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Vince Melamed Finally Delivers a Solo Album by Jim Bessmen He counts himself “one of 5,000 singer-songwriters to put out an album,” then Vince Melamed rightly adds, “but I have a story.” The self-described “late bloomer” does in fact have a story, going back to cutting his music business teeth in 1960s Los Angeles, then making it big as a songwriter/sideman in Nashville after being summoned there in 1985 by Rosanne Cash . Along the way he has penned songs for the varied likes of Trisha Yearwood, John Anderson, Jill Sobule, Restless Heart, Gerald Levert, Cher, Phoebe Snow and Tina Turner—while lending his magic keyboard touch to performances by Bob Dylan , Bobby Womack, the Eagles, Dan Fogelberg and Jimmy Buffett . Only now, after all this time, has Melamed released his first solo album, What Matters Most. "I sort of skated through life the first 45 years,” he says. “I grew up in L.A. at a great time and while I was really just an adequate keyboard player, I did my homework and got gigs.” Melamed turned pro at 14, signed his first record deal two years later and eventually played every local love-in and Sunset Strip rock club. He was essentially part of the woodwork by the time he got the call from Cash. “Things were going pretty good and the phone rang and I was asked if I'd like to go to Nashville and play with Rosanne for three and a half weeks and I said, ‘No [expletive] way!'” he recalls. “Then she got on the phone and said, ‘I'm from L.A.,' so I went out there and forgot to come home. There was a group of us out there from L.A. all thinking it was like being back in college.” Melamed first served in Cash's band when she was touring behind her 1985 Rhythm & Romance album, then stayed on for her intense 1990 album Interiors . His time in Nashville since then has been marked by hit songwriting and performing with other artists—not to mention his stint in the fun novelty country group Run C&W (also starring ex-Eagle Bernie Leadon, ex-Amazing Rhythm Ace Russell Smith, and fellow Nashville songwriting ace Jim Photoglo. “But I always wanted to do a solo record,” notes Melamed, and the opportunity came when another L.A. expatriate, Jim Tract, started up Adroit Records. Tract was a regular patron of Nashville's fabled Bluebird Cafe songwriter showcase club, and sought a means of bringing that music to the general public. Adroit's first release, Words & Music Nashville , was a singer-songwriter compilation that included Melamed's version of his “Walkaway Joe,” which Trisha Yearwood took to No. 2 in 1992, as its most prominent cut. “It got me off my ass to finally record my own album” says Melamed, whose finished product also includes “Walkaway Joe” along with his versions of “She'd Give Anything” (originally a 1993 country hit for Boy Howdy), “I'll Take That As A Yes” (a 2004 hit for Phil Vassar) and the titletrack—which was a country chart-topper for Ty Herndon. But he stresses that it's not a “Bluebird songwriter album,” having been recorded “with an edge” and a full band of top session players. “I didn't really start writing until I was in my mid-‘30s, and I didn't settle down until I was 47,” reflects Melamed. “And my parents died, and all of a sudden I realized my own mortality. So now I'm not holding anything back when I'm singing.” And he's freed up his songwriting, too. Besides collaborations with established Nashville hands like Photoglo, Gary Burr and Bob DiPiero, What Mattered Most boasts pairings with young and developing writers like Karyn Rochelle and Kelly Archer. “I prefer young collaborators,” Melamed explains. “People my age only sit and complain about the music business.” CLICK HERE for original article from the Manhattan Local Music Examiner
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Dylan, Eagles Sideman and Songwriter Vince Melamed Sets Solo Release (PR) Vince Melamed, the award-winning songwriter and sideman to such superstars as Bob Dylan, the Eagles, Jimmy Buffett and Rosanne Cash, now moves to center stage as the flagship solo artist of new indie recording label, Adroit Records. Melamed's debut album, What Matters Most, was released June 23. Melamed will be in L.A. August 15-29 promoting the album. What Matters Most is a gallery of Melamed's self-penned hits and a sampling of powerful but lesser known songs that spotlights his genius as a songwriter and performer. While revisiting some of his signature hits for artists like Trisha Yearwood and Phil Vassar, Melamed lays in material that charts new territory for this seasoned artist. "I had been writing in L.A. whenever I was off the road and enjoyed some success," says Melamed (cuts with Cher, Tina Turner , Phoebe Snow). "When I came to Nashville to work with Rosanne Cash, I found a community of other L.A. transplants who convinced me that this was the place to be if I wanted to get serious about songwriting. I agreed. I listened, wrote and co-wrote and was fortunate to find a niche in this town of highly supportive and creative music people." Melamed packed up everything and moved to Music City in 1986. Almost immediately, his deeply rooted Southern California and R&B musical influences fascinated Nashville-based artists and A&R executives alike. Since then he has had a treasury of songs recorded by the likes of Trisha Yearwood ("Walkaway Joe") John Anderson ("Hillbilly Hollywood"), Jill Sobule ("Too Cool To Fall In Love"), Boy Howdy ("She'd Give Anything"), Restless Heart ("Tell Me What You Dream"), Ty Herndon ("What Mattered Most"), Gerald Levert ("I'd Give Anything") and Phil Vassar ("I'll Take That As A Yes"). What Matters Most incorporates some of Melamed's country hits, but with a different twist. "I'm basically a rock-'n'-roll guy, and Jim Tract at Adroit gets that," he says. "He brought in some great musicians for the sessions." What Matters Most also includes some of Melamed's favorite compositions that never made it to the radio. "I'll Leave the Light On", written with Billy Mann, is hard-core blues. "One Little Stone" is a Band-inspired tune that will take listeners back to that house at Big Pink. Melamed co-wrote it with long-time collaborators Gary Burr, Bob DiPiero and Jim Photoglo. "Vince Melamed represents Adroit's commitment to present quality songs for an audience of discerning music lovers. His creativity and character exemplify the standards that we adhere to at Adroit," concludes Tract. CLICK HERE for original article from AntiMusic.com
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NEW MUSIC: Vince Melamed WHAT MATTERS MOST: Vince Melamed Vince Melamed is known more for his songs than his name or singing voice. And his songs are usually better known as being someone else's songs. Melamed is a songwriter and a sideman. His songs include Trisha Yearwood's “Walkaway Joe,” John Anderson's “Hillbilly Hollywood,” Boy Howdy's “She'd Give Anything,” Restless Heart's “Tell Me What You Dream,” Ty Herndon's “What Mattered Most,” Phil Vassar's “I'll Take That As A Yes.” Now, just remember that all of those songs are really from the mind and pen of Vince Melamed. On the CD, “What Matters Most,” Melamed finally gets to perform his own songs. There's a rock sensibility to many of Melamed's lyrics that get a country flavor from a fiddle and guitar twang. He even sees himself as a rock & roll guy having come to Nashville from Los Angeles back in the '80s because he heard Music City was the town for songwriters. Melamed has a songwriter's voice, meaning he isn't the greatest singer in the world. Like many songwriters though, his lyrics serve his voice. This album, which is the flagship release of the new Adroit Records label, works and that's what matters most. CLICK HERE for original article from the Valdosta Daily Times
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Vince Finally Gets to Do ‘Em His Way by Music Row On June 25, hit songwriter Vince Melamed celebrated the release of his debut solo album with music industry friends, aided by Adroit Records, which hosted the party at the Green Hills home of Melamed and his wife, Meredith. Melamed has written or co-written many hits, including Trisha Yearwood's "Walkaway Joe," Ty Herndon's "What Mattered Most," Phil Vassar's "I'll Take That As a Yes," and Boy Howdy's "She'd Give Anything." These hits plus six other songs appear on Melamed's album What Matters Most, which was produced by Adroit's President Jim Tract. CLICK HERE for original article from NashvillePost.com
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Industry Celebrates Vince Melamed Album by Sarah Skates Jim Tract, Vince Melamed, and J.D. Souther On June 25 hit songwriter Vince Melamed celebrated the release of his debut solo album with music industry friends. The party was hosted by Adroit Recrods at the Green Hills home of Vince and his wife, Meredith . Melamed wrote or co-wrote “Walkaway Joe,” “What Mattered Most,” “I'll Take That As a Yes,” and “She'd Give Anything.” These hits plus six other songs appear on the album What Matters Most , produced by Adroit Records Pres. Jim Tract . 
Tim Boylan, Vince Melamed, Victoria Shaw, and John Lomax
Tim Boylan, Vince Melamed and Pat Higdon CLICK HERE for original article from MusicRow.com
Vince Melamed and Jim Tract of Adroit Records were interviewed by Scott and Heino on The Music Row Show.
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