Timothy James Hardin (December 23, 1941 – December 29, 1980 ) was an American folk musician and composer. He is best remembered for writing the Top 40 hits "If I Were a Carpenter", covered by, among others, Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash, and Robert Plant, and "Reason to Believe", covered by many, including Rod Stewart, as well as his own recording career.
Hardin dropped out of high school at age 18 to join the Marine Corps. He spent part of 1959 in Vi...
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Timothy James Hardin (December 23, 1941 – December 29, 1980 ) was an American folk musician and composer. He is best remembered for writing the Top 40 hits "If I Were a Carpenter", covered by, among others, Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash, and Robert Plant, and "Reason to Believe", covered by many, including Rod Stewart, as well as his own recording career.
Hardin dropped out of high school at age 18 to join the Marine Corps. He spent part of 1959 in Vietnam as a military advisor. He told the story that his sergeant was killed on patrol that year, but because the US didn't admit to any military dead until 1961, his sergeant was listed as having been killed then. Hardin is said to have discovered heroin in Vietnam.
After his discharge he moved to New York City in 1961, where he briefly attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He was dismissed because of truancy and began to focus on his musical career by performing around Greenwich Village, mostly in a blues style.
After moving to...
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