position as "Singing Host" of George Jones' Possum Holler Club in Nashville, TN

1978--moved to Cullman, AL with Hank Williams Jr. Enterprises

1979--donated the original lyrics of "Wolverton Mountain" to the Country Music Hall of Fame in June, where they are currently on display

1979--appeared in the movie "Roadie"

1980--appeared in the movie "Coal Miner's Daughter"

1981--appeared as himself in the movie "Living Proof," the story of Hank Williams Jr. for NBC

1986--named Executive Vice President and Head of Management of Hank Williams Jr. Enterprises, on April 7

1986--moved with Hank Williams Jr. Enterprises to Paris, TN, on July 1 1987--named an honorary State Senator for Tennessee by the Tennessee State Legislature

1989--began serving on the CMA Board of Directors; is still currently serving on the Board

1989--negotiated deal for Hank Williams Jr.'s performance of the ABC Monday Night Football theme song

1990--voted the first CMA "Manager of the Year" at the SRO Awards ceremony 1990--elected President of the Nashville Songwriters Association International's Board of Directors

1993--inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame in Lafayette, LA

1993--inducted into Shreveport's Byrd High School Hall of Fame

1994--opened Merle Kilgore Management in Nashville, representing Hank Williams Jr. and other artists

1995-1997--served as President of Rope International

1997--named Rope International Business Person of the Year

Awards:

1955--BMI Performance Award\Country\More and More

1962--BMI Performance Award\Pop\Wolverton Mountain

1962--BMI Performance Award\Country\Wolverton Mountain

1962--The Music Reporter\Writer Hit Award\Wolverton Mountain

1963--BMI Performance Award\Country\Ring of Fire

1963--CMR Award\Best Song of the Year\Ring of Fire

1963--Billboard\Top Ten Songwriter of the Year

1964--BMI Performance Award\Country\Old Records

1965--BMI Performance Award\Country\Tiger Woman

1968--Nashville Songwriters Association\Outstanding Achievement Award

1984--BMI Performance Award\Country\More and More

1988--Southern Songwriters Guild Hall of Fame Award

1990--Country Music Association\SRO Award\Manager of the Year\first winner in category

1991--Texas Country Music Association\Golden Guitar Award

1998--North American Country Music Association Hall of Fame\Legendary Songwriter's Award

Catalog Highlights

More and More

Artists: Merle Kilgore (1953), Webb Pierce (1954), Guy Lombardo (1954), Charley Pride (1983)

Dear Mama

Artists: Merle Kilgore (1958)

A Long Time Ago

Co-writer: Faron Young

Artists: Faron Young (1957)

I Know It's Still Goodbye

Co-writer: Faron Young

Artists: Faron Young (1958)

Love Has Made You Beautiful

Artists: Merle Kilgore (1959)

Johnny Reb

Artists: Johnny Horton (1959), Johnny Cash (1962), Merle Kilgore (1963), Marty Robbins (1982)

42 In Chicago

Artists: Merle Kilgore (1962)

Wolverton Mountain

Co-writer: Claude King

Artists: Claude King (1962), Bing Crosby (1963), Louis Armstrong (1962), Nat King Cole (1962), Great Plains (1996)

Old Records

Co-writer: Margie Singleton

Artists: Margie Singleton (1964), Kay Starr

Ring Of Fire

Co-writer: June Carter

Artists: Johnny Cash (1963), Anita Carter, Merle Kilgore, Ray Charles, Olivia Newton-John, Blondie, Jerry Lee Lewis, Lynn Anderson, Tom Jones, Earl Scruggs, Mac Wiseman, Kitty Wells, Burl Ives, Hank Williams Jr.

She (He) Went a Little Bit Farther

Co-writer: Mack Vickery

Artists: Faron Young (1968), Hank Williams Jr., Merle Kilgore, Ernest Tubb, Sammi Smith

Tiger Woman

Co-writer: Claude King

Artists: Claude King (1965), Merle Kilgore, Johnny Wright

The Folk Singer

Artists: Tommy Roe (1963), Eddy Arnold, Jim Ed Brown

She (He) Understands Me/Dum De Da (recorded under all three titles

Co-writer: Margie Singleton

Artists: Teresa Brewer, Johnny Tillotson, Bobby Vinton

Old Enough to Know

Co-writer: Al Jones, Billy Jones

Artists: Ricky Nelson (1959)

Let Somebody Else Drive

Co-writer: Mack Vickery

Artists: John Anderson (1984)

Baby I've Got It

Artists: Eddy Arnold (1965), Merle Kilgore

Confused

Co-writer: Abe Mulkey, Lefty Frizzell

Artists: Lefty Frizzell, Hank Williams Jr. (1974)

Fast Talking Louisiana Man

Artists: Faron Young (1967)

Dianne, Dianne

Co-writer: Ronny Wilkins

Artists: Ronny & The Daytonas (1966)

The Easy Way

Co-writer: Glenn Sutton

Artists: Eddy Arnold (1965)

Guess What That's Right, She's Gone

Co-writer: Glenn Sutton

Artists: Hank Williams Jr. (1964)

Happy To Be With You

Co-writer: Johnny Cash, June Carter

Artists: Johnny Cash (1966)

I Can Take Anything

Artists: Hank Williams Jr. (1964)

I'd Rather Be Sorry (Than Safe All Alone)

Co-writer: Gail Talley

Artists: Pattie Page (1971), Ray Price

James River

Co-writer: June Carter

Artists: Lefty Frizzell (1964)

Swing Daddy Swing

Co-writer: Dale Hawkins

Artists: Jerry Hawkins (1959)

God Bless The Working Man

Co-writer: Leon Ashley

Artists: Merle Kilgore (1971)

Not Too Long Ago

Co-writer:Joe Stampley

Artists: The Uniques (1965), Joe Stampley

Too Many Mountains

Artists: Faron Young (1966), Merle Kilgore

Wandering Mind

Co-writer: Margie Singleton

Artists: Margie Singleton (1968), Lynn Anderson, Goldie Hill Smith

When There's a Fire In Your Heart

Co-writer: Sonny Williams

Artists: Teresa Brewer (1967), Tammy Wynette, Laura Lee, Eddy Arnold, Karen Black (in

movie "Five Easy Pieces")

Whiskey Road

Artists: Merle Kilgore (1963)

You'll Drive Me Back Into Her Arms Again

Co-writer: Miriam Lewis

Artists: Faron Young (1964)

You Still Got a Hold On Me

Artists: Eddy Arnold (1965)

You Touched My Heart

Co-writer: Bob Tubert

Artists: David Rogers (1969)

The Man

Artists: Lorne Greene (1964)

Touched So Deeply

Artists: Rex Allen (1963), Merle Kilgore (1963)

Baby Rocked Her Dolly

Artists: Frankie Miller (1960), Merle Kilgore

The Wild One

Co-writer: Tillman Franks

Artists: Johnny Horton (1960), Marty Stuart

Country Music Those Tear Jerking Songs

Co-writer: Hank Williams Jr.

Artists: Hank Williams Jr. (1973)

Tom Dooley Jr.

Artists: Merle Kilgore (1958)

I'm Not Responsible

Co-writer:Abe Mulkey

Artists: Hank Williams Jr. (1977), Merle Kilgore

My Side of Life

Artists: Mel Tillis (1972), Merle Kilgore

I'm The Same Ole Me

Co-writer: Margie Singleton

Artists: Lorne Greene (1963)

Lipstick Paint a Smile On Me

Co-writer: Kay Arnold

Artists: Demetriss Tapp (1963), Nancy Adams

Pee Wee Valley

Artists: Faron Young (1963), Vaughn Monroe

Rhinestones

Artists: Faron Young (1964), The Sherwoods, Merle Kilgore

Sheepskin Valley

Co-writer: Claude King (1963)

Artists: Claude King (1963)