Joe Melson: key obituary facts
Is Joe Melson dead? Yes. Joe Melson died on July 1, 2026, at age 91.
Cause of death: Joe Melson's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Joe Melson known for?
He was an American singer, songwriter.
More about Joe Melson
Born: 1 May 1935.
Gender: male.
Occupation: singer, songwriter, musician.
Nationality: United States.
Education: secondary school.
Genres: Pop, country, rockabilly.
Occupations: Songwriter, singer, musician.
Years active: 1959–2026.
Joe Melson, the American singer and songwriter known for his collaborations with Roy Orbison, died on July 1, 2026.
Born in Bonham, Texas, on May 11, 1935, he helped write such enduring songs as “Only the Lonely,” “Crying” and “Blue Bayou.” “Only the Lonely” and “Crying” were later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and included in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Melson, whose career spanned from 1959 to 2026, was also a BMI Award winner and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018.