Mel McDaniel, Grand Ole Opry Country musician, dies 68

Mel McDaniel (September 6, 1942 – March 31, 2011) was an American country music artist. His chartmaking years were the 1980s and his hits from that era include "Louisiana Saturday Night," "Stand Up," "Anger and Tears," the Number One "Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On", "I Call It Love", "Stand On It" and a remake of Chuck Berry’s "Let It Roll (Let It Rock)."

His career finally took off with “Louisiana Saturday Night” in 1981, a number one hit "Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On" in 1984 and Top 10 hits, like “Right in the Palm of Your Hand” (later covered by Alan Jackson in 1999), “Take Me to the Country,” “Big Ole Brew,” and “I Call It Love.”

McDaniel was a member of the Grand Ole Opry (since 1986) and made frequent appearances on the show.

McDaniel was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2006, along with induction classmate Leon Russell.

Mel McDaniel’s Health and Cause of Death
Since 1996, he had been recovering from a near-fatal fall into an orchestra pit, suffered while he was performing at a show in Lafayette, Louisiana. On June 16, 2009, McDaniel suffered a heart attack, putting him in a medically induced coma in a Nashville area hospital according to The Tennessean. Mel’s wife, Peggy, requested the prayers of the singer’s fans, saying his situation was "not good." McDaniel died March 31, 2011 as a result of cancer.

Mel McDaniel – Louisiana Saturday Night

Mel McDaniel – Baby’s Got Her BlueJeans On

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