Ken Nelson
January 19, 1911 – January 6, 2008
Although by no means a household name, Ken Nelson made one of the biggest impacts on country music during his time as an A&R executive at Capitol Records. Specializing in country music, Nelson was one of the main factors in country music’s massive growth during the ’50s. While with Capitol, he produced hit records by the likes of Buck Owens, Gene Vincent, Ferlin Husky, Wanda Jackson, Merle Haggard and more. In 1961, Nelson produced the Hank Thompson’s Live at the Golden Nugget, considered to be the first live album ever released by a country singer. Ken Nelson was 96 when he passed away on January 6, 2008.