Johnny Nicholas' A Life in Blues with Mark Hummel

Nicholas grew up in Rhode Island, United States, where he formed his first band, The Vikings. The band performed cover versions of popular rhythm and blues hits of the time, along with songs by the Rolling Stones. In the mid-1960s, he formed the Black Cat Blues Band with Duke Robillard, Fran Christina and Steve Nardella. Around 1970, he formed the Boogie Brothers with Nardella. After attending the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 1970, the band eventually moved on to San Francisco, California in 1972 per-request of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen.
By 1974, Nicholas had moved to Chicago, Illinois and began playing with Big Walter Horton. During his time in Chicago, he would record music with Horton, Boogie Woogie Red and Robert Lockwood, Jr. In 1974, he created his own single, "Too Many Bad Habits" for Blind Pig Records. Moving to Providence, Rhode Island, he formed his own band, Johnny Nicholas and the Rhythm Rockers, which included Kaz Kazanoff on saxophone, Terry Bingham on drums, Sarah Brown on bass guitar and Ronnie Earl on electric guitar.
Nicholas began his stint with Asleep at the Wheel in 1978, when the band asked him to perform with them. During his off time, he would travel to various cities for solo shows, but would often visit Louisiana to play with Link Davis and Cajun accordion player Nathan Abshire.
By 1980, however, Nicholas decided to take time off from music in order to raise a family. in 1991 Nicholas returned to recording blues music with Johnny Shines and Snooky Pryor on the album Back to the Country. After returning to music, Johnny has released one studio album and three live albums on Topcat Records while also returning to regular live shows.

[@chuckzeigler4913]

Mark, this is pure gold. Thanks for sharing.

[@davidlang7271]

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!

[@RustedTelevisione]

This was really a historical tour de force of Johnny Nicholas’ career. He’s been there, done that, still going!

[@shakeysgone]

Great chat Mark

[@bluesscribe]

I got to interview Johnny many years ago, what a cat! This was a trip.

[@henrycoopermusic5094]

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.

[@aksourdough4890]

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!