I�ve heard someone say that describing Americana music is difficult, but that they recognize it when they hear it. When I listen to John Mellencamp sing, I hear Americana music, some of the best ever produced. I also hear rock and roll, country, blues, and folk. He fits no one classification. But there is something absolutely American about this man and the music he writes. John is a product of the heartland�Indiana. Time and again he turned his attention to that land and its people, the breadbasket of our civilization. Time and again he fought the music establishment to say what he wanted, at one point, even to use his own name. Yes, music executives changed his name to John Cougar to make it more appealing to the public. Pissed him right off and started a war that continues to this day. John champions worthy causes. He, along with Willie Nelson and Neil Young founded Farm-aid, a gathering of musicians to raise awareness and money for those that feed us. You�ll recognize many Americana musicians participating in the yearly concert that organization sponsors. This year marked their twentieth anniversary. A look at recent news on him will reveal one charity event after another�John giving back to the land that gave to him. And not just his voice, but also his heart, soul and mind. John is a social activist. His songs decry injustices and promote tolerance and understanding for the wide spectrum of people that make up our nation. He understands love and the human condition and has lessons to teach garnered from a life spent in the fast lane. It�s hard for me to believe, but John turned 55 this year. John hasn�t written much new material in recent years, but in 2004 he released a double cd containing most of his better songs with two new additional tunes worthy of your time. I find this album an integral part of my music collection. An Americana collection absent his work is incomplete. I won�t waste your time telling you about this man and his music because it probably isn�t necessary. A stroll through the hits on his last album  speaks for itself. Here�s a decent biography. And a history of Farm-aid concerts. For you younger musicians out there, John Mellencamp has a lesson or ten to teach, and you�ll have some fun while you�re at it. Buy the album. Listen. Learn� Feel.   Yep, he�s Americana.-------------------- About the Author - Don Henry Ford, Jr. When Don's not writing books he lends out his talent to Americana Roots to put together great articles like this. If you've enjoyed what you read, then pick up Don's latest book Contrabando: Confessions of a Drug Smuggling Cowboy at your local bookstore or online at Cinco Puntos Press.