 A champion of rural farmers and the blue-collar masses, John Mellencamp has spent much of his successful career forging his own path. From his small town beginnings, Mellencamp has distinguished himself from other heartland rock contemporaries like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger and Tom Petty. Born in Seymour, Indiana, in 1951, Mellencamp endured hardships early. As a rebellious teenager, he joined his first band at the age of 14. At the ripe old age of 24, Mellencamp moved to New York City to pursue his music career. Shortly after his arrival, he signed with manager Tony DeFries, who also managed David Bowie, and garnered a recording contract from MCA. In 1976 he released his debut record, a cover album titled Chestnut Street Incident. After spending two years writing new songs and honing his craft, Mellencamp returned with A Biography on Riva Records in 1978. Again, the record fizzled, but the disappointed and disillusioned Mellencamp learned from the experience and returned with Johnny Cougar in 1979. For his next album, Mellencamp began to focus more on the issues facing the common man in Smalltown, USA. 1983's Uh-Huh peaked at No. 9 with the anthemic "Crumblin' Down," "Authority Song" and the small-town ballad "Pink Houses." Mellencamp's first headlining tour followed. Mellencamp soon progressed from observer to advocate, organizing the American farmer benefit Farm Aid with Willie Nelson and Neil Young. Mellencamp also refused corporate sponsorship for his tours, preferring to distance himself from big business. 1991's Whenever We Wanted and 1993's Human Wheels both were well reviewed but sold only moderately. In 1994, Mellencamp's album, Dance Naked, went gold only a few months after its release, vaulted by the No. 3 single, a duet with Me'Shell NdegeOcello on Van Morrison's "Wild Night." A major heart attack in late '94 forced the cancellation of a world tour to support Dance Naked. After spending much of 1995 recuperating, Mellencamp returned with Mr. Happy Go-Lucky in 1996. In 1997, he released a greatest hits album, The Best That I Could Do (1978-1988). Mellencamp jumped to Columbia Records to record John Mellencamp, which was released in October 1998. Joe Hauler
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