Hal Ketchum
Encyclopedia
Hal Michael Ketchum is an American country music
artist. He has released ten studio albums since 1986, including nine for the Curb
and Asylum
-Curb labels. Ketchum's 1991 album Past the Point of Rescue
is his most commercially successful, having been certified gold
by the Recording Industry Association of America
. Between 1991 and 2006, Ketchum also made seventeen entries on the Hot Country Songs
charts. Three of his singles — "Small Town Saturday Night," "Past the Point of Rescue" and "Hearts Are Gonna Roll" — all reached number 2 on this chart, and three more charted within the Top Ten: "Sure Love" at number 3, and "Mama Knows the Highway" and "Stay Forever," both at number 8.
. At the age of 15, he 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.
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 number 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 Recording Industry Association of America
.
He released the album Sure Love the following year, with the title track reaching number 3 on the country charts, scoring another number 2 with "Hearts Are Gonna Roll", and "Mama Knows the Highway" charting at number 8.
In 1994, Ketchum released the album Every Little Word, generating several more hits, including the Benmont Tench
-penned "Stay Forever" which reached number 8. Hal was also inducted as the 71st Member of the Grand Ole Opry
in 1994.
Two years later came a greatest-hits package entitled The Hits. This album included the non-charting single "Hang In There Superman." Ketchum did not appear on the charts again until 1998, when he reached number 6 with a cover of Todd Rundgren
's "I Saw the Light
", from his next album, also entitled I Saw the Light.
In 2001, Ketchum released Lucky Man. This album included only one charting single in the number 40 "She Is". Awaiting Redemption followed in 2002 without a charting single, and King of Love in 2004 with only the number 60 "My Love Will Not Change" to its credit. One More Midnight, released only in the United Kingdom
, produced a number 47 country hit in the United States with "Just This Side of Heaven (Hal-Lelujah)", although the album itself never was released in the U.S. His most recent US release is Father Time in 2008.
. Ketchum also made a cameo appearance as a bank robber in the 1994 film Maverick
.
, an ailment of the spinal column, which 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
, which his mother died of.
Ketchum is also a painter and his work has been shown in Santa Fe, New Mexico’s Pena Gallery, where he had an art-show opening in 2002. He also is a master carpenter and enjoys making toys.
^ One More Midnight is only available in the United Kingdom
.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist. He has released ten studio albums since 1986, including nine for the Curb
Curb Records
Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963...
and Asylum
Asylum Records
Asylum Records is an American record label founded in 1971 by David Geffen, and partner Elliot Roberts, who had previously worked as agents at the William Morris Agency. Founded specifically to provide a record contract for Jackson Browne, the label signed Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell...
-Curb labels. Ketchum's 1991 album Past the Point of Rescue
Past the Point of Rescue
Past the Point of Rescue is the title of an album released by American country music artist Hal Ketchum. His first major-label album, it was released in 1991 on Curb Records and has been certified gold by the RIAA. The album produced four singles for him on the Billboard Hot Country Singles &...
is his most commercially successful, having been certified gold
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
. Between 1991 and 2006, Ketchum also made seventeen entries on the Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
charts. Three of his singles — "Small Town Saturday Night," "Past the Point of Rescue" and "Hearts Are Gonna Roll" — all reached number 2 on this chart, and three more charted within the Top Ten: "Sure Love" at number 3, and "Mama Knows the Highway" and "Stay Forever," both at number 8.
Career
Ketchum was born in Greenwich, New YorkGreenwich (town), New York
Greenwich is a town in the southwest part of Washington County, New York, United States. The town is located on the west border of the county. The population was 4,896 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. At the age of 15, he began performing in clubs as a drummer with a rhythm and blues trio. In 1981, Ketchum moved to Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
where he began to visit Gruene Hall
Gruene Hall
Gruene Hall, was built in 1878 by Richard Gruene and is located in the historical town of Gruene, Texas , and bills itself as "the oldest continually run dance hall in Texas." Gruene Hall has hosted such acts as Willie Nelson, George Strait, Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, Lyle Lovett, Hal...
, 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.
Ketchum then moved to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and signed a record deal with Curb Records
Curb Records
Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963...
. In 1991, Ketchum released his Curb debut album Past the Point of Rescue
Past the Point of Rescue
Past the Point of Rescue is the title of an album released by American country music artist Hal Ketchum. His first major-label album, it was released in 1991 on Curb Records and has been certified gold by the RIAA. The album produced four singles for him on the Billboard Hot Country Singles &...
, with both his debut single "Small Town Saturday Night" and the title track "Past the Point of Rescue
Past the Point of Rescue (song)
"Past the Point of Rescue" is the title of a song written by Mick Hanly and recorded by American country music artist Hal Ketchum. It was released in February 1992 as the third single from Ketchum's album Past the Point of Rescue...
" reaching number 2 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
) charts, launching him to stardom. This album was later certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
.
He released the album Sure Love the following year, with the title track reaching number 3 on the country charts, scoring another number 2 with "Hearts Are Gonna Roll", and "Mama Knows the Highway" charting at number 8.
In 1994, Ketchum released the album Every Little Word, generating several more hits, including the Benmont Tench
Benmont Tench
Benjamin Montmorency Tench, III is an American keyboardist best known as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.-Early years:...
-penned "Stay Forever" which reached number 8. Hal was also inducted as the 71st Member of the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
in 1994.
Two years later came a greatest-hits package entitled The Hits. This album included the non-charting single "Hang In There Superman." Ketchum did not appear on the charts again until 1998, when he reached number 6 with a cover of Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
's "I Saw the Light
I Saw The Light (Todd Rundgren song)
"I Saw the Light" is the opening track from Todd Rundgren's 1972 Something/Anything? double album. The song is a pastiche of 1960s pop songs and a homage to singer-songwriters Laura Nyro and Carole King....
", from his next album, also entitled I Saw the Light.
In 2001, Ketchum released Lucky Man. This album included only one charting single in the number 40 "She Is". Awaiting Redemption followed in 2002 without a charting single, and King of Love in 2004 with only the number 60 "My Love Will Not Change" to its credit. One More Midnight, released only in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, produced a number 47 country hit in the United States with "Just This Side of Heaven (Hal-Lelujah)", although the album itself never was released in the U.S. His most recent US release is Father Time in 2008.
Acting career
Ketchum appeared in the 1988 film Heartbreak HotelHeartbreak Hotel (film)
Heartbreak Hotel is a 1988 comedy film written and directed by Chris Columbus and starring David Keith and Tuesday Weld. Set in 1972, the story deals with one of the many "legends" involving Elvis Presley about his fictional kidnapping, and his subsequent redemption from decadence.The film was...
. Ketchum also made a cameo appearance as a bank robber in the 1994 film Maverick
Maverick (film)
Maverick is a 1994 Western comedy film based on the 1950s television series of the same name, created by Roy Huggins. The film was directed by Richard Donner from a screenplay by William Goldman and features Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster and James Garner, as well as several cameo appearances...
.
Personal life
In June 1998, Ketchum was diagnosed with a neurological disorder called Acute Transverse MyelitisTransverse myelitis
Transverse myelitis is a neurological disorder caused by an inflammatory process of the spinal cord, and can cause axonal demyelination. The name is derived from Greek referring to the "spinal cord", and the suffix -itis, which denotes inflammation...
, an ailment of the spinal column, which 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
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
, which his mother died of.
Ketchum is also a painter and his work has been shown in Santa Fe, New Mexico’s Pena Gallery, where he had an art-show opening in 2002. He also is a master carpenter and enjoys making toys.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales thresholds) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country |
US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
CAN Country RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
|||
| Threadbare Alibis |
|
— | — | — | — | |
| Past the Point of Rescue Past the Point of Rescue Past the Point of Rescue is the title of an album released by American country music artist Hal Ketchum. His first major-label album, it was released in 1991 on Curb Records and has been certified gold by the RIAA. The album produced four singles for him on the Billboard Hot Country Singles &... |
Curb Records Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963... |
6 | 45 | 2 | — |
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... : Gold |
| Sure Love Sure Love Sure Love is the title of the second studio album released by American country music artist Hal Ketchum. It was released in 1992 on Curb Records. The album produced four chart singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts... |
|
36 | 151 | — | 21 | |
| Every Little Word Every Little Word Every Little Word is the title of the fourth album released by country music artist Hal Ketchum in 1994 . It peaked at #31, better than his previous album, on Billboards Top Country Albums chart. Of the five singles released from the album, "Stay Forever" was the most successful, peaking at # 8 on... |
|
31 | 146 | — | — | |
| I Saw the Light |
|
37 | — | — | — | |
| Awaiting Redemption |
|
— | — | — | — | |
| Lucky Man |
|
72 | — | — | — | |
| King of Love |
|
— | — | — | — | |
| One More Midnight[A] |
|
— | — | — | — | |
| Father Time Father Time (album) Father Time is the title of a studio album from country music artist Hal Ketchum. The album was released on September 9, 2008 on Asylum-Curb Records. It is the followup to 2007's One More Midnight, which was only released in the United Kingdom. Father Time is composed of fourteen new songs that... |
|
— | — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||
^ One More Midnight is only available in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Country |
||
| The Hits The Hits (Hal Ketchum album) The Hits is the title of the first compilation album by country music artist Hal Ketchum in 1996. It briefly appeared on Billboards Top Country Albums chart, peaking at #43. Three songs were newly recorded for this collection, "Satisfied Mind", the Bob Ferguson cover "Wings of a Dove" and "Hang in... |
|
43 |
| Greatest Hits |
|
— |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||
1990s
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
CAN Country RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
|||
| 1991 | "Small Town Saturday Night Small Town Saturday Night (song) "Small Town Saturday Night" is the title of a song written by Pat Alger and Hank DeVito, and recorded by American country music artist Hal Ketchum. It was released in April 1991 as the first single from his album Past the Point of Rescue... " |
2 | — | — | Past the Point of Rescue |
| "I Know Where Love Lives I Know Where Love Lives "I Know Where Love Lives" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music artist Hal Ketchum. It was released in October 1991 as the second single from his album Sure Love. The song reached #13 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in early 1992.-Chart performance:... " |
13 | — | 15 | ||
| 1992 | "Past the Point of Rescue Past the Point of Rescue (song) "Past the Point of Rescue" is the title of a song written by Mick Hanly and recorded by American country music artist Hal Ketchum. It was released in February 1992 as the third single from Ketchum's album Past the Point of Rescue... " |
2 | — | 1 | |
| "Five O'Clock World Five O'Clock World "Five O'Clock World" is the title of a song written by Allen Reynolds and recorded by American vocal group The Vogues. It reached #1 in Canada on the RPM singles chart on 10 January 1966 and peaked at #4 in the U.S... " |
16 | — | 21 | ||
| "Sure Love Sure Love (song) "Sure Love" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Hal Ketchum. It was released in September 1992 as the first single from his album Sure Love. The song reached #3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in January 1993.-Chart performance:... " |
3 | — | 6 | Sure Love | |
| 1993 | "Hearts Are Gonna Roll Hearts Are Gonna Roll "Hearts Are Gonna Roll" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Hal Ketchum. It was released in February 1993 as the second single from his album Sure Love. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in May 1993.-Chart... " |
2 | — | 6 | |
| "Mama Knows the Highway Mama Knows the Highway "Mama Knows the Highway" is the title of a song written by Pete Wasner and Charles John Quarto, and recorded by American country music artist Hal Ketchum. It was released in June 1993 as the third single from his album Sure Love. The song reached #8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks... " |
8 | — | 14 | ||
| "Someplace Far Away (Careful What You're Dreaming) Someplace Far Away (Careful What You're Dreaming) "Someplace Far Away " is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music artist Hal Ketchum. It was released in September 1993 as the fourth and final single from his album Sure Love... " |
24 | — | 6 | ||
| 1994 | "(Tonight We Just Might) Fall in Love Again" | 20 | — | 17 | Every Little Word |
| "That's What I Get for Losin' You" | 22 | — | 23 | ||
| 1995 | "Stay Forever Stay Forever "Stay Forever" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Hal Ketchum. It was released in January 1995 as the third single from his album Every Little Word... " |
8 | 124 | 10 | |
| "Every Little Word" | 49 | — | 55 | ||
| "Veil of Tears" | 56 | — | — | ||
| 1996 | "Hang In There Superman" | — | — | — | The Hits |
| 1998 | "I Saw the Light I Saw The Light (Todd Rundgren song) "I Saw the Light" is the opening track from Todd Rundgren's 1972 Something/Anything? double album. The song is a pastiche of 1960s pop songs and a homage to singer-songwriters Laura Nyro and Carole King.... " |
36 | 121 | 50 | I Saw the Light |
| "When Love Looks Back at You" | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||
2000s
| Year | Single | Peak positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
|||
| 2001 | "She Is" | 40 | Lucky Man |
| "Don't Let Go" | — | ||
| "Two of the Lucky Ones" (with Dolly Parton Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk... ) |
— | ||
| 2002 | "Every Time I Look in Your Eyes" | — | The King of Love |
| 2004 | "My Love Will Not Change" | 60 | single only |
| 2006 | "Just This Side of Heaven (Hal-lelujah)" | 47 | One More Midnight |
| 2007 | "In Front of the Alamo" (with LeAnn Rimes LeAnn Rimes LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her... ) |
— | |
| "One More Midnight" | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||
Guest singles
| Year | Single | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | "Keep Mom and Dad in Love" | Lisa Brokop Lisa brokop Lisa Brokop is a Canadian country music singer/songwriter and actress. Active since 1990 in the country music field, she has released a total of six studio albums, and has charted more than twenty singles on the country music charts in her native Canada... |
Undeniable Undeniable (Lisa Brokop album) Undeniable is the fifth studio album by Canadian country music singer-songwriter Lisa Brokop. The album was released in 2000 by Cosmo Records.-Track listing:#"I'd Like to See You Try" - 3:29... |
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | "Small Town Saturday Night" | Senor McGuire |
| 1992 | "I Know Where Love Lives" | Richard Kooris |
| "Past the Point of Rescue" | Steve Boyle | |
| "Sure Love" | ||
| 1993 | "Mama Knows the Highway" | Dick Buckley |
| 1994 | "For Today" (with Charley Pride Charley Pride Charley Frank Pride is an American country music singer. His smooth baritone voice was featured on thirty-nine number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His greatest success came in the early- to mid-1970s, when he became the best-selling performer for RCA Records since Elvis... ) |
Tom Denolf |
| "(Tonight We Just Might) Fall in Love Again" | Sherman Halsey Sherman Halsey Sherman Halsey is an American music video and television director, producer, and artist manager. Sherman Halsey has produced and directed hundreds of television shows and music videos for artists such as Tim McGraw, Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson, BB King, Michael Bolton, Dwight Yoakam, and many... |
|
| 1995 | "Stay Forever" | Jim Shea |
| 1996 | "Hang in There Superman" | Jim McGuire |
| 1998 | "I Saw the Light" | Jim Shea |
| 2001 | "Keep Mom and Dad in Love" (with Lisa Brokop Lisa brokop Lisa Brokop is a Canadian country music singer/songwriter and actress. Active since 1990 in the country music field, she has released a total of six studio albums, and has charted more than twenty singles on the country music charts in her native Canada... ) |
|
| "She Is" | ||
| 2007 | "In Front of the Alamo" | Glenn Sweitzer |