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John HiattAmerican rock guitarist, pianist, singer and songwriter
Date of Birth: 20.08.1952
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of John Hiatt
John Hiatt is an American rock guitarist, pianist, singer, and songwriter. His music encompasses various genres, including new wave, blues, and country. Despite being nominated for several Grammy Awards, he has never won, but has received various other accolades in the music industry.
John began his career working on songwriting for 'Tree International' label in Nashville. His composition 'Sure As I'm Sittin' Here' was performed by the rock band 'Three Dog Night' and became a hit, reaching the Top 40 and leading to a contract with Epic Records. Since then, he has released 8 studio albums and 2 live albums. His songs have been covered by artists from various genres, including Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Paula Abdul, Mandy Moore, Joe Cocker, and many others.
Early Life
John Hiatt was born on August 20, 1952, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Robert and Ruth Hiatt. When he was 9 years old, his 21-year-old brother Michael died by suicide. Two years later, his father passed away after a prolonged illness. To cope with these childhood traumas, Hiatt turned to watching Formula 1 races and listening to Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and blues music. In his youth, he once got away with stealing a Ford Thunderbird by pretending to be a hitchhiker.
Music Career
At the age of 11, Hiatt learned to play the guitar, which marked the beginning of his musical career in Indianapolis. He performed in various local clubs, including 'Hummingbird,' and played with different bands such as 'The Four-Fifths' and 'John Lynch & the Hangmen.' In 1973, Hiatt relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where he started writing songs for 'Tree-Music Publishing Company' for a weekly wage of $25, despite not knowing how to read sheet music. He also became one of the three songwriters for the band 'White Duck,' contributing material for their second album, 'In Season,' released in 1972.
In 1973, Hiatt met Don Ellis from 'Epic Records' and signed a contract. They released the single 'We Make Spirit' in 1974. Hiatt's song 'Sure As I'm Sitting Here' was recorded by 'Three Dog Night' and reached the 16th position on the Billboard chart. In the same year, he released his debut album, 'Hangin' Around the Observatory,' which received mixed commercial success but positive critical reception. However, his subsequent album, 'Overcoats,' failed commercially, and 'Epic Records' stopped working with him. For four years, Hiatt was without a record deal, and during this period, he transformed his musical style from country rock to new wave with influences from Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, and Graham Parker.
In 1979, Hiatt signed with 'MCA' and released two albums in 1979 and 1980, followed by three albums under the 'Geffen' label, which merged with 'MCA' in 1982. His album 'All of a Sudden,' produced by Tony Visconti, blended country and soul music. Another album, 'Riding With the King' in 1983, was produced by Scott Mathews, Ron Nagle, and Nick Lowe. Several of Hiatt's songs attracted attention, including 'It Hasn't Happened Yet,' which reached the Top 20 in country charts. In 1987, Hiatt achieved significant success with his album 'Bring the Family,' which contained the popular song 'Have a Little Faith in Me,' covered by various artists.
In the following years, Hiatt released several albums that did not chart well, and his fan base underwent some changes. In 2000, he released his first independent album, 'Crossing Muddy Waters,' which incorporated a bluegrass sound. The album earned him the title of 'Songwriter/Artist of the Year' at the Nashville Music Awards and a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Folk Album. In 2002, Hiatt contributed songs to the Disney musical 'Country Bears' and appeared as himself in the film.
In 2005, Hiatt released the album 'Master of Disaster,' which reached the Top 10 of independent releases. His subsequent albums, including 'Same Old Man' in 2008 and 'The Open Road' in 2010, continued to showcase his talent as a respected and influential American singer-songwriter.
John Hiatt remains an esteemed and influential figure in the American music industry to this day.
