Joel Melton

Joel Melton is a successful artist. Many people debate and discuss at length what constitutes real art. Some have said art is subjective…in other words, what one individual loves another will stand and scratch their head and say, “I just don’t get it!” To tell what is really art all a person has to do is look at the artists while they talk about, or looks at their creations. The reason is this: Real true art has to fulfill and please only the artists themselves. The artists write, pain, sculpt, or perform to convey a message or feeling. Once this particular ‘breath of life’ is complete to their satisfaction…it becomes art. Joel Melton is a successful artist.In his years as a songwriter, composer, documentary filmmaker, screenplay writer, and performer, Joel has accrued a list of accomplishments that others consider a success…what follows is an abbreviated one: (1998) Completed music CD titled, “Last Love Letter.” (2001) Completed music CD titled, “Little Max.” (2004) Completed music CD titled, “Round Here.” (2000) Filmed and screened documentary titled, “The Journey.” (2000) The song, “Baby I Like You” used in the Bravo Network series titled, “Tail Lights.” (2004) The song, “Never Surrender, Never Retreat” used on the Killeen Texas PBS broadcast of the Fort Hood dedication of the sculpture depicting a Marine holding a small Iraqi girl by the hand. (The metal used for the sculpture was melted down from the large statue of Saddam Hussein that the Marines pulled down in Bagdad.) (2007) Completed and screened the documentary, “There’s Something in the Water” about Texas singer-songwriters. Currently working on a 25-30 minute film short of the song, “Leroy in Valle Hermoso.” Currently recording the music CD, “The Gospel According to Regency.” Currently organizing with Alton Watson the music festival, “There’s Something in the Water” at Regency Texas, scheduled for May 24th 2008. Currently writing a musical with Michael Fracasso.Born in Shawnee Oklahoma, raised in Checotah Oklahoma, Joel was influenced by a musical father who played guitar, mandolin, harmonica, and banjo. Determined not to play the kind of music his father did, Joel purchased an electric guitar at the age of 17 and proceeded to rock out. Now Joel plays all the kind of music his father did. Determined not to make any of the mistakes his parents did…Joel has not only made many of those same missteps but also considerably expanded on the list of familial faux pas he so wanted to abstain from. Currently living in the Austin Texas area, Joel pursues his passion for creating art. He hopes others will appreciate and take some good from his creations and make them their own. Greg Johnson, owner of Oklahoma City's Blue Door receives credit for encouraging Melton's desire to write his own songs. "I started hanging out there about eight years ago," he remembers. "Without Greg and the talent I was exposed to at the Blue Door, I might still be playing cover songs instead of writing my own." Some of the Blue Door artists that have captured Joel's respect are the likes of Michael Fracassso, Beaver Nelson, Todd Snider, Gurf Morlix, and Ray Wylie Hubbard.
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