MELLENCAMP Made in America, made for America

By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
T'S HARD TO FIND A more red, white and blue singer than John Mellencamp.
Raised in the heartland with a blue collar work ethic and never-say-die attitude, this little kid from Indiana was born a fighter. First overcoming spina bifida as a baby and later a rebellious streak that included run-ins with the law, Mellencamp's biggest challenge would be rising above adversity as an aspiring artist.
When he decided to dedicate himself to rock 'n' roll in the mid-'70s, the Hoosier moved to New York City, eventually releasing his debut album "Chestnut Street Incident" under the name Johnny Cougar. Legend has it, unbeknownst to Mellencamp, an overzealous manager changed his name. It would be over a decade before the singer returned to his given surname. As for the album, it was a failure but success wasn't too far off.
Eventually songs such as "I Need a Lover" and "Ain't Even Done With the Night" would give Mellencamp radio airplay but it wasn't until 1982's "American Fool" album that the singer's everyman songwriting found a public thirsty for something real and tangible.
'Jack & amp; Diane'
The best track to encapsulate not only this era but Mellencamp's entire career is "Jack & amp; Diane." Whereas Tom Petty's "American Girl" seemingly details California valley girls and Bruce Springsteen's "Born To Run" is a decidedly New Jersey tale of escaping life's traps, Mellencamp gives middle America time to pause and reflect on past youth without throwing in the towel.
"Jacky says, oh yeah, life goes on/Long after the thrill of living is gone," belts Mellencamp to a handclap track that supposedly wasn't intended to make the album cut. Yet, Mellencamp's integrity and credibility grows with each simplistic percussive hand pop, in the process creating an American anthem for generations to come.
The other lasting image of Mellencamp's career comes not from his music but his generosity and socially conscious endeavors. Naturally we're talking about the Farm Aid concerts, which have raised $28 million over the past 20 years for working American farmers. Corporate America has also been in his sites with the Indiana singer eschewing any lucrative sponsorship deals.
Above anything else, Mellencamp -- who plays at the Chevrolet Centre on Tuesday -- is his own man and a unique one at that. You get the sense that this 54-year-old rock and roller is no different on or off stage, with or without the spotlight. And that's a rare thing these days.
Granted his best music -- "Small Town," "Lonely Ol' Night" "Pink Houses," "Paper in Fire," "Check it Out" and more -- may be behind him, but so what? Mellencamp remains a touring fixture at a time when America needs its red, white and blue singers to remind us life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone.