Merle Kilgore

Wyatt Merle Kilgore (August 9, 1934 - February 6, 2005) was an American, singer, songwriter, and manager.

Although born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, Merle Kilgore was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. As a starry-eyed boy of fourteen he carried the guitar for Hank Williams at the Louisiana Hayride beginning a close relationship with the Williams family that would last three generations.

Kilgore went on to a career as a country music recording artist but had great success as a songwriter, co-writing with June Carter Cash the song "Ring of Fire" recorded by her husband Johnny Cash. With Claude King he also co-wrote King's big crossover hit, "Wolverton Mountain." Amongst others, he also penned "Johnny Reb" for Johnny Horton and the Tommy Roe pop music hit, "The Folk Singer."

A resident of Nashville, Tennessee since 1962, he was also a prominent member of the business community and managed Hank Williams Jr. career. In 1987, Merle Kilgore was named an honorary State Senator for Tennessee by the State Legislature. In 1998, Kilgore was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In 2005, Merle Kilgore passed away from cancer and was interred in Hendersonville Memory Gardens in Hendersonville, Tennessee.