Mistaken Identity Johnny Nicholas

• 1She Stole My Mojo03:28
• 2Mule and the Devil04:02
• 3Spark to a Flame03:06
• 4Mistaken Identity04:45
• 5Guadalupe's Prayer05:09
• 6Wanna Be Your Baby03:24
• 7Tight Pants02:48
• 8She Didn't Think of Me That Way04:29
• 9Highway 19002:36
• 10River Runs Deep04:58
• Total Runtime38:45

Info for Mistaken Identity

Although the artistic career of former Asleep at the Wheel frontman Johnny Nicholas’ is well documented, his connection with South Louisiana music and culture and the influence it had on his storied musical career is not as well known. We’re happy to be a part of helping tell this story.

The rest of the story… After finishing school, Johnny hit the road hitch hiking and hopping freight trains in search of the artists and music he loved. His pilgrimages led him to experiences and relationships with many American music roots legends of the blues, western swing, honky tonk music and the melting pot for it all: South Louisiana and Southeast Texas.

This album is a homecoming, bringing him back to the place where he cut his teeth and grew up musically on the prairies and bayou country of Southwest Louisiana in the 70’s. Link Davis Jr (son of the legendary ‘Pappa’ Link Davis) brought him to Basile and introduced him to Nathan Abshire who lived behind the Bear Cat lounge on Highway 190.

Johnny’s Basile routine went something like this: play music every night with Link, Nathan and ofttimes Dewey Balfa (who worked at a furniture store nearby), pull some mattresses down off the wall in a room behind the bar and sleep, get up and walk back to Mr Nathan and his wife Ola’s tiny house behind the club to drink coffee and visit, return to the Bearcat where Jeanette Comeaux would be fixing rice and ‘something', post up with Nathan out front and start drinking and playing music informally with anyone who stopped by and then get ready for the evening’s show to start.Next day same as the last and on and on—Honky Tonk heaven!

Fast forward past his tenure as a front man with Western Swing icons Asleep At The Wheel, eight solo albums, raising a family, touring all over the world as a solo act and with the likes of Big Walter Horton, Roosevelt Sykes, Robert Junior Lockwood, Snooky Pryor and Johnny Shines and helping his wife Brenda run the celebrated Hill Top Cafe, an old gas station and roadhouse in the Texas Hill Country, and Johnny winds up full circle back in Eunice bringing his Texas band to Joel Savoy’s tiny but magical little studio outside of Eunice-just a few miles down the road from where it all began in Basile.

Full Circle could be the title for this record but Mistaken Identity is appropriate enough considering that Johnny and his music have defied being pigeonholed in one specific genre throughout his amazing life and musical journey. All but one of the songs on this album are originals that draw upon his many influences and experiences that have molded and defined him as a true Americana and Roots music artist.

Most of the tracks including the vocals were recorded ‘live’ with very few overdubs.

So sit back and let it all wash over you: great musicianship, story telling and melodies that were recorded in Joel’s studio for Valcour Records. American music traditions filtered down through the experiences of a true troubadour and skillfully blended into a melting pot, or gumbo pot if you will that will leave your musical taste buds wanting more.

Johnny Nicholas, guitar, vocals

Johnny Nicholas
Often referred to as a ‘bluesman,’ to classify Johnny Nicholas as strictly a blues artist is quite a misnomer. Nicholas’ signature style of music might be better defined as deep roots music. His musical roots grow deep and wide – spanning the many musical traditions found across the country. Drawing from the wealth of musical influences found in areas such as Chicago, Louisiana and Texas – Nicholas’ original music stirs together elements of folk, blues, western-swing, jazz, Cajun and country. While his dexterity on the guitar, husky growl of a baritone, and talent on the 88’s make him well at home in the world of blues and jazz, Nicholas’ skill as a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and performer of authentic Americana music is not to be understated.

Over his career, Nicholas has worked with such a diverse mix of artists and bands as Asleep at the Wheel, Boogie Woogie Red, Johnny Shines, Duke Robillard, Robert Lockwood Jr., Nathan Abshire, Dewey Balfa, Link Davis Jr., Walter Horton, Hubert Sumlin, Los Texmaniacs, Marcia Ball, David Abeyta and many more. 2018 saw the re-release (and Grammy-nomination) of Nicholas’ debut album Too Many Bad Habits as a special double vinyl box set. 2019 took Nicholas overseas to both Hawaii and France – as well as on multiple east coast and west coast tours in addition to touring regularly around his home state of Texas. Still showing no signs of slowing down in 2020, you can catch Johnny Nicholas at your favorite listening rooms, dance halls and festivals across the country. With several album projects in the pipeline, fans can only expect more original deep roots music from the incomparable Johnny Nicholas.

This album contains no booklet.