Kevin Welch grew up in Oklahoma. He already toured as a teenager with several bands, before he moved to Nashville in 1978 to work as a songwriter. Singers like Ricky Skaggs, Steve Earle and Don Williams were using his material. At the same time he was very active in local clubs with his band - The Overtones. His popularity grew and in 1988 he signed a record contract with Warner Brothers. In 1990 the album Kevin Welch was recorded and 2 years later Western Beat.