Nelson, Ken

▪ 2009

Kenneth F. Nelson 

      American record producer

born Jan. 19, 1911, Caledonia, Minn.

died Jan. 6, 2008, Somis, Calif.

helped define the smooth country-pop Nashville Sound and the twangy California-based Bakersfield Sound through his low-key approach in studio sessions. During the 1930s Nelson began his career as music director at Chicago's WJJD radio station, where he supervised the “hillbilly” program Suppertime Frolic. In 1951 he headed the country artist and repertoire division of Capitol Records, where he produced (1952) the Hank Thompson hit “The Wild Side of Life.” Nelson launched the careers of such artists as Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Sonny James, Gene Vincent, and Wanda Jackson. Nelson cofounded (1958) the Country Music Association and served (1961–62) as its president. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

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