Ken Nelson (United States record producer)
Encyclopedia
Kenneth F. Nelson was a American
record producer
and A & R man for Capitol Records
.
, at the age of 14, Nelson made his radio single debut as a singer in 1925. Nelson was in various bands during his teen years, working with musician Lee Gillette several times.
'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
, Gene Vincent
, Ferlin Husky
, Jean Shepard
, Hank Thompson and the many Number 1 country hits known as the Bakersfield Sound
by Merle Haggard
, Buck Owens
, along with many others.
Nelson was primarily involved with country music acts, although he was responsible for signing comedy star Stan Freberg
, who was 25 at the time, with Capitol Records
. He produced nearly all of Freberg's comedy recordings during the 1950s, one of the most notable being "St. George and the Dragonet
."
According to an extensive chapter on Nelson, Rich Kienzle's book "Southwest Shuffle" (Routledge, 2003) based on interviews with the producer, Nelson produced the first live album ever done by a country singer, Hank Thompson's Live at the Golden Nugget in 1961.
Nelson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. He died at his home in Somis, California
, at the age of 96.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and A & R man for Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
.
Early life
Born in Caledonia, MinnesotaCaledonia, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,965 people, 1,223 households, and 754 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,037.1 people per square mile . There were 1,286 housing units at an average density of 449.8 per square mile...
, at the age of 14, Nelson made his radio single debut as a singer in 1925. Nelson was in various bands during his teen years, working with musician Lee Gillette several times.
Career
Nelson, who was in charge of the A&R division of Capitol Records and head of country music for many years, is credited for being one of the behind-the-scenes figures responsible for country musicCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk 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
Merle Travis
Merle Robert Travis was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners. Among his many well-known songs are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues" and "Dark as a Dungeon"...
, Gene Vincent
Gene Vincent
Vincent Eugene Craddock , known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly...
, Ferlin Husky
Ferlin Husky
Ferlin Eugene Husky was an early American country music singer who was equally adept at the genres of traditional honky honk, ballads, spoken recitations, and rockabilly pop tunes...
, Jean Shepard
Jean Shepard
Ollie Imogene Shepard , better known as Jean Shepard, is an American honky tonk singer-songwriter who was a pioneer for women in country music. Shepard released a total of 73 singles to the Hot Country Songs chart, one of which reached the #1 spot...
, Hank Thompson and the many Number 1 country hits known as the Bakersfield Sound
Bakersfield sound
The Bakersfield sound was a genre of country music developed in the mid- to late 1950s in and around Bakersfield, California. The many hit singles were largely produced by Capitol Records country music head, Ken Nelson. Bakersfield country was a reaction against the slickly produced, string...
by Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
, Buck Owens
Buck Owens
Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. , better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos...
, along with many others.
Nelson was primarily involved with country music acts, although he was responsible for signing comedy star Stan Freberg
Stan Freberg
Stanley Victor "Stan" Freberg is an American author, recording artist, animation voice actor, comedian, radio personality, puppeteer, and advertising creative director whose career began in 1944...
, who was 25 at the time, with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. He produced nearly all of Freberg's comedy recordings during the 1950s, one of the most notable being "St. George and the Dragonet
St. George and the Dragonet
"St. George and the Dragonet" is a short audio satire recorded August 26, 1953 by Stan Freberg for Capitol Records. It was released September 21, 1953 as a 45 rpm single ....
."
According to an extensive chapter on Nelson, Rich Kienzle's book "Southwest Shuffle" (Routledge, 2003) based on interviews with the producer, Nelson produced the first live album ever done by a country singer, Hank Thompson's Live at the Golden Nugget in 1961.
Nelson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. He died at his home in Somis, California
Somis, California
Somis is an unincorporated area of Ventura County, California, just north of the Camarillo city limits. Its generally recognized boundaries are the areas around the intersection of Somis Road and Los Angeles Avenue , the latter being the dividing line between uptown and downtown. Its official...
, at the age of 96.