John Mellencamp

The singer-songwriter began his recording career in 1976 as Johnny Cougar.He changed his name, from Johnny Cougar to John Cougar Mellencamp and finally, in 1991, to John Mellencamp. He amassed a catalog of hits (21 have reached the Billboard Top 40) and became a cultural influence and touchstone. Mellencamp, 71, is now a great-grandfather, and a self-mocking ease balances his well-known irascibility.