John Mellencamp (Singer-Songwriter) - On This Day

Full Name: John J. Mellencamp, previously known as Johnny Cougar
Profession: Singer-Songwriter

Biography: John Mellencamp has sold over 60 million records worldwide, and penned the hits "Pink Houses"; "Jack and Diane", and "Small Town".

in 1985, Mellencamp became one of the founding members of Farm Aid, an organization to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on their land. Farm Aid concerts have raised over $60 million, as of 2021.

Mellencamp was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018.

In addition to his work as rock performer, he is noted as a painter, and has composed music for film and theater.

Born: October 7, 1951
Birthplace: Seymour, Indiana, USA
Age: 72 years old

Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Rabbit
Star Sign: Libra

Career Highlights

• 1985-09-22 First Farm Aid benefit concert, Champaign, Illinois; organized by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp; performers included Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Billy Joel, B.B. King, Hoyt Axton, Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones, and Emmylou Harris
• 1986-07-04 Farm Aid II benefit concert held in Manor, Texas; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Waylon Jennings, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, Nicolette Larson, Los Lobos, and Steve Earle
• 1987-09-19 Farm Aid III held in Lincoln, Nebraska; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, John Denver, and Joe Walsh
• 1990-04-07 Farm Aid IV concert at Hoosier Dome (Indianapolis, Indiana) features Bonnie Raitt, John Mellencamp, John Hiatt, Carl Perkins, Arlo Guthrie, Garth Brooks, Bruce Hornsby, Elton John, Lou Reed, Taj Mahal, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Willie Nelson, Iggy Pop, and others
• 1992-03-14 Farm Aid V held in Irving, Texas; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Arlo Guthrie, Asleep At The Wheel, Kentucky Headhunters, Texas Tornadoes, Bonnie Raitt, Tracy Chapman, Paul Simon, and Mary Chapin Carpenter
• 1993-04-24 Farm Aid VI held in Ames, Iowa; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Arlo Guthrie, The Jayhawks, Lyle Lovett, Johnny Cash, Ricky Van Shelton, Marty Stuart, Martina McBride, Bruce Hornsby, Bryan Adams, Ringo Starr, and Dwight Yoakam
• 1995-10-01 Farm Aid VIII held in Louisville, Kentucky; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Hootie and the Blowfish, Dave Matthews Band, John Conlee, and Steve Earle
• 1996-10-12 Farm Aid IX held in Columbia, South Carolina; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Hootie and the Blowfish, The Beach Boys, Son Volt, Robert Earl Keen, Martina McBride, Jewel, and John Conlee
• 1998-10-03 Farm Aid 11 held in Tinley Park, Illinois; performers include Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Phish, Steve Earle, Wilco, and Del McCoury Band
• 1999-09-12 Farm Aid 12 held in Bristow, Virginia; performers include Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews Band, Susan Tedeschi, Keb' Mo', Deana Carter, and Barenaked Ladies
• 2000-09-17 Farm Aid 13 held in Bristow, Virginia; performers include Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Arlo Guthrie, Sawyer Brown, Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt, North Mississippi Allstars, Barenaked Ladies, and Tipper Gore
• 2001-09-29 Farm Aid 14 held in Noblesville, Indiana; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Doobie Brothers, and Martina McBride
• 2002-09-21 Farm Aid 15 held in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Keith Urban, Lee Ann Womack, Kid Rock, Gillian Welch, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and The Drive-By Truckers
• 2003-09-07 Farm Aid 16 held in Columbus, Ohio; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris, Hootie & the Blowfish, Sheryl Crow, Brooks & Dunn, and Daniel Lanois
• 2004-09-18 Farm Aid 17 held in Auburn, Washington; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Marc Broussard
• 2005-09-18 Farm Aid 18 held in Tinley Park, Illinois; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Arlo Guthrie, Buddy Guy, Emmylou Harris, James McMurtry, Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra, John Mayer, Kathleen Edwards, Kenny Chesney, Susan Tedeschi, Widespread Panic, and Wilco
• 2006-09-30 Farm Aid 19 held in Tinley Park, Illinois; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Jerry Lee Lewis, Los Lonely Boys, Arlo Guthrie, Gov't Mule, Steve Earle and Allison Moorer, Shelby Lynne, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Jimmy Sturr & his Orchestra
• 2007-09-09 Farm Aid 20 held in Randall Island, New York City; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Merle Haggard, Billy Joe Shaver, Gregg Allman, The Allman Brothers Band, Counting Crows, Matisyahu, Guster, The Derek Trucks Band, Warren Haynes, and Jimmy Sturr
• 2008-03-10 23rd Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Leonard Cohen; The Dave Clark Five; Madonna; John Mellencamp; The Ventures; Little Walter; Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff
• 2008-09-20 Farm Aid 21 held in Mansfield, Massachusetts; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Jerry Lee Lewis, Kenny Chesney, The Pretenders, moe., Arlo Guthrie, Steve Earle, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Jakob Dylan and The Gold Mountain Rebels
• 2009-10-04 Farm Aid 22 held in Maryland Heights, Missouri; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz, and Wilco
• 2010-10-02 Farm Aid 23 held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Jeff Tweedy, Kenny Chesney, Jason Mraz, Norah Jones, Amos Lee, The BoDeans, and Jamey Johnson
• 2011-08-13 Farm Aid (25th Anniversary) held in Kansas City, Kansas; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz, Jamey Johnson, Jakob Dylan, and Billy Joe Shaver
• 2012-09-22 Farm Aid held in Hershey, Pennsylvania; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Kenny Chesney, Jack Johnson, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Dale Watson, and Pegi Young
• 2013-09-21 Farm Aid held in Saratoga Springs, New York; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Pete Seeger, Amos Lee, Jack Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Carlene Carter, Pegi Young & The Survivors, and Insects vs Robots
• 2014-09-13 Farm Aid held in Raleigh, north Carolina; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Jack White, Gary Clarke Jr., Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Jamey Johnson, Todd Snider, and Carlene Carter
• 2015-09-19 Farm Aid (30th Anniversary) held in Chicago, Illinois; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Imagine Dragons, Jack Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Mavis Staples
• 2016-09-17 Farm Aid held in Bristow, Virginia; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Alabama Shakes, Sturgill Simpson, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Jamey Johnson & Alison Krauss, Margo Price, and The Wisdom Indian Dancers
• 2017-09-16 Farm Aid held in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, and Jamey Johnson
• 2018-09-22 Farm Aid held in Hartford, Connecticut; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, Sturgill Simpson, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and Margo Price
• 2019-09-21 Farm Aid held in East Troy, Wisconsin; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Bonnie Raitt, Luke Combs, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Margo Price, Yola, Tanya Tucker, and Ho-Chunk Thundercloud Singers
• 2019-12-09 Rock for the Rainforest benefit concert held at The Beacon Theatre, NYC; performers include: Sting, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, John Mellencamp, Bob Geldof, Ricky Martin, Eurythmics, Deborah Harry, Shaggy, Zucchero, MC Rodriguez, and H.E.R.
• 2020-04-11 Farm Aid "At Home" held virtually; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Black Pumas, Bonnie Raitt, Boz Scaggs, Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, Edie Brickell, Jack Johnson, and Jon Batiste
• 2021-09-25 Farm Aid held in Hartford, Connecticut; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Bettye LaVette, Tyler Childers, the Wisdom Indian Dancers, and the Horse Hill Singers
• 2022-09-24 Farm Aid held in Raleigh, North Carolina; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews. Margo Price, Chris Stapleton, Sheryl Crow, and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
• 2023-09-23 Farm Aid held in Noblesville, Indiana; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews. Margo Price, Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros, Bob Dylan, The String Cheese Incident, and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

Personal Life

• 1992-09-05 American "Jack and Diane" singer-songwriter John Mellencamp (40) weds third wife, American model Elaine Irwin (23) near Seymour, Indiana; divorce 2011
• 2011-08-12 American rock singer-songwriter John Mellencamp (59) divorces model Elaine Irwin (41) after 18 years of marriage

References

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