Indiana-born singer-songwriter Dirk Hamilton was raised in Northern California. He started playing guitar as a youngster, and by the time he was in high school, he was writing and performing frequently. In the late '70s, he left Northern California for Los Angeles, attempting to forge a career in rock 'n' roll.
His first album, You Can Sing on the Left or Bark on the Right, was released in 1976. The album was a successful amalgam of blues, country, rock, and folk, and it introduced Hamilton's rich, soulful voice to American music fans. Hamilton released much of his best work at the end of the '70s, especially 1977's Alias I and 1978's Meet Me at the Crux. His introspective, poetic lyrics and strong melodies built Hamilton a solid, national following.
After taking a break from music in the early eighties, Hamilton missed making music and decided to continue his music career at the end of the decade. His first release after the hiatus, Go Down Swingin', was released in 1991 by Appaloosa Records. The record is a guitar-driven affair, with Hamilton's strong voice and defiant lyrics taking center stage. Hamilton has released 16 records to date. His latest effort was 2007's The Ghost of Van Gogh on his own label, Acoustic Rock Records. He also still tours worldwide, performing both on his own and with a backing band. Interestingly, he has a large, rabid following in Italy.