Mellencamp became a father in December 1970, only six months after he graduated from high school. When Mellencamp turned 18, he married his pregnant girlfriend Priscilla Esterline. Mellencamp formed his first band, Crepe Soul, at the age of 14. He was born with spina bifida, for which he had corrective surgery as an infant. Mellencamp was born in Seymour, Indiana, on October 7, 1951.
in the U.S.A.", " Paper in Fire", and " Cherry Bomb". Mellencamp rose to fame in the 1980s while "honing an almost startlingly plainspoken writing style" that, starting in 1982, yielded a string of Top 10 singles, including " Hurts So Good", " Jack & Diane", " Crumblin' Down", " Pink Houses", " Lonely Ol' Night", " Small Town", " R.O.C.K. He is known for his catchy brand of heartland rock, which emphasizes traditional instrumentation.
Mellencamp (born October 7, 1951), previously known as Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American singer-songwriter.