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Dwight Yoakam

Dwight Yoakam was born in rural Pikeville, Kentucky in 1956. Soon after his birth Dwight’s parents moved north to Columbus, Ohio, where his father found a clerical job in the auto industry. Dwight graduated from Northland High School in 1974 and was very active in both drama and music programs. Though he briefly attended The Ohio State University after high school, Dwight did what most aspiring country musicians do during their youth - he moved to Nashville, Tennessee to make a name for himself in the country music capital of the world.

Somewhat surprisingly, the talented Yoakam didn’t accomplish much in Nashville. The already oversaturated country scene in Nashville was dominated at the time by slick, pop-influenced music. Yoakam’s rougher, grittier honky-tonk sound was not very popular with Nashville music executives, and by the early 1980’s Yoakam had moved again to - this time to Los Angeles. Yoakam found support in the diverse L.A. music scene, often playing alongside punk and rockabilly bands like The Blasters and Los Lobos.

Yoakam released his first album, Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc., in 1984 on independent label Oak Records. The record remained relatively unknown for two years, until it was picked up and re-released by major label Reprise Records. It went on to top the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and sell over two million copies, riding on the immense success of single "Honky Tonk Man". Dwight went on to release three more albums over the next four years, Hillbilly Deluxe, Buenas Noches From a Lonely Room, and If There Was a Way, all of which were certified platinum by the RIAA.