Back to Oral History
  • Oral History

Ken Nelson

April 2, 1975 OH134 289 min.
Share

Biography


Music industry executive. Born January 19, 1911. Died January 6, 2008. Career most active 1950s-1960s. Full name: Kenneth F. Nelson. Country recording chief for Capitol Records, 1951-1969. Artist roster included Jean Shepard, Ferlin Husky, Faron Young, Buck Owens, and Merle Haggard. Principal, Central Songs publishing company. Member, Country Music Hall of FameĀ®.

Interview Summary

1975 April 2
(2 hours, 49 minutes)
Music industry executive Ken Nelson talks about his long career in the music business, focusing on his years at Capitol Records. Discussion includes his childhood; his introduction to the music business; experiences during his early years in the music business; working with Gene Austin; his move to WJJD and the Suppertime Frolic; joining Capitol; his Capitol artist roster, including Eddie Dean, Faron Young, Sonny James, Merle Haggard, and Buck Owens; his songwriting; and memories from his years at Capitol.

We use cookies in the following ways: (1) for system administration, (2) to assess the performance of the website, (3) to personalize your experience, content and ads, (4) to provide social media features, and (5) to analyze our traffic. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. Please consult instructions for your web browser to disable or block cookies, or to receive a warning before a cookie is stored on your computer or mobile device. Read our Privacy Policy.