John Mellencamp aka ( John Cougar, John Cougar Mellencamp) Born Oct. 7, 1951 Seymour, Indiana (still resides). John is best known as a rock/roots rock singer/songwriter and guitarist. John also is a accomplished artist with dozens of painting on display. He even has had staring roles in four movies. John's started his first band Crepe Soul when he was 14. In 1971 a cover band “Trash” was started. As John said with their limited success I just like to sing and play the guitar. After graduating from Vincinnes University in 1971, he traveled to New York trying to break into the music business.

The Cougar Years

John's first few albums were under the John Cougar name (which he hated) His first release “Chestnut Street Incident”, a collection of cover and derivative originals was a flop. In 78' “A Biography” was released in Australia. The Aussies gave him his first hit “I Need A Lover.” John's third “John Cougar” was also a flop. In 1980 John finally achieve fame with the release of “Nuthin Matters And What If It Did.” He had two top 40 hits “This Time, Aint Even Done With The Night.” In 82', his final release under the Cougar moniker “American Fool” was a major scuess with all time hits “Hurt's So Good”, “Jack And Diane”, “Hard To Hold On To.”

The John Cougar Mellencamp Years

John changed his stage name in 1983 to J.C.M. For the release of “Uh-Huh”, the album was a hit with “Pink Houses”, “Crunblin Down”, “Authority Song” all were top hits. In 85' “Scarecrow” was released

many song were labeled “socially aware” with many songs focusing an the plight of American farmers. The album set record after record for sales with hits “Lonely Ol Night”, “Small Town”, “Rockin in the U.S.A.”, “Rain on the Scarecrow”, “Rumbleseat.” Farm-Aid was also begun , John and Willie Nelson were instrumental in its beginnings. In 87' Lonesome Jubilee was released with country and folk influences. Major hits were “Paper in Fire”, Cherry Bomb”, “Check It Out”, “Hard Times”, The Real Life.” When Big Daddy came out in 89' it was a mostly accouistic and quieter album, major hits “Jackie Brown”, Big Daddy”,”Void in My Heart.”

The John Mellencamp Years

In 91' John released “Whenever We Wanted” with hits “Get A Leg Up”,”Again Tonight”, Love and Happiness”,”Now More Than Ever” In 94' Dancing Naked's release netted hit “Wild Nights”, along with two protest songs “L.U.V. And “Another Sunny Day”.Since 94' John has released six more albums with multiple hits. “I Saw You First”, “Your Life is Now”,”Peaceful World”,”Walk tall”,”Small Town”. “Our Country” has been turned into the song for Chevy Silverado commercials.

Pretty impressive career.