Biography

Singer/songwriter Mel Street had one of the great voices in contemporary country music; unfortunately, he was unable to withstand the pressures of fame, and his career ended in tragedy. He was born King Malachi Street near Grundy, Virginia, and got his start at age 16 on Cecil Surratt's radio show on stations WELC and WBRW out of Welch, West Virginia. Afterward, Street married and spent the next decade raising a family and living in various towns in Ohio, where he worked on radio transmission towers as an electrician. By 1960 the Streets had moved to Niagara Falls, where he began playing in nightclubs. It was there that he left began learning the auto body trade and three years later moved to Bluefield, West Virginia to open his own body shop. He also began performing on the Country Jamboree on WHIS-TV, where he made his debut singing the Johnny Cash hit "Ring of Fire." From 1968-1972, Street had his own half-hour Saturday night show on the station.

He got his first shot at stardom when cable television company owners Jim and Jean Prater saw him perform and suggested he make a record. In 1970, he released his first single, "Borrowed Angel," which peaked on the Top 70 of the country charts. The song attracted the notice of Royal American Records, who licensed the master, reissued it and helped it become a Top Ten hit. Street's follow up, "Lovin' on Back Streets" became his biggest hit, making the Top Five. In 1973, Street had two Top 15 hits and the following year signed to GRT Records, where he had two Top 20 hits including "Forbidden Angel."

Over the next two years, Street continued to make chart appearances and also began an intense touring schedule. In 1976, he had another Top Ten hit with "I Met a Friend of Yours Today." Afterward, he signed to a major label, Polydor, and scored a Top 20 hit with "Barbara Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know." In 1978, he had a Top Ten hit with "If I Had a Cheating Heart." He had one more Top 20 hit, and, after Polydor closed its Nashville division, moved to Mercury. However, the pressures of constant touring and recording, coupled with personal problems, began taking their toll; he began drinking heavily, and lapsed into a deep depression. On October 21, 1978 -- his 45th birthday -- Mel Street committed suicide. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Music Guide


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		Singer/songwriter Mel Street had one of the great voices in contemporary country music; unfortunately, he was unable to withstand the pressures of fame, and his career ended in tragedy. He was born King Malachi Street near Grundy, Virginia, and got his start at age 16 on Cecil Surratt's radio show on stations WELC and WBRW out of Welch, West Virginia. Afterward, Street married and spent the next decade raising a family and living in various towns in Ohio, where he worked on radio transmission towers as an electrician. By 1960 the Streets had moved to Niagara Falls, where he began playing in nightclubs. It was there that he left began learning the auto body trade and three years later moved to Bluefield, West Virginia to open his own body shop. He also began performing on the *Country Jamboree* on WHIS-TV, where he made his debut singing the Johnny Cash hit "Ring of Fire." From 1968-1972, Street had his own half-hour Saturday night show on the station. He got his first shot at stardom when cable television company owners Jim and Jean Prater saw him perform and suggested he make a record. In 1970, he released his first single, "Borrowed Angel," which peaked on the Top 70 of the country charts. The song attracted the notice of Royal American Records, who licensed the master, reissued it and helped it become a Top Ten hit. Street's follow up, "Lovin' on Back Streets" became his biggest hit, making the Top Five. In 1973, Street had two Top 15 hits and the following year signed to GRT Records, where he had two Top 20 hits including "Forbidden Angel." Over the next two years, Street continued to make chart appearances and also began an intense touring schedule. In 1976, he had another Top Ten hit with "I Met a Friend of Yours Today." Afterward, he signed to a major label, Polydor, and scored a Top 20 hit with "Barbara Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know." In 1978, he had a Top Ten hit with "If I Had a Cheating Heart." He had one more Top 20 hit, and, after Polydor closed its Nashville division, moved to Mercury. However, the pressures of constant touring and recording, coupled with personal problems, began taking their toll; he began drinking heavily, and lapsed into a deep depression. On October 21, 1978 -- his 45th birthday -- Mel Street committed suicide. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Music Guide