Mellencamp sees Scarecrow as the start of the alternative country genre: “I think I invented that whole ‘No Depression’ thing with the Scarecrow album, though I don’t get the credit,” he told Classic Rock magazine in October 2008. The Farm Aid concerts remain an annual event and have raised over $50 million for struggling family farmers as of 2017. Shortly after its recording, Mellencamp helped organize the first Farm Aid benefit concert with Willie Nelson and Neil Young in Champaign, Illinois, on September 22, 1985. Thus began the musician’s climb to stardom.ġ985 was the year he released Scarecrowwhich yielded five Top 40 singles. Mellencamp worked his next effort in England, where his following album yielded the standout track, “I Need A Lover,” which was included on his 1979 John Cougar album and charted at #28 on the US charts. Then Mellencamp broke away from DeFries and instead, Rod Stewart’s manager, Billy Gaff, signed the young singer-songwriter to the small Riva Records label. He recorded one more album, The Kid Inside in 1977. Since that mis-named launch, John battled to regain his last name and eventually drop the “Cougar” slick marketing image. DeFries insisted that Mellencamp’s first album, Chestnut Street Incident, a collection of covers and a handful of original songs, be released under the stage nam1985e Johnny Cougar, suggesting that the bumpy German name “Mellencamp” was too hard to market. Finally, Tony DeFries agreed to manage the singer’s career. He decided to pursue a career in music and traveled back and forth to New York City in an attempt to land a record contract. Mellencamp had given up drugs and alcohol for good before graduating from a two year stint at Vincennes University in 1974. His musical development coincided with his growth in popularity–by the time “Hurts So Good” and “Jack and Diane” became hits in 1982, Mellencamp had created his own variation of the heartland rock of Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Bob Seger with an emphasis on traditional instrumentation. Mellencamp has five children from his three marriages: Daughter Michelle from his marriage to Esterline daughters Teddi Jo and Justice from his marriage to Granucci and sons Hud and Speck from his marriage to Irwin. On December 30, 2010, Mellencamp announced that he and Irwin had separated after 18 years of marriage and their divorce became official on August 12, 2011. He married former model Elaine Irwin on September 5, 1992. His daughter, Michelle, later became a mother when she was 19, making Mellencamp a grandfather at age 37.Īfter the divorce from Esterline, Mellencamp was married to Victoria Granucci from 1981 until 1989. Mellencamp became a father in December 1970, only six months after he graduated from high school. When Mellencamp was 18, he eloped with his pregnant girlfriend Priscilla Esterline. His personal life may well have inspired some of his songs. Mellencamp formed his first band, Crepe Soul, at the age of 14 and later played in the local bands Trash, Snakepit Banana Barn and the Mason Brothers. Mellencamp was born in Seymour, Indiana in 1951, afflicted with spina bifida and had corrective surgery as an infant. in the U.S.A.Get used to hearing the tag of “heartland” music when surveying the latter half of John Mellencamp’s music blend of Stonesy hard rock and folk. Performs Trouble No More Live at Town Hall John Mellencamp, T‐Bone Burnett & Stephen King Words & Music: John Mellencamp’s Greatest HitsĢ0th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of John Mellencamp
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