The Lord blessed Mel with the gift of singing at the age of three when he won a talent contest. Throughout the years, Mel continued singing in churches, choirs, school performances and community functions. He was the lead singer of his family’s Gospel quartet, The Madaris Family, who has been in the music industry for two generations.
As a young adult, he sang with a group called Sweetwater opening for acts such as Ray Charles, Bill Anderson and Jerry Clower. Mel has been heard throughout the world as a featured soloist in Ben Haden’s "Changed Lives" ministry. Under the direction of Dr. Glenn Draper, Mel has performed in numerous concerts throughout the southeastern United States, including at the White House in Washington, D.C. He has performed with Bill Shaw of the Blackwood Brothers and as back up singer to Larnelle Harris and Allison Durham. He has performed at numerous churches, weddings, community functions and dinners for several elected officials.
Mel received his Bachelors of Business Administration degree from the University of Georgia in Athens and is the owner of ImproveAmerica, Inc. He and his wife, Paulina, live in Chattanooga. They have two grown children, Jeremy and Cara, a granddaughter, Reese, and a grandson, Jude. Their home church is First Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga where Mel is in the choir.
- With Mom and Dad
- Reese, our little princess
- Mel and Paulina at The White House
- Mel and Paulina at Yankee Stadium
- Four Generations
- Cara and Jeremy
- Jude, our little Jujubug
