Jamie O'Hara (singer)
Encyclopedia
Jamie O'Hara is an American country music
artist. Between 1986 and 1990, he and Kieran Kane
comprised The O'Kanes
, a duo which charted seven singles on the Billboard
Hot Country Singles
charts, including the Number One single "Can't Stop My Heart from Loving You
". After The O'Kanes disbanded in 1990, both O'Hara and Kane recorded solo albums of their own. In addition, O'Hara has continued writing songs for other country music artists.
where he attended Ottawa Hills High School (Ohio)
and played Varsity Football. He had initially planned to pursue a career in American football
, but after a career-ending knee injury, O'Hara shifted his focus to singing and songwriting. By 1975, he had moved to Nashville, Tennessee
, where he was signed to a publishing contract. Among the songs that he composed throughout the 1980s was "Older Women", a number one single for Ronnie McDowell
.
, another songwriter who worked for the same publishing company, first collaborated with O'Hara on a song entitled "Bluegrass Blues", eventually recorded by The Judds
. Afterwards, the two began writing more songs together; by 1986, they decided to form a duo known as The O'Kanes
. The same year, O'Hara wrote "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Ol' Days)
", which was also recorded by The Judds; in addition to becoming a number one single on the country music charts, this song earned him a Grammy Award for Best Country Song.
Signed to Columbia Records
in 1986, The O'Kanes recorded three studio albums for the label, in addition to charting seven singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. Their third album failed to produce any singles and by 1990, the duo parted ways, with both members assuming solo careers.
in 1994. His only album for the label, Rise Above It, was issued that year, followed by a second album entitled Beautiful Obsession seven years later. In addition, O'Hara continued to write songs for other artists, including cuts by Shelby Lynne
, Gary Allan
, and Trisha Yearwood
.
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. Between 1986 and 1990, he and Kieran Kane
Kieran Kane
Kieran Kane is an American country music artist, as well as the owner of Dead Reckoning Records, an independent record label. Between 1986 and 1990, he and Jamie O'Hara comprised The O'Kanes, a duo which charted seven singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, including the Number...
comprised The O'Kanes
The O'Kanes
The O'Kanes was an American country music duo, composed of Jamie O'Hara and Kieran Kane. Active between 1986 and 1990, the duo recorded three albums for Columbia Records and charted seven singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, including the Number One "Can't Stop My Heart from Loving...
, a duo which charted seven singles 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
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, including the Number One single "Can't Stop My Heart from Loving You
Can't Stop My Heart from Loving You
"Can't Stop My Heart from Loving You" is a 1987 single by The O'Kanes. "Cant Stop My Heart from Loving You" was written by Jamie O'Hara and Kieran Kane and was The O'Kanes' second country hit and the duo's only number-one country hit. The single went to number one for one week and spent a total of...
". After The O'Kanes disbanded in 1990, both O'Hara and Kane recorded solo albums of their own. In addition, O'Hara has continued writing songs for other country music artists.
Biography
Jamie O'Hara was born on August 8, 1950 in Toledo, OhioToledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
where he attended Ottawa Hills High School (Ohio)
Ottawa Hills High School (Ohio)
Ottawa Hills High School is a public high school in the village of Ottawa Hills, Ohio, United States, just west of Toledo. It is the only high school in the Ottawa Hills Local Schools district. The school's mascot is the "Green Bears."-Students:...
and played Varsity Football. He had initially planned to pursue a career in American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, but after a career-ending knee injury, O'Hara shifted his focus to singing and songwriting. By 1975, he had 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...
, where he was signed to a publishing contract. Among the songs that he composed throughout the 1980s was "Older Women", a number one single for Ronnie McDowell
Ronnie McDowell
Ronald Dean "Ronnie" McDowell is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1977 with the song "The King Is Gone", a tribute to Elvis Presley, who had died not long before the single's release. From that single onward, McDowell has charted more than thirty Top 40 hits on the Billboard...
.
The O'Kanes
Kieran KaneKieran Kane
Kieran Kane is an American country music artist, as well as the owner of Dead Reckoning Records, an independent record label. Between 1986 and 1990, he and Jamie O'Hara comprised The O'Kanes, a duo which charted seven singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, including the Number...
, another songwriter who worked for the same publishing company, first collaborated with O'Hara on a song entitled "Bluegrass Blues", eventually recorded by The Judds
The Judds
The Judds were an American country music duo composed of Naomi Judd and her daughter, Wynonna Judd. Signed to RCA Records in 1983, the duo released six studio albums between then and 1991. One of the most successful acts in country music history, The Judds won five Grammy Awards for Best Country...
. Afterwards, the two began writing more songs together; by 1986, they decided to form a duo known as The O'Kanes
The O'Kanes
The O'Kanes was an American country music duo, composed of Jamie O'Hara and Kieran Kane. Active between 1986 and 1990, the duo recorded three albums for Columbia Records and charted seven singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, including the Number One "Can't Stop My Heart from Loving...
. The same year, O'Hara wrote "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Ol' Days)
Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Ol' Days)
"Grandpa " is a 1986 song written by Jamie O'Hara, and made famous by The Judds."Grandpa" — as the song is sometimes known — is a reflection on days gone by, wherein the narrator expresses discontent about the decline in traditional values, the hectic lifestyle of the day and how progress hasn't...
", which was also recorded by The Judds; in addition to becoming a number one single on the country music charts, this song earned him a Grammy Award for Best Country Song.
Signed to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1986, The O'Kanes recorded three studio albums for the label, in addition to charting seven singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. Their third album failed to produce any singles and by 1990, the duo parted ways, with both members assuming solo careers.
Return to solo career
O'Hara recorded a solo album for RCA RecordsRCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
in 1994. His only album for the label, Rise Above It, was issued that year, followed by a second album entitled Beautiful Obsession seven years later. In addition, O'Hara continued to write songs for other artists, including cuts by Shelby Lynne
Shelby Lynne
Shelby Lynne is an American singer, songwriter and actress. The success of the 1999 album I Am Shelby Lynne led to her winning the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, even though she had been active in the music industry for some time...
, Gary Allan
Gary Allan
Gary Allan Herzberg is an American country music artist, known professionally as Gary Allan.Signed to Decca Records in 1996, Allan made his debut on the United States country music scene with the release of his single "Her Man", the lead-off to his gold-certified debut album Used Heart for Sale,...
, and Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood
Patricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
.
Albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Rise Above It |
|
| Beautiful Obsession |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "What's a Good Ol' Boy to Do" | Rise Above It |
| 1994 | "The Cold Hard Truth" | |
| "It Ain't Over (Til Your Heart Says It's Over)" | ||
| "50,000 Names" |
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "What's a Good Ol' Boy to Do" | Bubba Crigler |
| 1994 | "The Cold Hard Truth" | Brent Hedgecock |
| "It Ain't Over (Til Your Heart Says It's Over)" | ||
| "50,000 Names" |