Great interview, being from CT and being about same age as johnny, I grew up listening to all the RI blues heros. Bands like Variations, Greg and the Group, Roomful, Black Cat Blues Band. Really enjoyed listening to the stories over Johnny's career!
Wonderful video, on the great Mr. Nicholas, thanks Mark! Back in ‘74 I saw Johnny play with Big Walter Horton and SP Leary here in Eugene at the WOW Hall and as a fledgling harp player it changed my life. A local band The Nighthawks (not the DC Nighthawks) was the opening band. It was their lead singer’s(Curtis Salgado) 21st birthday. All the local harp players came out, Paul DeLay (RIP), Pete Karnes, (RIP), Bill Rhoades, Mike Moothart (RIP). The Nighthawks featured the great Jimmy Cochran (RIP) and Frank Speaker on guitars, David K. Stewart (RIP) on piano, Rich Kesey (RIP) on bass and Dave Olson (RIP) on drums. I remember seeing SP sitting in the audience watching the band with a cute hippie girl under each arm smoking a joint and he looked over in my direction and said “Man, I got MY Mojo working!” I was just a junior in high school and the whole thing was just amazing. I watched Big Walter very carefully and I remember at one point while he was playing he pressed the microphone up against his throat and got this trombone like sound! Thanks again Mark and thanks to Mr. Johnny Nicholas, it’s great that you are recording these stories for the world.
I first picked up Can't Stop Loving You album of Big Walter some 35 yrs ago and going who the f is this Nicholas dude? Eventually I got more familiar but after this interview, I know!
Mark, this is pure gold. Thanks for sharing.
Great chat Mark
Great interview, being from CT and being about same age as johnny, I grew up listening to all the RI blues heros. Bands like Variations, Greg and the Group, Roomful, Black Cat Blues Band. Really enjoyed listening to the stories over Johnny's career!
This was really a historical tour de force of Johnny Nicholas’ career. He’s been there, done that, still going!
I got to interview Johnny many years ago, what a cat! This was a trip.
Wonderful video, on the great Mr. Nicholas, thanks Mark! Back in ‘74 I saw Johnny play with Big Walter Horton and SP Leary here in Eugene at the WOW Hall and as a fledgling harp player it changed my life. A local band The Nighthawks (not the DC Nighthawks) was the opening band. It was their lead singer’s(Curtis Salgado) 21st birthday. All the local harp players came out, Paul DeLay (RIP), Pete Karnes, (RIP), Bill Rhoades, Mike Moothart (RIP). The Nighthawks featured the great Jimmy Cochran (RIP) and Frank Speaker on guitars, David K. Stewart (RIP) on piano, Rich Kesey (RIP) on bass and Dave Olson (RIP) on drums. I remember seeing SP sitting in the audience watching the band with a cute hippie girl under each arm smoking a joint and he looked over in my direction and said “Man, I got MY Mojo working!” I was just a junior in high school and the whole thing was just amazing. I watched Big Walter very carefully and I remember at one point while he was playing he pressed the microphone up against his throat and got this trombone like sound! Thanks again Mark and thanks to Mr. Johnny Nicholas, it’s great that you are recording these stories for the world.
I first picked up Can't Stop Loving You album of Big Walter some 35 yrs ago and going who the f is this Nicholas dude? Eventually I got more familiar but after this interview, I know!