Joe Melson (born May 11, 1935) is an American singer and a BMI Award-winning songwriter best known for his collaborations with Roy Orbison, including "Only the Lonely" and "Crying", which are both in the Grammy Hall of Fame and have both been included in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

J oe Melson may be the most unsung hero of song writing. Joe co-wrote and styled a part of Roy Orbison’s career that we love so much. These songs have been played literally millions of times since the early 60’s. Such songs include “Only the Lonely,” “Crying,” “Blue Bayou,” “Blue Angel,” “Running Scared,” and the list goes on and on.

J oe Melson is a Texas-born singer and a BMI award winning songwriter. Born the son of a sharecropper in 1935, Joe began his life picking cotton in the hot fields of Bonham, Texas and only dreaming of making an impact on the world through music.

Joe Melson is a Texas-born singer and a BMI award winning songwriter. Born the son of a sharecropper on May 11, 1935 in Bonham, Texas. Joe began his life picking cotton in the hot fields of Bonham, Texas and only dreaming of making an impact on the world through music. Explore Joe Melson's biography, discography, and artist credits.

Joe Melson grew up in Bonham, Texas. He began writing and singing his own songs at an early age. He spent much of his young adult years working at Standard Oil by day then playing high-school dances and local night clubs with his Rockabilly band by night.

Joe Melson recorded several singles of his own for Hickory Records (one displayed above), EMP, and Shue Records. Joe also wrote songs for other artists, such as Dan Folger, The Newbeats, Ernie Ashworth and others. Joe’s songs have been re-released by numerous artists in the U.S. and in Europe, and have been included in many soundtracks.

Rockabilly singer Joe Melson found his greatest success not as a performer, but as a songwriter, collaborating with Roy Orbison on many of his best-known hits. Melson was born in the west Texas town of Bonham in 1935, and later led a rockabilly band called the Cavaliers, who were based in Midland.

Rockabilly singer Joe Melson found his greatest success not as a performer, but as a songwriter, collaborating with Roy Orbison on many of his best-known hits. Melson was born in the west Texas town of…

Rockabilly singer, mainly active in the first half of the 1960s, and songwriter, inducted into the 'Rockabilly Hall of Fame' in 2002 and into the 'Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame' in 2018. Teamed up with Roy Orbison, Melson wrote such hits as “Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)”, “Crying”, and “Blue Bayou”.

24 March 1960 poss. RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN - Joe Melson (Joe Melson [vcl], Hank Garland [ld gt], Ray Edenton [rh gt], Grady Martin [gt], Lightnin Chance [bass], Buddy Harman [drums], Floyd Cramer [piano]. Producer: Wesley Rose)