John Mellencamp has become a heavyweight songwriter, one who details the love, life and passions of living in the Midwest. When John Mellencamp first arrived on scene, industry heavyweights decided he needed a cooler name and dubbed him " Johnny Cougar." Mellencamp's first album was titled Chestnut Street Incident. 1978's A Biography, was unreleased in the United States, but yielded a hit in Australia titled "I Need a Lover". This song was added to Mellencamp's next US album, John Cougar in 1979. Pat Benatar recorded "I Need a Lover" and released the song as a single from her debut album In the Heat of the Night.

John Mellencamp released his breakthrough album, American Fool, in 1982. The hit singles "Hurt So Good" and "Jack and Diane" sent the album to the top of the charts.

With a major hit under his belt, Mellencamp insisted on changing his billing to John Cougar Mellencamp (compromising by keeping the stage name as well as his true last name) for the 1983 follow-up, Uh-Huh. The album was another top-10 hit for Mellencamp and spawned several hit singles including " Pink Houses".

John Mellencamp changed his billing for songwriting and production credits to John Mellencamp in 1983, although his official name on album covers and other releases was still John Cougar Mellencamp.

Mellencamp released Scarecrow in 1985, with several songs focusing on the plight of the American family farmer, and Mellencamp soon helped organize Farm Aid with Willie Nelson. Scarecrow became quintessential heartland rock. "Lonely Ol' Night", "Small Town", and "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." all became Top 10 hits.

John Mellencamp released The Lonesome Jubilee in 1987. It was a departure from earlier material, incorporating country and folk influences. It generated several more hit singles, including "Paper in Fire" and "Cherry Bomb". Big Daddy dropped in 1989. 1991's Whenever We Wanted was the first album billed to just John Mellencamp. It yielded the hit "Get a Leg Up."1993's Human Wheels, was solid, while his cover of Van Morrison's "Wild Night" on Dance Naked (1994) spawned his biggest hit in years.

Horribly, John Mellencamp suffered a heart attack in 1994, and then returned with Mr. Happy Go Lucky in 1996. In 1998, his self-titled album for Columbia Records included the songs "Your Life is Now" and "I'm Not Running Anymore".

In 1999, John Mellencamp covered Bob Dylan, the Drifters and others for his album Rough Harvest. The Best That I Could Do, also from that year was a best-of collection.

Mellencamp surprised many in 2003 when he released Trouble No More, an album of blues and country cover, performing songs by Robert Johnson, Son House, and Lucinda Williams.

To date, John Mellencamp has sold over 25 million albums in the United States alone.