Hal Ketchum | |
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 Ketchum performing in 2008 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Hal Michael Ketchum |
| Born | (1953-04-09)April 9, 1953 Greenwich, New York, U.S. |
| Died | November 23, 2020(2020-11-23) (aged 67) Fischer, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1986–2019 |
| Labels |
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Hal Michael Ketchum (April 9, 1953–November 23, 2020) was an Americancountry music singer and songwriter. He released eleven studio albums from 1986 to 2014, including nine for divisions ofCurb Records. Ketchum's 1991 albumPast the Point of Rescue was his most commercially successful, having beencertified gold by theRecording Industry Association of America. Between 1991 and 2006, Ketchum had 17 entries on theBillboardHot Country Songs charts, including three that reached the number two position: "Small Town Saturday Night", "Past the Point of Rescue", and "Hearts Are Gonna Roll". Ketchum's music is defined by his songwriting andfolk music influences. Ketchum retired from the music business in 2019 following a diagnosis ofdementia.
Hal Michael Ketchum was born on April 9, 1953, inGreenwich, New York.[1][2] At the age of 15, he began performing in clubs as a drummer with arhythm and blues trio. In 1981, Ketchum moved toAustin, Texas, where he began to visitGruene Hall, a small dance hall outside New Braunfels, a town about 60 miles south of Austin. This influenced him to try his hand at singing and songwriting, and by 1985 he was playing at small Texas clubs. Ketchum was a finalist in theKerrville Folk Festival New Folk Singer-Songwriter Contest in 1985 and was named one of six winners in 1986.[3] In 1986, Ketchum recorded his debut album,Threadbare Alibis, released two years later on theWatermelon Records label.[2] Ketchum then moved toNashville, Tennessee, and signed a record deal withCurb Records.
In 1991, Ketchum released his Curb debut albumPast the Point of Rescue. Four singles were released from the album: "Small Town Saturday Night" was first, achieving a peak of number two on theBillboardHot Country Songs chart.[1] After it came Ketchum's own composition "I Know Where Love Lives", which charted at number thirteen. Also peaking at number two was thetitle track, written by Irish musicianMick Hanly and originally a hit single in Ireland forMary Black in 1988. The last single from the album was a rendition ofThe Vogues' "Five O'Clock World", which Ketchum took into top 20 of Hot Country Songs in 1992.[1]Allen Reynolds, a producer best known for his work withCrystal Gayle,Garth Brooks andKathy Mattea, produced the album withJim Rooney. Among the musicians contributing to the album were Mattea,Gary Burr, andRichard Bennett, as well asBruce Bouton, Chris Leuzinger, and Milton Sledge of Brooks' studio band The G-Men.[4]Alanna Nash ofEntertainment Weekly rated the album "A−", stating that "Literate and tuneful,Past the Point of Rescue balances poetic love songs with a squint-eyed look at teenage rebellion, romance, and psychological intrigue, all delivered with a tenor that throbs with passion and conviction."[5]Past the Point of Rescue was certified gold by theRecording Industry Association of America for U.S. shipments of 500,000 copies.[6]
He released the albumSure Love in 1992. The album'stitle track charted at number three on Hot Country Songs, followed by "Hearts Are Gonna Roll" also at number two and "Mama Knows the Highway" at number eight, while the last single "Someplace Far Away (Careful What You're Dreaming)" was less successful on the charts.[1]
In 1994, Ketchum released the albumEvery Little Word. Five singles were issued from the album. Ketchum wrote the first two singles, "(Tonight We Just Might) Fall in Love Again" and "That's What I Get for Losin' You", with formerNRBQ memberAl Anderson. These peaked at numbers 20 and 22 on Hot Country Songs in 1994, respectively.[1] After it came Ketchum's last top-ten hit "Stay Forever", which he wrote withBenmont Tench; the title track and itsB-side, "Trail of Tears", both fell short of the top 40.[1] Ketchum was also inducted as the 71st Member of theGrand Ole Opry in 1994.[1][7][8]
Two years later came a greatest-hits package titledThe 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 36 with a cover ofTodd Rundgren's "I Saw the Light", from his next album, also titledI Saw the Light.[1]Awaiting Redemption followed in 1999.
He covered "If I Never Knew You" withShelby Lynne forThe Best of Country Sing the Best of Disney. In 2001, Ketchum releasedLucky Man. This album included only one charting single in the number 40 "She Is".[1]King of Love followed 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)".[1] He followed with his final albumsFather Time in 2008, andI'm the Troubadour in 2014.
In total, Ketchum had six Billboard top 10 singles and sold five million albums. After he moved to Texas in 2010, he played in theaters and spaces includingThe Birchmere andEddie Owen Presents - Red Clay Music Foundry He played his last show atGruene Hall.[9]
Ketchum appeared in the 1988 filmHeartbreak Hotel, and also made a cameo appearance as a bank robber in the 1994 filmMaverick.
Ron Wynn, reviewingPast the Point of Rescue for AllMusic, wrote that Ketchum "writes simple, sometimes moving songs about relationships and/or life's dilemmas, and communicates them in an attractive, unadorned vocal package" and said that his "delivery, as well as the arrangements and sensibility, lean towardeasy listening pop and lightfolk."[10] Also reviewing the same album, Mike Curtin ofThe Post-Star described Ketchum as having a "plaintive tenor voice" with comparisons toRoy Orbison andLyle Lovett.[11]
In June 1998, Ketchum was diagnosed with a neurological disorder calledacute transverse myelitis, an ailment of the spinal column, which left him without the use of the left side of his body.[12] This also forced him to re-learn basic tasks, including how to walk and play the guitar.
Ketchum was also a painter and his work has been displayed at Pena Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he had an opening in 2002. He was also a master carpenter and enjoyed building toys.[13]
On April 14, 2019, Ketchum's wife, Andrea, announced on his Facebook page that early-onsetsenile dementia includingAlzheimer's disease had progressed to the point that he could no longer perform.[14] Ketchum died at his home inFischer, Texas, due to complications of dementia, on November 23, 2020, at the age of 67.[15][16]
| Year | Organization | Award | Nominee/Work | Result |
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| 1997 | Country Music Association Awards | Vocal Event of the Year | "Long Haired Country Boy"withJohn Berry andCharlie Daniels | Nominated |
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)| International | |
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