Dwight Yoakam

Induction Year: 2019

Birth Name: Dwight David Yoakam

Birth Date: 10-23-1956

Place of Birth: Pikeville, Kentucky

Dwight Yoakam was born in the coal mining community of Pikeville, Kentucky, and raised in Columbus, Ohio. During high school, he took part in the music and drama programs; also singing and playing guitar in a variety of local bands.

After graduation, he briefly attended Ohio State University before dropping out to move to Nashville in the late 1970s.

When Dwight’s brand of modern honky tonk failed to mesh with the pop-oriented “Urban Cowboy” climate of the time in Music City, he moved to Los Angeles. There he met a kindred spirit in guitarist Pete Anderson. Their edgy band found success in the city’s rock and punk clubs.

By the mid-1980s, Dwight had signed with Reprise Records. When his debut album, produced by Anderson, was released in 1986, it launched him to stardom.

Throughout his career Dwight has written most of the songs on most of his albums. His credits as a songwriter/artist include “Guitars, Cadillacs,” “Little Ways,” “Please, Please Baby,” “I Sang Dixie,” “I Got You,” “It Only Hurts Me When I Cry,” “Try Not To Look So Pretty,” “A Thousand Miles From Nowhere,” “Fast As You” and “You’re The One,” also recorded by Flatt Lonesome and named the 2016 IBMA Song of the Year.

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Song Catalog

"A Thousand Miles From Nowhere"

Dwight Yoakam1993 #2 country

"Fast As You"

Dwight Yoakam1994 #2 country, #70 pop

"Guitars, Cadillacs"

Dwight Yoakam1986 #4 country
Lorrie Morgan & Pam Tillis2017 
 

"I Got You"

Dwight Yoakam1989 #5 country
 

"I Sang Dixie"

Dwight Yoakam1988 #1 country
 

"I'll Be Gone"

Dwight Yoakam1986 
 

"If There Was A Way"

Dwight Yoakam1990 
Rosie Flores2019 
 

"It Only Hurts Me When I Cry"

(written with Roger Miller)

Dwight Yoakam1992 #7 country
Raul Malo2007 
 

"It Won't Hurt"

Dwight Yoakam1986 #31 country

"Little Ways"

Dwight Yoakam1987 #8 country
 

"Miner's Prayer"

Dwight Yoakam1986 
Ralph Stanley w/ Dwight Yoakam1992 
 

"Nothing"

(written with Kostas)

Dwight Yoakam1995 #20 country
 

"Nothing's Changed Here"

(written with Kostas)

Dwight Yoakam1991 #15 country
 

"Please, Please Baby"

Dwight Yoakam1987 #6 country
 

"Pocket Of A Clown"

Dwight Yoakam1994 #22 country
Raul Malo2007 
 

"The Heart That You Own"

Dwight Yoakam1992 #18 country
 

"Things Change"

Dwight Yoakam1998 #17 country, #99 pop
 

"Try Not To Look So Pretty"

(written with Kostas)

Dwight Yoakam1994 #14 country
 

"What Do You Know About Love"

Dwight Yoakam2000 #26 country
 

"Wild Ride"

Dwight Yoakam1993 
Kenny Chesney w/ Joe Walsh2007 

"You're The One"

2016 IBMA Song of the Year

Dwight Yoakam1991 #5 country
Flatt Lonesome2016 

Other Media

Dwight Yoakam

Induction Year: 2019