He was born in Sumner, Illinois, and was the brother of Lester Melrose, with whom he established a music store in Chicago.
[1] This became successful after the Tivoli Theatre opened in the same street, greatly increasing the amount of passing trade.
Melrose branched into music publishing when Jelly Roll Morton turned up in his store, and hits such as Wolverine Blues and King Porter Stomp became highly successful for the company.
He and his brother published the jazz standard "Tin Roof Blues" composed by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings" in 1923.
Plays Blues And Ballads Jazz Connaisseur / JCCD 9107-2 Buona Sera New Orleans 2002 Buona Sera New Orleans Eigenvertrieb / TBH 602 For Louis 2000 For Louis Concord / CCD-4879-2 Jazz Club Trio - Plus 1995 Jazz Club Trio - Plus Elite Special / TCD 7935 Mo' Cream From The Crop 1994 Mo' Cream From The Crop Sony Music Entertainment Switzerland GmbH / CK 66628 Nothing But The Blues 1994