Kevin Welch Explained

Kevin Welch
Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Kevin Stephen Welch
Birth Date:1955 8, mf=yes
Birth Place:Long Beach, California, U.S.
Origin:Midwest City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Genre:Country
Occupation:Singer-songwriter
Years Active:1989–present
Label:Reprise
Dead Reckoning
Compass
Associated Acts:Kieran Kane
Website:http://www.kevinwelch.com/

Kevin Stephen Welch (August 17, 1955) is an American country music artist. He has charted five singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and released eight studio albums. He is also one of the cofounders of the Dead Reckoning Records label, which he founded with fellow musicians Kieran Kane, Tammy Rogers, Mike Henderson, and Harry Stinson.

Biography

At the age of 7, Welch and his family moved to Midwest City, Oklahoma. After graduating high school, he began touring with bands like New Rodeo and Blue Rose Cafe.

Welch moved to Nashville in 1978 to work as a songwriter.[1] Singers like Ricky Skaggs, Moe Bandy, Waylon Jennings, Patty Loveless, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and Don Williams were using his material. At the same time he was very active in local clubs, performing with John Scott Sherrill and the Wolves in Cheap Clothing, The Roosters, and finally his own band – The Overtones. His popularity grew and in 1988 he signed a record contract with Reprise Records.[1]

In 1990 the album Kevin Welch was recorded and 2 years later Western Beat.[1] The former produced four charting singles on Hot Country Songs, including "Til I See You Again," which reached No. 39.[2]

In 1994 he co-founded Dead Reckoning Records along with Kieran Kane, Tammy Rogers, Mike Henderson and Harry Stinson.[1] The following year Life Down Here on Earth was published and in 1999 Beneath My Wheels. The majority of songs are Welch's originals. In 2002 the album Millionaire was recorded partially in Nashville and mostly in Denmark with a stellar line-up of Scandinavian players.

In 2004 Welch teamed up with fellow Dead Reckoning artists Kieran Kane and Fats Kaplin to produce You Can't Save Everybody. The trio followed this up with Lost John Dean in 2006, to general acclaim. Lost John Dean reached number one on the Americana charts, and resulted in nominations for several awards including Duo/Group of the year at the 2006 Americana Honors and Awards. The following eponymous Kane Welch Kaplin, with the addition of Lucas Kane, was also nominated for Duo/Group. The group traveled to Australia 10 times, as well as Europe and the UK, Canada, and all over the United States.

Throughout the 2000s, Welch has teamed up with Australian band The Flood. They have recorded albums and DVDs together, and toured the country twice.

Welch moved to Wimberley, Texas, on April 1, 2008. In 2009, he recorded A Patch Of Blue Sky, his first solo project in 8 years. He now lives in Australia with his wife, Sarah, and their family.

Discography

Albums

YearTitleUS CountryLabel
1990Kevin Welch69Reprise
1992Western Beat
1995Life Down Here on EarthDead Reckoning
1999Beneath My Wheels
2000 (with Kieran Kane)
2002Millionaire
2004You Can't Save Everybody (with Kieran Kane and Fats Kaplin)Compass
2006Lost John Dean (with Kieran Kane and Fats Kaplin)
2007Kane Welch Kaplin (with Kieran Kane and Fats Kaplin)
2010A Patch of Blue SkyMusic Road
2017The Dead Reckoning YearsDead Reckoning
2018Dust Devil

Singles

YearTitleChart PositionsAlbum
US CountryCAN Country
1989"Stay November"41Single only
"I Came Straight to You"64Kevin Welch
1990"Till I See You Again"3918
"Praying for Rain"4966
1991"True Love Never Dies"5437
"Somethin' 'Bout You"80Western Beat
1995"Life Down Here on Earth"Life Down Here on Earth
"I Feel Fine Today"
1997"Anna Lise Please"Beneath My Wheels
2002"Killing Myself"Millionaire

Music videos

YearVideoDirector
1990"Tomorrow's World" (Various Artists)Gustavo Garzon
"Till I See You Again"Charley Randazzo
1991"True Love Never Dies"
1992"Somethin' 'Bout You"Planet Pictures
1995"I Feel Fine Today"Michael McNamara
1996"Life Down Here on Earth"
1999"Anna Lise Please"
2002"Killing Myself"[3] Chris Cates, Harry Stinson

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p1863|pure_url=yes}} Kevin Welch biography]. Ankeny. Jason. Allmusic. August 7, 2010.
  2. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. 2008. 451. 0-89820-177-2.
  3. Web site: CMT : Videos : Kevin Welch : Killing Myself. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305153253/http://www.cmt.com/videos/kevin-welch/387743/killing-myself.jhtml. dead. March 5, 2016. Country Music Television. October 14, 2011.