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United States Dwight Yoakam is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and filmmaker known for his contributions to country music and acclaimed acting performances.
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Request A ShowCollaborated with Beck on his 2012 album '3 Pears', with Beck producing two tracks.
Collaborated with John Mellencamp on the soundtrack for 'Falling from Grace' (1992), performing Mellencamp's 'Common Day Man' and joining Buzzin' Cousins on 'Sweet Suzanne'.
Collaborated with k.d. lang on a duet of The Flying Burrito Brothers' 'Sin City' for the 'Just Lookin' for a Hit' album (1989), which received a Grammy nomination.
Collaborated with Ralph Stanley, including a re-recording of 'Miner's Prayer' for Stanley's 1992 album 'Saturday Night & Sunday Morning', and Stanley played banjo on 'Train in Vain' from Yoakam's 'Under the Covers' (1997). He was also a duet partner on 'Traveler's Lantern' from 'A Long Way Home' (1998).
Collaborated with members of Alison Krauss & Union Station on his bluegrass album 'Swimmin' Pools, Movie Stars...' (2016), with Adam Steffey on mandolin and Barry Bales on upright bass.
Featured in a duet, 'I Don't Know How to Say Goodbye (Bang Bang Boom Boom)', which is the first single from Yoakam's forthcoming album 'Brighter Days'.
Collaboration on 'The Streets of Bakersfield' with Buck Owens in 2015. Also provided accompaniment on 'Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room' (1988).
Duet on 'Streets of Bakersfield' (1988), which became a number one single. They also co-wrote and recorded three tracks ('The Sad Side of Town', 'Alright, I'm Wrong', 'I Was There') on 'Tomorrow's Sounds Today' (2000), and Yoakam's 'Dwight Sings Buck' (2007) is composed entirely of Owens covers.
Curated his own show, 'Bakersfield Beat', on SiriusXM's Prime Country channel in 2018, which led to his own dedicated channel of the same name.
Signed with Paradigm for representation in all areas.
Represented by Neil W. at United Talent Agency, handling live music/touring worldwide excluding the US.
Co-wrote several successful singles with Kostas, including 'Nothing' (1995), which charted at number 20 on Hot Country Songs. Kostas' 'Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose' (1990) was one of his first successful cuts.
Dwight Yoakam was mentioned as participating in a Superstar Q&A alongside Rob Light, Willie Nelson, and Luke Bryan at a two-day conference, indicating a partnership or representation by CAA's music department.
Released covers of The Monkees' 'Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day' and Johnny Rivers' 'Mountain of Love' on limited edition vinyl through Jack White's label.
Dwight David Yoakam was born on October 23, 1956, in Pikeville, Kentucky. His early life involved a move to Columbus, Ohio, where he actively participated in high school drama, playing roles such as Helen Keller’s brother in “The Miracle Worker” and the lead in “Flowers for Algernon.” These formative experiences in theater built his confidence in performing. In 1977, he moved to Nashville to pursue music but found limited acceptance for his traditional country sound. He then relocated to California, where the music scene was more receptive to his style, and in 1982, he connected with producer and guitarist Pete Anderson, marking the beginning of a significant musical collaboration.
Financial support from his sister, brother-in-law, an insurance settlement, and a classical music concert at UCLA enabled Yoakam to record his six-song EP, “Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.,” in 1984 on the independent Oak label. This release resonated with country, punk rock, and rockabilly fans, leading to a contract with Warner Brothers’ Reprise Record label in 1985. The EP’s tracks, with additional songs, formed his full-length debut album. This period marked a return to traditional country sounds, distinguishing him from the prevailing Urban Cowboy trend.
By the early 1990s, after establishing himself in music with multiple chart-topping albums and singles, Yoakam began a professional acting career, starting with a 1991 episode of “P.S.I. Luv U.” This led to his big-screen debut in 1992 in “Red Rock West.” His 1993 album “This Time” is often considered his masterpiece, supported by a year-long world tour and earning him his first Grammy for the single “Ain’t That Lonely Yet.” His acting breakout came in 1996 with his critically acclaimed role as Doyle Hargraves in Billy Bob Thornton’s film “Sling Blade,” which garnered him a Screen Actors Guild nomination. By 1999, he added director and screenwriter to his resume with “South of Heaven, West of Hell,” demonstrating his versatility across both film and music industries.
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