American singer-songwriter born October 7, 1951, in Seymour, Indiana. Performed under the names Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, John Cougar Mellencamp, and finally John Mellencamp. Distinguished by heartland-rock songwriting drawing on small-town American life.
Released over 25 studio albums starting with Chestnut Street Incident (1976). Commercial peak: American Fool (1982, featuring "Jack & Diane" and "Hurts So Good"), Uh-Huh (1983), and Scarecrow (1985). Co-founded Farm Aid with Willie Nelson and Neil Young in 1985. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.
