Life Reflections

Melvin Louis Hughes was born July 23, 1940, to Johnny and Ora Hughes in Kinloch, Missouri. He was the youngest of six children. Melvin was raised and educated in the public school system of the City of Kinloch. He went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, April 9 2025.

Melvin’s parents recognized early on that he was very talented and was blessed with the gift of song. He started singing in the church where he had been baptized, Coleman Chapel CME Church under the leaderships of Reverends Bugges and Draper when he was seven years old, and he continued until about the age of 16.

As further evidence of his talent, Melvin entered and won many talent shows from the 3 rd through 5 th grades. He performed in many operettas while in grade school and played the lead character in The White Gypsy. During his years at Kinloch High School, Melvin taught himself to play tenor saxophone, playing in the senior band and sang in the concert choir under the direction of Mrs. Essie Metcalf. Melvin studied Opera for a time at the St. Ann School of Music and won an award for his rendition of “Old Man River.” He performed in local night clubs for a number of years until he reaffirmed his faith and joined the St. Peters AME Episcopal Church.

As a member of St. Peters, Melvin grew to become one of the most talented leaders of the St. Peters Inspirational choir, under the leadership of the Rev. Sylvester Loudermille, Charles Creath, Shamar Jordan and Author Tony.

In 1963, Melvin was joined in Holy matrimony to Mae Lois Evans, Melvin and Mae made St. Louis City their home where they enjoyed a life together for many years.

Melvin taught himself to play piano and organ and spent many years as a professional musician. He played with such greats as Albert King, Ike Turner, Little Milton and J.J. Douglas of Kansas City Mo. and he once even played a performance with likes of B.B. King. During his music career, Melvin traveled for a time with a road show where he performed impersonations of Ray Charles. He was a consummate performer, a song writer and wrote over 30 songs that his friends and family enjoyed overed the years; (Disco Santa Clause, Christmas Without you, This Christmas, Bring Me You, The Big Wall, Steppin Out On Me, and You and Turned My World Around) just to name a few. Although none If his music was ever released nationally, he did record for Stax Recording Studios. He was featured in the Ragtime to Rock and Roll Exhibit at the Missouri Historical Society where he received an award for having been an influence on the “St. Louis Music Sound.” He was the recipient of many awards, both group and individual. Melvin led two Gospel groups, The Glory Gospelettes and The Harmony Gospel Singers and two “Do-Wop” groups, The Mad Lads and the Victorials. Melvin loved his music and it was very important during every aspect of his life. As if music wasn’t enough, Melvin was also a poet
and in 2014 he published the book: Poetry from the Windows of My Mind, which is still currently
available on Amazon.com.

Melvin worked at Scullin Steel Mill and in 1980 after its closure, Melvin pursued an electronics
engineering degree at St. Louis Community College in 1986 at the age of 46 under a full scholarship grant from the Urban league. While he did not receive a degree, he learned valuable writing and computer skills which landed him a position of Storeroom Manager at Washington University, where he was employed for 11 years and retired at the age of 62. Upon his retirement, Melvin founded his own successful company (Odd Jobs, Inc.) which he owned and operated for 15 years. He was an entrepreneur and performed many kinds of jobs (and he had many) using the skills he had inherited from his father (who could fix anything).

Upon being diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), which required him to close his company and retire from his beloved St. Peters Choir. Melvin continued to do limited singing performances for family reunions, nursing homes, funerals and other church and charitable events.

Melvin was preceded in death by his wife Mae Lois Hughes, father Johnny B. Hughes, mother Ora Hughes Cherry, two brothers Clevester (Eloise), Sylvester (died at age 6 months), two sisters, Lottie Williams (Ronald), Johnnie Johnson (King), one step-son, W.C. Evans.

Melvin is survived by his three sons; Angelo Hughes of St. Louis, Mo., Andre Robinson, of St. Louis, Mo., Frankie Williams Sr. (Darleen) of Killeen, Tx., one daughter; Venise T. Hughes and one sister Marian Williams, of St. Louis County, Mo., eight grandchildren; Lyndsi Hughes, Joshua Hughes, Faith Hughes and Elijah Farrell, Natisha Johnson, Frankie Williams, Jr, Joeliqua Williams and Angel Williams, three great grandchildren; Nevaeh Blunt, Kyrie Elzie, Alani Rose Yates and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews and hundreds of cousins and friends.