Ken Nelson
Music Producer & Artist & Repertoire (A&R) Executive
Ken Nelson, who was in charge of the A&R division of Capitol Records for many years, is credited for being one of the behind-the-scenes figures responsible for country music's growth during the post-World War II era. During his many years with Capitol's division in Hollywood, California, he produced many of the genre's most notable and successful hits, by artists including Merle Travis, Ferlin Husky, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Jean Shepard, Hank Thompson and many others. Nelson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. He died at his home in Somis, California on January 6, 2008, at the age of 96.
