Hal Ketchum
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| Hal Ketchum | |
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 Hal Ketchum in 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Hal Michael Ketchum |
| Born | April 9, 1953 |
| Origin | Greenwich, New York, USA |
| Genre(s) | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals Rhythm guitar |
| Years active | 1986, 1991-present |
| Label(s) | Watermelon MCG-Curb Curb |
| Associated acts | Lisa Brokop Gary Burr The Vogues |
| Website | http://www.halketchum.com |
Hal Ketchum (born Hal Michael Ketchum, April 9, 1953 in Greenwich, New York[1]) is an American country music singer-songwriter. Signed to Curb Records since the 1991 release of his gold-certified album Past the Point of Rescue, he has released nine studio albums and two compilations. Ketchum has charted six top ten hits on the Hot Country Songs charts, with his highest-peaking singles, "Small Town Saturday Night", "Past the Point of Rescue" and "Hearts Are Gonna Roll", reaching #2.
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[edit] Career
At the age of 15, Ketchum began performing in clubs as a drummer with a rhythm and blues trio. In 1981, Ketchum moved to Austin, Texas where he began to visit Gruene Hall, a small dance hall near his home. This influenced him to try his hand at singing and songwriting, and by 1985 he was playing at small Texas clubs. In 1986, Ketchum recorded 11 of his self-penned songs under his full name Hal Michael Ketchum. This album, Threadbare Alibis, was released in 1988 under the small Texas label Watermelon Records, and is rarely seen in his discography.
Ketchum then moved to Nashville, Tennessee and signed a record deal with Curb Records. In 1991, Ketchum released his Curb debut album Past the Point of Rescue, with both his debut single "Small Town Saturday Night" and the title track "Past the Point of Rescue" reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts, launching him to stardom. This album was later certified Gold by the RIAA.
He released the album Sure Love the following year, with the title track reaching #3 on the country charts, scoring another #2 with "Hearts Are Gonna Roll", and "Mama Knows the Highway" charting at #8.
In 1994, Ketchum released the album Every Little Word, generating several more hits, including the Benmont Tench-penned "Stay Forever" which reached #8. Hal was also inducted as the 71st Member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1994, after his first three Curb records sold over one million copies collectively.
While Ketchum's subsequent albums have not achieved the same commercial success of his first three, they have been well received among critics and fans alike. In 2007, One More Midnight was released only in the UK.
Ketchum appeared in the 1988 film Heartbreak Hotel. Ketchum also made a cameo appearance as a bank robber in the 1994 film Maverick.
[edit] Personal life
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This section does not cite any references or sources. (May 2008) Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
In 1998, a neurological disorder called Acute Transverse Myelitis left Ketchum without the use of the left side of his body. He had to relearn basic tasks, including how to walk and play the guitar. He has since been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, the same disease that claimed his mother’s life.
Ketchum is also a painter and his work has been shown in Santa Fe, New Mexico’s esteemed Pena Gallery, where he had a successful art-show opening in 2002. He also is a master carpenter and enjoys making toys.
Ketchum lives in Nashville with his wife, Gina, and their three children Rosie, Ruby Joy, and Sophia Grace.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | RIAA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US 200 | |||
| 1988 | Threadbare Alibis | |||
| 1991 | Past the Point of Rescue | 6 | 45 | Gold |
| 1992 | Sure Love | 36 | 151 | |
| 1994 | Every Little Word | 31 | 146 | |
| 1996 | The Hits | 43 | ||
| 1998 | I Saw the Light | 37 | ||
| 1999 | Awaiting Redemption | |||
| 2001 | Lucky Man | 72 | ||
| 2003 | King of Love | |||
| 2007 | One More MidnightA | |||
| 2008 | Greatest Hits | |||
- AOne More Midnight was only released in the United Kingdom.[2]
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US Hot 100 | |||
| 1991 | "Small Town Saturday Night"A | 2 | Past the Point of Rescue | |
| 1992 | "I Know Where Love Lives" | 13 | ||
| "Past the Point of Rescue"A | 2 | |||
| "Five O'Clock World" | 16 | |||
| 1993 | "Sure Love" | 3 | Sure Love | |
| "Hearts Are Gonna Roll" | 2 | |||
| "Mama Knows the Highway" | 8 | |||
| 1994 | "Someplace Far Away (Careful What You're Dreaming)" | 24 | ||
| "(Tonight We Just Might) Fall in Love Again" | 20 | Every Little Word | ||
| "That's What I Get for Losin' You" | 22 | |||
| 1995 | "Stay Forever" | 8 | 124 | |
| "Every Little Word" | 49 | |||
| "Veil of Tears" | 56 | |||
| 1996 | "Hang in There Superman"B | The Hits | ||
| 1998 | "I Saw the Light" | 36 | 121 | I Saw the Light |
| 2001 | "Keep Mom and Dad in Love" (w/ Lisa Brokop)C | Lucky Man | ||
| "She Is" | 40 | |||
| 2002 | "Every Time I Look in Your Eyes"B | Awaiting Redemption | ||
| 2004 | "My Love Will Not Change" | 60 | King of Love | |
| 2006 | "Just This Side of Heaven (Hal-lelujah)" | 47 | One More Midnight | |
| 2007 | "In Front of the Alamo" (w/ LeAnn Rimes)B | |||
| "One More Midnight"B | ||||
- A Reached #1 on U.S. Radio & Records (now Mediabase 24/7) country singles charts.
- B Failed to chart.
- C Released only in Canada.
[edit] References
- ^ Brennan, Sandra. Hal Ketchum Biography. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
- ^ Amazon.co.uk: One More Midnight: Music: Hal Ketchum
