"Starting out as a Bruce Springsteen clone didn't make later success easy for this rock legend; John Mellencamp first started his career as a late ‘70s rocker known as Johnny Cougar.Born in 1951 in Seymour, Indiana, Mellencamp started playing with a local band before getting discovered by David Bowie's manager Tony de Fries. Under the name Johnny Cougar, he released a cover-songs album that saw little mainstream success. Returning to Indiana, he recorded The Kid Inside and signed with Riva Records. Now presenting himself as a Springsteen-type, Mellencamp saw more success with his next few Riva Records albums, in particular the third album American Fool, which earned Mellencamp his one and only Grammy Award. Mellencamp's band continued to tour over the years, who was now going under the name John Cougar Mellencamp.Focusing on worldwide relief, he became an organizer of the Farm Aid series of benefit concerts as many of his songs dealt with social problems. By the late ‘80s he had moved to Mercury Records and produced several more albums, including 1989's Big Daddy, an album that expressed his disillusionment with the music industry. After a short break from the industry to pursue art and a removal of his ""Cougar"" nickname, Mellencamp returned to music in 1991 with the album Whenever We Wanted. In 1991 he directed and starred in the film Falling From Grace. He saw minor success with the next album before the ""comeback"" album, Dance Naked reached the Top 10 with the single ""Wild Night,"" a Van Morrison cover. After a heart attack Mellencamp took a break from the stage before returning in 1996 with Mr. Happy Go Lucky. He has continued to create more hit albums over the years and lives in Indiana."