Hal Michael Ketchum was born in Greenwich, New York on April 9, 1953 to Frank & Janet Ketchum. He is the eldest of three children. He has been married three times. His first marriage was to Barbara and lasted eighteen years, ending in divorce in 1989. He then married Terrell Tye on September 16, 1991 and that marriage lasted six years before ending in divorce. His third marriage is to Gina Pacconi, who he married on February 14, 1998. Ketchum has four children. From his marriage to Barbara, he has Sarah, born circa 1975 and Graham, born circa 1978. Then from his current marriage to Gina, he has Ruby Joy, born January 22, 2001 and Sophia, born June 17, 2004.

Hal is a country music singer, songwriter, drummer, actor, artist and master carpenter. He appeared in the 1988 film Heartbreak Hotel. He also made a cameo appearance as a bank robber in the 1994 film Maverick.

Hal’s mother died from multiple sclerosis, and in June 1998, Hal was diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis (ATM), a painful inflammation of the spinal cord that blocks transmission of nerve impulses up and down the spinal cord. Then, about a year later, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He has gone through bouts of paralysis, blindness and relearning how to do things, but in his words, he keeps going.

Hal is known for “Small Town Saturday Night”, “Past the Point of Rescue”, “Hearts Are Gonna Roll” and “Sure Love”.