Music Industry Exec Joe Meador Dies At 73

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Joe Meador

Joe Meador, best known for his work with Ronnie McDowell and Killen Entertainment Group, died Oct. 21 at age 73. Funeral services were held Oct. 25 in Hendersonville, TN.

Meador, a Kentucky native, graduated from Draughon’s Business College in Nashville, TN, and began working for the Federal Reserve Bank in Nashville, where he met his future wife, Sally Wise. Meador also worked at Hewgley’s Music Shop, and then teamed with co-owner Jim Vantrease to launch Sumner County Music Center in Gallatin. He also joined the group Glass Hammer, which opened for Ricky Nelson, as well as Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.

Meador later became a road manager, and later manager, for Ronnie McDowell. McDowell, Meador, and Buddy Killen formed Killen Entertainment Group, which managed McDowell and Six Shooter. Later, Meador became CEO/President of Grand Entertainment Group and launched three publishing companies.

He co-wrote the George Strait-recorded song “Under These Conditions,” and songs including “All Tied Up” and “I’m Still Missing You” for McDowell.

Meador also co-produced the documentary Dixie Rose, which earned Best SXSW Documentary at the Telluride, Colorado Indie Festival. Meador also co-authored the book The Genuine Elvis: Photos and Untold Stories about the King.

Meador is preceded in death by his grandmother, Mamie Meador, of Adolphus, KY and his father Ralph Meador and mother Beatrice (Rather) Meador.

Joe Meador is survived by wife Sally (Wise) Meador and daughter, Laura Kathryn Meador, brother-in-law Mike Wise, sister-in-law Kathleen Wise, brother-in-law Sam Alfano and sister-in-law Jo Alfano, along with three nephews and two nieces. Joe is also survived by his cousin Patti (Graves) Pearson and her husband Wendell Pearson, along with their two children, Bradley Pearson and Shelley Pearson.

Jessica Nicholson
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