Mel Odoms, born Melvin Odoms, was a producer, songwriter, and founder of the Jersey City label Mel-O Records, active in the city's music scene of the 1980s and early 1990s.
In the Record§
Per his Discogs artist profile, he was a college track star and a sometime contract employee for Kool & the Gang, and he worked with many Jersey City musicians to get the funk and soul group Tomorrow's Edition their first records released, including the single "U Turn Me On" (CBS, 1981) and the album A Song for Everyone (Atlantic, 1982), produced by Amir Bayyan of the Kool & the Gang family.
He founded the independent label Mel-O Records, which in 1990 released the debut single of Jersey City rap group Double XX Posse, "Executive Class" backed with "On A Mission," carrying his production credit as Mel-O Odoms.
His Discogs profile, citing newspaper coverage, records that he was shot by a police officer and received a substantial financial award as a result.
Appearances§
Flyers and photographs from across the archive that feature Mel Odoms.
Sources§
- Mel Odoms, Discogs artist profile — link
- Double XX Posse, Executive Class / On A Mission (Mel-O, 1990), Discogs — link
- Tomorrow's Edition, A Song for Everyone (Atlantic 80009-1, 1982), Soul and Funk Music — link
Wanted for this Entry§
The archive is looking for the following. If you can supply any of it, use the claim bar below.
- Newspaper clipping on the shooting and settlement (his Discogs profile cites newspapers.com)
- Confirm whether he was from Jersey City proper
- Is he still living? Contact via Mel-Larry Odoms group thread
- Photo