I’m a photographer and journalist and eight months ago I became the wife of John Nitzinger. So this article has a little different tilt to it as well as a rare view from the inside out of Johnny. (He says people who love him call him Johnny.) I have learned a lot about music from Johnny, such as it’s all been said, it’s how you say it and every song ever written was written with twelve notes. I learned the difference between a musician with a guitar and an artist with a guitar. Johnny is an artist. Not just a musician. He thinks you should have a license to own a guitar.
Johnny grew up In Haltom City and began playing at age eight and by nine he was booked in local clubs up and down the Jacksboro and Mansfield Highways. He watched on television with his parents Porter Wagoner, Wilburn Brothers, Johnny Cash and Marty
Johnny grew up In Haltom City and began playing at age eight and by nine he was booked in local clubs up and down the Jacksboro and Mansfield Highways. He watched on television with his parents Porter Wagoner, Wilburn Brothers, Johnny Cash and Marty
Robbins, etc. Watching the Lawrence Welk show, one night Johnny declared, “I want an accordion”! Not being able to afford an accordion, his parents bought him a guitar, a Les Paul, Jr., $149 from Levines. Today Johnny cringes at the thought of wanting the bright red one instead of keeping the priceless Les Paul, Jr.! At nine he played a live radio show from the Majestic Theater featuring Oil Can Harry, a double forty-five buntline toatin’ cowboy as MC.
Johnny as a teenager played with his band, The Barons, at local Teen A-Go-Gos and then he began his touring career as a bogus Sir Douglas Quintet. (Yeah, wigs and all.) He cut his blues teeth with Delbert McClinton, Billy Ray Sanders, Freddie King, C.L. Dupree and in the night clubs and after hours clubs in Fort Worth and Dallas.
He was one of the first inductees in Buddy Magazine’s Texas Tornadoes Hall of Fame, in 1978. He wrote most of the Bloodrock albums and received a gold album for his efforts. Those efforts lead to his solo recording career. He has recorded a number of his albums on major labels such as Capital Records, 20th Century Fox, Alantic Records and Warner Bros. Records.
In 1976 he signed with Rus Regan, the legendary President of 20th Century Fox, and recorded “Live Better Electrically”. The album reached the charts with the songs “Are You With Me” and “Yellow Dog”.
He has shared the stage with many legendary artists, such as Freddie King, BB King, Sly & The Family Stone, and Leon Russell. He performed at the Mar Y Sol International Pop Festival along with Emerson Lake & Palmer, The Allman Brothers Band, Alice Cooper, BB King, John McLaughlin, The J. Geils Band, among others. At this festival Johnny created his classic, “Jelly Roll Blues”, which stole the show and became an instant hit for Atlantic Records
He joined Carl Palmer, of Emerson Lake & Palmer, to form the band “1PM” as a major song writer and guitarist. His overseas popularity took off with the single “Dynamite”, released on Aerola Europe Records.
In 1982, Johnny received a call from Alice Cooper to join, as Alice’s guitarist, the “Special Forces” international and USA tours. After touring, Johnny and Alice wrote the album “Zipper Catches Skin”. I asked Johnny for a quote about this tour, and he said, “If I’m elected, I’ll run.”
Johnny returned from the road and recorded “Going Back To Texas” on Record Heaven. This album contains several of his classic songs such as “Louisiana Cockfight”, “Jelly Roll Blues”, “Yellow Dog”, “L.A. Texas Boy” and “Control”.
Johnny took to the road again and toured briefly in Europe performing at the Tenth Annual Sweden Rock Festival as well as appearing on television, radio and at exclusive club dates.
In 2006, he retired from playing “beer joints” and held a “Retirement Party” at the McDavid Studio of Bass Hall. Johnny appeared in black satin pajamas, the band also dressed in pajamas as did many of his fans. A string quartet from the Fort Worth Symphony (also wearing pj’s) performed with Johnny and his band. This was a powerful and emotional performance. Since the “retirement”, Johnny opened his Nitzinger’s Music Factory, to teach and work on finishing his “Kiss Of The Mudman” album.
Johnny began working on his new album, “Kiss Of The Mudman” eight years ago with plans to be finished in a year. Cancer rudely interrupted him in 2003. After two years of rehabilitation, he was in the studio again with plans to finish in six months. This time a stroke rudely interrupted him in 2005, leaving him unable to walk or even talk. In a miraculous recovery, using his guitar as his rehab tool, he again returned to the studio. You know the old saying…bad things come in threes? Last year, big number three! Pneumonia. Each of these episodes was a near death experience that added to the intangible essence of the album.
Johnny said, “In my opinion, this is the best album I’ve ever done. And that’s due to the fact that I’ve had my first taste of adulthood. Growing up in public is hard. I wouldn’t take a million dollars for the experiences I’ve had, but I wouldn’t give you a nickel to do them again. The songs in the Mudman album are honest, a little scary, but most of all true. To make the truth entertaining, enlightening, and touch peoples emotions is the challenge an artist faces in an attempt to express himself. An artist is not afraid to get personal.”
Below is a synopsis of the songs on the “Kiss Of The Mudman”
“Kiss Of The Mudman” really did come to him in a dream, missing the very thing that tried to kill him !
“The Beast” is Johnny’s personal account of doing the tango with cancer.
“The Devil’s Got The Blues” – Who does the devil talk to when he gets depressed?
“Sarah’s Letter” is a song co-written by Johnny and his student, Sarah Sutton featuring Channing Hooper, another student of Johnny’s on violin. Our eight year old niece, Ava Worm, sings the ghost child’s part while Johnny tries to stretch and become a believable drunk. This song could be an anthem for Mother’s Against Drunk Driving.
We’ll send Al Gore a copy of “Calling” in support of acknowledging the rape of the earth.
“Let The Living Grow” is a tree huggers lullaby.
“You Know Me” is one of the most beautiful love songs, and my personal favorite. xoxoxoxoxo
“Again, Again” is difficult to listen to, if spousal abuse has ever been in your life.
“The Long Sleep” is a bring your sack lunch, nine minute song that twists and turns and makes you smile, unless you’ve found out what it’s about.
“Revenge”, sometimes even then, it leaves me wanting more…!
“You’d Bitch At A Cloud”, you know who you are !
“Bad Day” confirms you can start your day over at any time. As many times as needed.
“Rock Your Block Off” will lead to the destruction of dashboards everywhere !
Giving back has become an essential part of Johnny’s life through teaching. While going through all of his experiences and working on his album, Johnny began Nitzinger’s Music Factory teaching children and adults to play instruments, sing and write their own original songs. Originality, spirituality and staying clean and sober are clear messages that he stresses to his students. Johnny continues to teach and as far as “retirement”, he laughs and says, “Where did you get that idea? I’ll retire when they pry my cold, dead fingers from the neck of my Paul !”
What is it like being the wife of John Nitzinger?
I’m having the time of my life !
Judy Zoch Nitzinger
Johnny as a teenager played with his band, The Barons, at local Teen A-
He was one of the first inductees in Buddy Magazine’s Texas Tornadoes Hall of Fame, in 1978. He wrote most of the Bloodrock albums and received a gold album for his efforts. Those efforts lead to his solo recording career. He has recorded a number of his albums on major labels such as Capital Records, 20th Century Fox, Alantic Records and Warner Bros. Records.
In 1976 he signed with Rus Regan, the legendary President of 20th Century Fox, and recorded “Live Better Electrically”. The album reached the charts with the songs “Are You With Me” and “Yellow Dog”.
He has shared the stage with many legendary artists, such as Freddie King, BB King, Sly & The Family Stone, and Leon Russell. He performed at the Mar Y Sol International Pop Festival along with Emerson Lake & Palmer, The Allman Brothers Band, Alice Cooper, BB King, John McLaughlin, The J. Geils Band, among others. At this festival Johnny created his classic, “Jelly Roll Blues”, which stole the show and became an instant hit for Atlantic Records
He joined Carl Palmer, of Emerson Lake & Palmer, to form the band “1PM” as a major song writer and guitarist. His overseas popularity took off with the single “Dynamite”, released on Aerola Europe Records.
In 1982, Johnny received a call from Alice Cooper to join, as Alice’s guitarist, the “Special Forces” international and USA tours. After touring, Johnny and Alice wrote the album “Zipper Catches Skin”. I asked Johnny for a quote about this tour, and he said, “If I’m elected, I’ll run.”
Johnny returned from the road and recorded “Going Back To Texas” on Record Heaven. This album contains several of his classic songs such as “Louisiana Cockfight”, “Jelly Roll Blues”, “Yellow Dog”, “L.A. Texas Boy” and “Control”.
Johnny took to the road again and toured briefly in Europe performing at the Tenth Annual Sweden Rock Festival as well as appearing on television, radio and at exclusive club dates.
In 2006, he retired from playing “beer joints” and held a “Retirement Party” at the McDavid Studio of Bass Hall. Johnny appeared in black satin pajamas, the band also dressed in pajamas as did many of his fans. A string quartet from the Fort Worth Symphony (also wearing pj’s) performed with Johnny and his band. This was a powerful and emotional performance. Since the “retirement”, Johnny opened his Nitzinger’s Music Factory, to teach and work on finishing his “Kiss Of The Mudman” album.
Johnny began working on his new album, “Kiss Of The Mudman” eight years ago with plans to be finished in a year. Cancer rudely interrupted him in 2003. After two years of rehabilitation, he was in the studio again with plans to finish in six months. This time a stroke rudely interrupted him in 2005, leaving him unable to walk or even talk. In a miraculous recovery, using his guitar as his rehab tool, he again returned to the studio. You know the old saying…bad things come in threes? Last year, big number three! Pneumonia. Each of these episodes was a near death experience that added to the intangible essence of the album.
Johnny said, “In my opinion, this is the best album I’ve ever done. And that’s due to the fact that I’ve had my first taste of adulthood. Growing up in public is hard. I wouldn’t take a million dollars for the experiences I’ve had, but I wouldn’t give you a nickel to do them again. The songs in the Mudman album are honest, a little scary, but most of all true. To make the truth entertaining, enlightening, and touch peoples emotions is the challenge an artist faces in an attempt to express himself. An artist is not afraid to get personal.”
Below is a synopsis of the songs on the “Kiss Of The Mudman”
“Kiss Of The Mudman” really did come to him in a dream, missing the very thing that tried to kill him !
“The Beast” is Johnny’s personal account of doing the tango with cancer.
“The Devil’s Got The Blues” – Who does the devil talk to when he gets depressed?
“Sarah’s Letter” is a song co-
We’ll send Al Gore a copy of “Calling” in support of acknowledging the rape of the earth.
“Let The Living Grow” is a tree huggers lullaby.
“You Know Me” is one of the most beautiful love songs, and my personal favorite. xoxoxoxoxo
“Again, Again” is difficult to listen to, if spousal abuse has ever been in your life.
“The Long Sleep” is a bring your sack lunch, nine minute song that twists and turns and makes you smile, unless you’ve found out what it’s about.
“Revenge”, sometimes even then, it leaves me wanting more…!
“You’d Bitch At A Cloud”, you know who you are !
“Bad Day” confirms you can start your day over at any time. As many times as needed.
“Rock Your Block Off” will lead to the destruction of dashboards everywhere !
Giving back has become an essential part of Johnny’s life through teaching. While going through all of his experiences and working on his album, Johnny began Nitzinger’s Music Factory teaching children and adults to play instruments, sing and write their own original songs. Originality, spirituality and staying clean and sober are clear messages that he stresses to his students. Johnny continues to teach and as far as “retirement”, he laughs and says, “Where did you get that idea? I’ll retire when they pry my cold, dead fingers from the neck of my Paul !”
What is it like being the wife of John Nitzinger?
I’m having the time of my life !
Judy Zoch Nitzinger
