Johnny Hogan, is an Irish country music singer-songwriter and guitar player. To date, he has released 16 CDs and a live concert DVD. Hogan was born in Kilbeggan, County Westmeath and is often referred to as the 'Prince of Irish country music' as well as the 'Offaly Rover'.
Biography
Hogan was born and raised in the town of Kilbeggan in County Westmeath, in the midlands of Ireland. Today, he is more often associated with County Offaly and has resided in the town of Croghan for over 30 years. He is married to his childhood sweetheart Esther and they have five children Caroline, Lorna, Robert, Dermot and Mark. Hogan began his career in 1987 when he recorded a song titled 'Brown Eyes' which found its way into the hands of radio presenter Don Allen. He played the song which eventually made it to No. 1 in the Irish Country Music charts and remained there for several weeks. Such was the impact of that first radio play that hundred if people phoned the station looking to know more about this new singer. In addition to his interpretations of country standards, Hogan has also written a number of original songs including ‘My Feelings For You’ and ‘Turn Back The Years,’ which were included on his first recordings for the label K-tel Records. In 1993, 'Stepping Stone' became a major hit for Hogan in St. Lucia, where he retains a large following. John is a fan of John Denver and Hank Locklin and has recorded many of their songs. At the time he recorded Brown Eyes, a song his mother used to sing to him, John was a supervisor with bord na mona. John played his first professional gig in the Border Inn, Castleford, in County Donegal, to a sell-out crowd and became one of the biggest names in Irish Country Music virtually overnight. During the 1990s, Hogan filmed an in-concert video, 'My Kind Of Country,' which was released on VHS and on DVD by Rosette Records. Hogan has recorded several studio albums in Nashville, Tennessee and is a labelmate on London-based Ritz Records with American country music singer Charley Pride. During this period, Hogan continued to build a following in the United States and was asked to perform at Charley Pride's theatre venue located in the city ofBranson, Missouri. Currently, Hogan hosts a weekly program called 'It's Country with John Hogan' on Sky 389 on the Keep It CountryTV Channel, which focuses on interviews, news stories and music videos pertaining to country music. Hogan has shared the stage with a number of country music acts, including Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Daniel O'Donnell, Billie Jo Spears, Mick Flavin, Merle Haggard, Philomena Begley, Roy Drusky, Paddy O'Brien, Ray Price, Mary Duff, Claude Gray, and Gene Watson, whose hit version of 'Paper Rosie' inspired Hogan to record an interpretation of the song. Over his 30-year career, Hogan has continued to tour in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States as well as Spain, Portugal and St. Lucia, where he was given the title 'Freeman of St. Lucia'.
