Edwin Cole McCain (born January 20, 1970)[2] is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for how 1998 single "I'll Be", which peaked at number 5 in the Billboard Hot 100; its 1999 follow-up, "I Could Not Ask for More", 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,[3] and briefly attended both the College of Charleston[4] and Coastal Carolina University.[5]
Career
In 1994, McCain recorded his first major-label album, Honor Among Thieves under the Lava Records imprint. The record was released in 1995. His second album, Misguided Roses, spawned "I'll Be", 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".
The summer of 1999 marked the arrival of McCain's third album, Messenger, which included a second Top 40 hit, the Diane Warren-penned "I Could Not Ask For More." "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. 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, 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", 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, 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.[6]
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.”[7]
Discography
Independent albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Nomadic Logic | |
| Solitude |
|
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | |||
| Honor Among Thieves |
|
107 | |
| Misguided Roses |
|
73 | |
| Messenger |
|
59 |
|
| Far from Over |
|
105 | |
| The Austin Sessions |
|
— | |
| Scream & Whisper |
|
183 | |
| Rhino Hi-five: Edwin McCain |
|
— | |
| Lost in America |
|
— | |
| Nobody's Fault But Mine |
|
— | |
| Mercy Bound |
|
— | |
| Merry Christmas, Baby |
|
— | |
| Lucky |
|
— |
EPs
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Tinsel & Tap Shoes - Live at the House of Blues |
|
| Phoenix |
|
| O Edwin, Where Art Thou? |
|
Compilations
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| The Best of Edwin McCain |
|
| Live Versions |
|
Soundtrack appearances
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Twister |
|
| The Family Man |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [12] |
US AC [13] |
US Main. [14] |
CAN [15] |
PHL [16] | |||
| 1995 | "Solitude" | 72 | — | 25 | 45 | — | Honor Among Thieves |
| "Sorry to a Friend" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997 | "See the Sky Again" | — | — | — | — | — | Misguided Roses |
| 1998 | "I'll Be" | 5 | 6 | — | 52 | 31 | |
| "What Matters" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999 | "I Could Not Ask for More" | 37 | 3 | — | 12 | — | Messenger |
| "Go Be Young" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000 | "Beautiful Life" | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2001 | "Hearts Fall" | — | 27 | — | — | — | Far from Over |
| "Far from Over" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Radio Star" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Write Me a Song" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004 | "Say Anything" | — | — | — | — | — | Scream and Whisper |
| "Shooting Stars" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006 | "Gramercy Park Hotel" | — | — | — | — | — | Lost in America |
| "Truly Believe" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007 | "The Kiss" | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2008 | "Some Kind of Wonderful" | — | — | — | — | — | Nobody's Fault But Mine |
| 2010 | "Walk With You" | — | — | — | — | — | The Best of Edwin McCain |
| 2016 | "Christmas Chihuahua" | — | — | — | — | — | O Edwin, Where Art Thou? |
| – denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||
Soundtrack appearances
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "See the Sky Again" | Twister |
| 2000 | "I Don't Know How I Got By" | The Family Man |
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | The Masked Singer | Himself/Nessy | Season 13 contestant |
References
- ^ "ACE Repertory". Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ Rose, Mike (January 20, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for January 20, 2023 includes celebrities Questlove, Rainn Wilson". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ Christ Church Episcopal School
- ^ Whetzel, Melissa (March 6, 2013). "College Students to Help Produce "Live at The Charleston Music Hall"". The College Today. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ "Rocker Edwin McCain coming to Brooks Stadium". Coastal Carolina University. September 9, 2004. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
- ^ "Edwin McCain Surprises Fans With First-Ever Christmas Album". Americansongwriter.com. November 27, 2019.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (April 23, 2024). "'The Masked Singer' Reveals Identity of Nessy: Here Is the Celebrity Under the Costume". Variety. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ Edwin McCain - Nomadic Logic, 1991, retrieved February 22, 2026
- ^ Edwin McCain - Solitude, 1993, retrieved February 22, 2026
- ^ "Edwin McCain Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
- ^ "Edwin McCain – Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
- ^ "Edwin McCain Album & Song Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. February 22, 2026. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Edwin McCain – Chart History (Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs)". Billboard. February 22, 2026. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Canadian peaks". Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
- ^ "Philippine Hot 100, June 28, 2025". Billboard Philippines. June 28, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
