Pamela Yvonne Tillis is a singer, songwriter, producer, and actress. Daughter of Mel Tillis, she began her career working on her father’s music before launching into her own successful career.
Born in Plant City, Pam was quickly surrounded by country music after the family moved to Nashville when Mel’s career began. Growing up, she took piano lessons and taught herself to play the guitar. She went to the University of Tennessee and played in a jug band and folk duo. Wishing to pursue even more musical adventures, she dropped out of college and moved to San Francisco where she created a jazz and rock fusion band named Freelight.
During this time, she also worked professionally with her father on some of his songs, most notably singing background vocals on “Your Body is an Outlaw.” She gained the attention of a few record companies and began a solo career in the pop market. After her first album, Above and Beyond the Doll of Cutey, she felt dissatisfied with the pop scene and returned to work on country material.
Pam found widespread success in the 1990s with hits such as “Don’t Tell Me What to Do,” “Shake the Sugar Tree,” “Spilled Perfume,” “Maybe it Was Memphis,” and “Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life).” During this time, she also worked with other artists such as Alan Jackson, Lee Roy Parnell, Michelle Wright, and many others.
In 2000, she was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. A few years later, she inducted her father into the Opry, cementing the Tillis name as a hallmark of American country music. Due to her widespread interests in a variety of genres, her music is defined by her powerful vocal style that powers her heartfelt lyrics. Often accompanying her voice is a myriad of instruments, most notably lush guitar tracks.