Oct. 7: Johnny Cougar; John Cougar; John Cougar Mellencamp and John Mellencamp is 59 today.

John Mellencamp, born in Seymour, Indiana, is a rock singer-songwriter - painter and occasional actor -  best known for his populist brand of heartland rock with simple, basic instrumentation. He has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and has amassed 22 Top 40 hits in the United States.

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-- "Jack and Diane"

--  "Hurts So Good"

--  "Pink Houses"

He also has had the most tracks by a solo artist to hit number-one on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, with seven, and he has been nominated for 13 Grammy Awards, winning one. His latest album, No Better Than This, was released on August 17, 2010 to widespread critical acclaim.

Mellencamp is also one of the founding members of Farm Aid, an organization that began in 1985 with a concert in Champaign, Illinois to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on their land. The Farm Aid concerts have remained an annual event over the past 25 years.

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