Kevin Welch

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.

Kevin Welch
Kevin Welch at Cactus Cafe in Austin, Texas.  Photo by Ron Baker (2005).
Kevin Welch at Cactus Cafe in Austin, Texas. Photo by Ron Baker (2005).
Background information
Birth nameKevin Stephen Welch
Born (1955-08-17) August 17, 1955
Long Beach, California, U.S.
OriginMidwest City, Oklahoma, U.S.
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Years active1989–present
LabelsReprise
Dead Reckoning
Compass
Websitehttp://www.kevinwelch.com/

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. The recording features Texas musicians as well as his son Dustin, who played banjo and slide guitar, and his daughter Savannah, who appeared with her band the Trishas.

Discography

Albums

Year Title US Country Label
1990 Kevin Welch 69 Reprise
1992 Western Beat
1995 Life Down Here on Earth Dead Reckoning
1999 Beneath My Wheels
2000 11/12/13: Live in Melbourne (with Kieran Kane)
2002 Millionaire
2004 You Can't Save Everybody (with Kieran Kane and Fats Kaplin) Compass
2006 Lost John Dean (with Kieran Kane and Fats Kaplin)
2007 Kane Welch Kaplin (with Kieran Kane and Fats Kaplin)
2010 A Patch of Blue Sky Music Road
2017 The Dead Reckoning Years Dead Reckoning
2018 Dust Devil

Singles

Year Title Chart Positions Album
US Country CAN Country
1989 "Stay November" 41 Single only
"I Came Straight to You" 64 Kevin Welch
1990 "Till I See You Again" 39 18
"Praying for Rain" 49 66
1991 "True Love Never Dies" 54 37
"Somethin' 'Bout You" 80 Western 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

Guest singles

Year Title Artist US Country Album
1990 "Tomorrow's World" Various artists 74 Single only

Music videos

Year Video Director
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

References

  1. Ankeny, Jason. "Kevin Welch biography". Allmusic. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 451. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
  3. "CMT : Videos : Kevin Welch : Killing Myself". Country Music Television. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
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