Nashville, TN (February 6, 2005)– The distinctive voice of Merle Kilgore, one of the most significant songwriters and entertainers in American musical history was forever silenced today. He died this evening (6th) from congestive heart failure onset from medical complications related to ongoing treatment for cancer over the last few months.
He is survived by his wife, Judy, sons Steve and Duane Kilgore, daughters, Pam Compton, Kim Pomeroy, and Shane McBee, 8 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter.
Born Wyatt Merle Kilgore on August 9, 1934, in Chickasha, Oklahoma—Kilgore spent much of his growing up years in Shreveport, Louisiana. As a boy of 14, Merle cut his teeth in the music industry carrying the guitar of Hank Williams Sr. to and from the stage of the historic Louisiana Hayride. Who could have known that as an adult, Merle would devote much of his career to carrying the name, the legacy, and musical heritage of the Williams family to new audiences, new heights, and virtually every great stage in country music and beyond as the manager of Hank Williams Sr.’s pride and joy—”Bocephus” -- Hank Williams Jr.
And never has the word “manager” covered a broader definition. When Buddy Lee and Hank’s Jr.’s mother, the late Audrey Williams, put Merle on the bill and on the road with Jr. in the ‘60’s there was a method to their plan. The teenage Hank Jr. was growing up in a tough industry without the benefit of his legendary father. In stepped Merle Kilgore—a handsome young entertainer, fifteen years older than Hank, who had already written a #1 hit for Webb Pierce, “More And More,” and followed it with monster hits including “Wolverton Mountain,” a 10 million seller for Claude King, and “Ring Of Fire,” written with June Carter Cash, recorded by Johnny Cash and on its way to selling 16 million records for Johnny, June and Merle.
Few artists on the day wanted to share a stage with Merle Kilgore—even fewer wanted to follow him onstage. Merle simply stole the show on whatever stage you placed him. With his off the wall humor, string of hit songs, and glitzy brand of showmanship, rare that an artist of Merle Kilgore’s caliber would take a step back from the spotlight to consider his touring partner—the teenage Hank Jr.—on his way to carving a legendary career of his own. Maybe it was a duty Merle felt to Hank Sr. – and maybe it was just the stuff legend is made of—but to say theirs was to become a friendship and a working relationship built on mutual respect—and yes—love-would be the true definition. Somewhere on some stage, in some forgotten town long ago Merle Kilgore and Hank Jr. crossed the invisible line to form a bond “of the road”—and became the kind of brothers and “family” that only those in the entertainment industry can fully appreciate and understand.
Reached by phone with the news of the passing of his long time friend and manager, Hank Williams Jr. was unable to make a formal statement at this time.
Greg Oswald, Sr. Vice-President at William Morris, and responsible agent for Hank Williams jr. was a long time friend of Merle’s and in constant communication with him throughout his illness. “When my brother called me just a few hours ago with the news, my immediate thought was that only six short weeks ago I lost my mother--and the pain was equally as sharp when that news came across the phone line tonight about Merle. He was family not only to Hank, but to me and to so many in the industry. We have suffered the loss of a truly unique and great man in the country music community of the caliber we’ll never again see in our lifetime within the industry.”