| Ken Nelson | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Kenneth F. Nelson |
| Born | January 19, 1911 Caledonia, Minnesota |
| Died | January 6, 2008 (aged 96) Somis, California |
| Occupations | Record producer |
| Years active | 1948–1976 |
| Associated acts | Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Hank Thompson |
Ken Nelson (January 19, 1911 – January 6, 2008) was an American record producer, born in Caledonia, Minnesota.[1]
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At the age of 14, Ken Nelson made his radio single debut as a singer in 1925.[1] Nelson was in various bands during his teen years, working with musician Lee Gillette several times.[1]
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, Gene Vincent, Ferlin Husky, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Jean Shepard, Hank Thompson and many others.[1]
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.[1] 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.[1] He died at his home in Somis, California on January 6, 2008, at the age of 96.[2]
  | Ken Nelson Biography - allmusic ((( Ken Nelson > Biography ))) |
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