ROOTS of Country Music

The Professional Work of Mel Street

(Oct. 21, 1935 ~ Oct. 21, 1978)

Career Highlights

Barn Dance Affiliate: Wheeling Jamboree

Film, Night Club, Radio & TV

• Ernest Tubb’s  Midnight Jamboree, 3
• Hee Haw, 4
• The Statler Brothers Show, 4 

1-Film, 2-Night Club, 3-Radio, 4-TV 

Billboard Chart Data 

• No. 1 Singles: 0
• Top-20 Singles: 13
• Crossover Singles: 0
• Charted Singles: 23
• Chart Years Active: (1972-1981)

Career Labels:

• Royal American Records (1972)
• Metro (1972-1973)
• GRT Records (1974-1977)
• Polydor Records (1977-1978)
• Mercury Records (1978)
• Sunbird (1980-1981)

Billboard Top-20 Singles

1. Borrowed Angel -1972
2. Lovin' On Back Streets#
3. Walk Softly On the Bridges-1973
4. Lovin' On Borrowed Time
5. You Make Me Feel More Like a Man -1974
6. Forbidden Angel
7. Smokey Mountain Memories -1975
8. Even If I Have to Steal
9. I Met a Friend of Your's Today -1976
10. Barbara Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know -1977
11. Close Enough for Lonesome
12. If I Had a Cheating Heart -1978
13. The One Thing My Lady Never Puts Into Words -1979

#-Biggest Chart Single (Billboard chart position No. 5)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A Tragedy Lurking In the Shadows: The Demise of Mel Street

Occasionally a singer will come along that you don't fully appreciate until their gone. Such is the case with Mel Street. Mel came to prominence in 1972 with two top-10 songs, Borrowed Angel and Lovin on Back Street. He moved to Nashville from West Virginia to take his place in the country arena. However, Street grew restless and unhappy despite his moderate success. Unfortunately, on his 43rd birthday in 1978, he took his own life.

Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder which includes depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and alcoholism and drug abuse. Financial difficulties, troubles with relationships and other undesirable situations play a significant role. Over one million people commit suicide every year. The World Health Organization estimates that it is the thirteenth-leading cause of death worldwide. It is a leading cause of death among teenagers and adults under 35.

Whenever we hear news about individuals committing suicide, we immediately come up with a conclusion that these people are depressed, dissatisfied and unhappy with their lives. For a bullied student or a lonely husband left by his wife, we assume that their lives have become unbearable that the only way to escape it is by dying. However, when popular and rich people commit suicide, we are left in confusion. Why would someone who is loved and idolized by many decide to commit suicide?

People in the entertainment limelight, like other celebrities, are seldom as good or evil as they are portrayed by friends and enemies. But at the end of the day they are all people, with the same frailties, weaknesses, hopes, fears, loves and losses that we all experience. Success in any endeavor comes with a cost. Those in the spotlight deal with added benefits and added detriments that come with their fame. Mistakes and successes are both amplified beyond any expectation from the outset.

Depression may be the main culprit, but there are a lot of things to consider as well. These include overwhelming pain, medical problems, grief and stress. Some use it as an escape for their failure and shortcomings and financial loss. Between men and women, it is often men who die from suicide, while women who have the most number of suicide attempts made. Although elderly men are the ones who have the highest rate in committing suicide, attempts by young adults have increased recently. The methods used to commit suicide differ for both genders as well. For men, it is much more common to use knives, guns, and even hanging. On the other hand, women are known to use subtle methods like ingesting poison or overdosing on sleeping pills and other medication.

Every situation is different. One cannot jump to conclusions why someone took their own life. How can we know or understand their motivation? How can we judge people who are suffering or the dilemma they are facing? How can we judge their quality of life? This isn't simple or black and white. It's highly complex and difficult to understand. Sometimes the act of suicide happens on an impulse, such as a teenager with a broken heart after being dumped by his girlfriend. However, that can be overcome by someone who otherwise is healthy and happy. In general, suicide is so mysterious.

Suicide often evolves from a very dark place in one's soul where one has no hope, no love, no desire, no purpose and no spiritual connection, but that's part of a treatable illness known as depression. To leave the world in this manner seems so pointless, so in denial of the gift of life that it shocks one's senses.

Street planned and recorded an album during the summer of 1978. It was scheduled for release in November, but tragically, he died on October 21. Mel, apparently despondent over career and personal problems, took his own life at his Hendersonville, Tennessee home on his 45th birthday. Sadly his family, friends or business associates saw it coming.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Researched, compiled and written by Richard Bell, Roots of Country Music, Jan. 12, 2011