Mellencamp, John Cougar

1951 – He was born on the 7th day of October this year in Seymour, Indiana. He was born with a mild form of spinal bifida that was corrected with neurosurgery when he was three weeks old, had a troubled childhood marked by several brushes with the law.

1965 - At the age of 14, he was the lead singer in the band Crepe Soul, a group that played rock and soul.

1970 – After graduating from high school this year, he eloped with his pregnant girlfriend and began performing with the band Snakepit Banana Barn the following year.

1975 – He also played with a glam-rock band called Trash and another called the Mason Brothers before landing a record deal.

1978 - He signed to the tiny Riva Records label and recorded “1978's Biography.” This was unreleased in the United States, but yielded a hit in Australia

1980 – He returned with Nothin' Matters And What If It Did.

1985 - He released Scarecrow, which would be dubbed his first "serious" effort.

1992 – He launched the Whenever We Wanted world tour. It marked the first time he was on the road since the Lonesome Jubilee Tour ended in July of 1988.

1994 – He suffered a mild heart attack.

1996 – He returned this year with Mr. Happy Go Lucky, which blended heavier dance rhythms with his now signature folk-rock style.

1999 – He covered his own tunes as well as those by Bob Dylan and the Drifters (a wonderful take on "Under the Boardwalk," which was recorded in 1986.

2001 – He embarked on the Cuttin' Heads Tour in the summer of this year.

2004 – His music was frequently heard at campaign rallies for then-presidential candidate John Edwards

2007 – On the 23rd day of January this year, "Our Country," the first single from the album, hit radio in the fall of 2006.