Edwin McCain

Biography

Edwin Cole McCain (born January 20, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his 1998 single "I'll Be×I'll Be26 January 1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1I'll Be (radio edit)3:592I'll Be (full version)4:19", which peaked at number 5 in the Billboard Hot 100; its 1999 follow-up, "I Could Not Ask for More×I Could Not Ask For More1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1I Could Not Ask For More (Radio Mix)4:102I Could Not Ask For More4:39", peaked within its top 40. 5 of McCain's 11 albums have entered the Billboard 200.

Early life

McCain graduated from Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, South Carolina, and briefly attended both the College of Charleston and Coastal Carolina University.

Career

In 1994, McCain recorded his first major-label album, Honor Among Thieves×Honor Among Thieves15 August 1995 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Alive4:022Solitude4:313Jesters Dreamers and Thieves4:224Guinevere3:305Sorry to a Friend3:556America Street4:407Russian Roulette4:598Bitter Chill4:239Don't Bring Me Down4:0010Kitchen Song4:2211Thirty Pieces4:32123 A.M.4:24 under the Lava Records imprint. The record was released in 1995. His second album, Misguided Roses×Misguided Roses24 June 1997 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1See the Sky Again4:102Grind Me in the Gears4:223Cleveland Park4:294I’ll Be4:275How Strange It Seems4:146The Rhythm of Life5:297Punish Me5:088Darwin's Children4:159Take Me4:1610(I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' 'Bout That3:5111What Matters5:1912Holy City11:54, spawned "I'll Be×I'll Be26 January 1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1I'll Be (radio edit)3:592I'll Be (full version)4:19", a major hit single in 1998. "I'll Be" also is featured on the charitable album, Live in the X Lounge, along with a live version of McCain's "Solitude×Solitude1993 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Welcome to the 90's4:212Don't Bring Me Down3:583Silent Spring4:024Life in the Storm3:5853:00 A.M.4:156America Street3:497Convenience of My Solitude4:158Battlefield4:389The Kitchen Song4:1710Working Man5:01".
The summer of 1999 marked the arrival of McCain's third album, Messenger×Messenger15 June 1999 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Wish in This World3:462Beautiful Life5:073Promise of You5:334Ghosts of Jackson Square4:175I Could Not Ask for More4:376Do Your Thing4:347Prayer to St. Peter3:448Go Be Young3:459Anything About Me3:4910I’ll Be (acoustic)4:3811Sign on the Door6:0112See Off This Mountain7:0313[data track], which included a second Top 40 hit, the Diane Warren-penned "I Could Not Ask For More×I Could Not Ask For More1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1I Could Not Ask For More (Radio Mix)4:102I Could Not Ask For More4:39." "I Could Not Ask For More" was also featured on the soundtrack for the 1999 film Message in a Bottle.
In 2002, McCain released his first DVD, Mile Marker: Songs and Stories from the Acoustic Highway. In 2003, he released a collection of acoustic versions of old and new songs called The Austin Sessions. About the same time, he hosted "Inside Music With Edwin McCain", a syndicated show on the Sirius radio network. Mid-2004 saw the arrival of McCain's studio album Scream & Whisper×Scream & Whisper22 June 2004 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Coming Down3:342Shooting Stars3:373Throw It All Away4:014Say Anything3:435Turning Around3:406Couldn't Love You More4:187Good Enough4:048Farewell to Tinkerbell2:599How Can You Say That to Me4:0910Day Will Never Come4:2711Save the Rain3:3912White Crosses6:1113Wild at Heart2:5914Maggie May5:05. In late 2004, McCain released his second DVD, Tinsel and Tap Shoes. It was his first live concert DVD, recorded at The House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
In 2005, McCain released a single, "Hold Out a Hand," co-written and performed with singer/songwriter Maia Sharp. All profits from the single went to hurricane relief. McCain's next album, Lost in America×Lost in America11 April 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Gramercy Park Hotel4:152The Kiss3:543Welcome to Struggleville4:264Truly Believe4:115Lost in America3:196My Mystery3:557Black and Blue3:228Bitter and Twisted3:379Losing Tonight4:5510Babylon3:24, was released on April 11, 2006. Lost in America contained three singles: "Truly Believe", "The Kiss" and live-favorite "Gramercy Park Hotel", which pays homage to the New York City landmark and its colorful patrons. A subsequent recording, a collection of R&B cover songs titled "Nobody's Fault But Mine×Nobody's Fault but Mine24 June 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Can I Get a Witness4:182The Happy Song (Dum-Dum)3:473Grits Ain't Groceries (All Around the World)3:204Some Kind of Wonderful3:335T.C.B. or T.Y.A.3:386Ain't Nobody (Gonna Turn Me Around)3:277You Don't Know What You Mean to Me3:208Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won't Do)4:179Nobody's Fault but Mine3:3510I Can't Get Next to You4:4611Raise Your Hand3:4112Who's Making Love4:0313I Know I'm Losing You3:4514Good Times3:3215I've Got Dreams to Remember3:52", was produced by Tor Hyams and released through Saguaro Road Records on June 24, 2008; it included a version of Soul Brothers Six song "Some Kind of Wonderful." In 2010, McCain released The Best of Edwin McCain, a 20-year career retrospective that included a cross-section of material as well as a new single, "Walk With You" (produced by Don Was.) McCain's 10th album, Mercy Bound×Mercy Bound29 August 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1The Boy Who Cried Love3:252Mercy Bound5:063Sober5:264Boom4:255Anywhere I'm Going2:576My Judas3:327Strange Angel3:428Uncharted3:419Better Story to Tell3:5810Mill house Girl3:3611The Lucky One4:31, was released August 30, 2011.
On January 22, 2017, McCain sang the American National Anthem at Gillette Stadium for the AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers. On November 29, 2019, McCain released his first Christmas album, Merry Christmas, Baby×Merry Christmas, Baby29 November 2019 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Merry Christmas, Baby3:012Winter Wonderland2:313Frosty The Snowman3:304Silver Bells4:365The Christmas Song2:256Christmas In New Orleans2:497Jingle Bells4:208Mele Kalikimaka2:219Silent Night3:2410Jingle Bell Rock3:0611Christmas Cheer2:31.
In 2025, McCain competed in season thirteen of The Masked Singer as "Nessy.” He was eliminated in "Top 5: Soundtrack of My Life" and did an encore of "I'll Be.”