At the time he recorded 'Brown Eyes', a song his mother used to sing to him, John was a supervisor with Bord Na Mona.
His first professional performance came at the Border Inn, Castleford, in County Donegal, to a sell-out crowd and became one of the biggest names in Irish country music virtually overnight.
During the 1990s, Hogan filmed a concert video, 'My Kind Of Country,' which was released on VHS and on DVD by Rosette Records.
During this period, Hogan continued to build a following in the United States and was asked to perform at Pride's theatre venue in Branson, Missouri.
Hogan has shared the stage with country music acts including Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Daniel O'Donnell, Billie Jo Spears, Mick Flavin, Merle Haggard, Philomena Begley, Roy Drusky, Paddy O'Brien, Ray Price, Mary Duff, Claude Gray, and Gene Watson, whose hit version of 'Paper Rosie' inspired Hogan to cover the song.