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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZTILLIS, Pam(b 24 July '58, Plant City FL) Daughter of Mel Tillis, became one of the most successful country singers of the '90s. She did impressions and sang with her father on the Grand Ole Opry at age eight; studied classical piano and taught herself guitar. Appeared on various talent showcases in Nashville in early teens. Formed High Country Swing Band at U of Tennessee playing jug-band music and country-rock; also worked with Ashley Cleveland in a folksy duo. After college worked in father's Sawgrass Music publishing company, placing one of her songs with Barbara Fairchild '77. Moved to San Francisco to work with Freelight playing various musics; returned to Nashville after a year, worked as one of Mel's backup singers and also fronted a white R&B band. Gloria Gaynor recorded her 'When I Get Around To It'; Pam landed a record contract with WB and made pop-rock album Above And Beyond The Doll Of Cutey '83, mainly her own songs. Her songs were being recorded by Chaka Khan, the Forester Sisters, etc; she scored her own minor country hits '84--7, also teamed with like-minded Nashville female singer-songwriters Karen Staley, Tricia Walker and Ashley Cleveland, playing acoustic sets at various small clubs. Moving closer to the Nashville mainstream, she joined Arista '90 and made an immediate impact with 'Don't Tell Me What To Do', a feisty attitude song. Since then she has hardly been out of the charts, the most notable successes being 'Maybe It Was Memphis', 'Shake The Sugar Tree', 'When You Walk In The Room', 'Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life)', 'In Between Dances'. Married to ace songwriter Bob DiPiero (ex-Billy Hill member); she was named the CMA's Female Vocalist of the Year '94. Albums incl. Put Yourself In My Place '91, Homeward Looking Angel '92, Sweetheart's Dance '94, All Of This Love '95 on Arista; The Pam Tillis Collection '94 on WB compiled original versions of songs that became hits when re-recorded for Arista. |