John Mellencamp is an American guitarist, actor, composer, director and painter born on October 7, 1951 in Seymour, Indiana (United States).
The artist began his rock recording career under the stage name John Cougar in the mid-1970s. Then, after the first successes (the American Fool album) gradually including country and folk elements (violins and accordion), especially from the album The Lonesome Jubilee, he becomes John Cougar Mellencamp . Finally, in the late 1980s, he simplified his name to John Mellencamp.
John Mellencamp was introduced to the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame at the 2008 ceremony.