 An avid racing and automobile fan, Melton was in attendance for the Watkins Glen Grand Prix of 1951 in upstate New York.He can be seen shaking hands with the racers in the 1999 documentary film about the classic race called Victory Circle

After voice training with Angelo Canarutto, Melton's operatic singing career took off in 1938 when he appeared with the Cincinnati Zoo Opera Company as Pinkerton in Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" and also with the St. Louis Opera Company as Alfredo in Verdi's "La Traviata".In 1939, he sang Pinkerton for his debut with the Philadelphia La Scala Opera Company with Annunciata Garrotto as Cio-cio-san.