Don Nix

Don Nix
Born	(1941-09-27)September 27, 1941 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	R&B
Instruments	Guitar, saxophone
Associated acts	Mar-Keys, Alabama State Troupers

Don Nix (born September 27, 1941, Memphis, Tennessee) is an American songwriter, composer, arranger, musician, and author. Although cited as being "obscure", he is a key figure in several genres of Southern rock and soul, R&B, and the blues. He was instrumental in the creation of the distinctive "Memphis soul" developed at Stax Records.

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Nix came from a musical family (his brother, Larry Nix, became a mastering engineer for Stax and for the Ardent Recording Studios in Memphis). Don Nix began his career playing saxophone for the Mar-Keys, which also featured Steve Cropper, Duck Dunn and others.^[1] The hit instrumental single "Last Night" (composed by the band as a whole) was the first of many successful hits to Nix's credit. Without Nix, the Mar-Keys evolved into Booker T. & the M.G.'s.

As a producer, Nix worked with other artists and producers, such as Leon Russell. of Shelter Records; Gary Lewis and the Playboys in Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars; George Harrison, of the Beatles; and John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. One notable achievement was his collaboration with Harrison, Russell and many others in the production of the "Concert for Bangladesh", a star-studded benefit concert at Madison Square Garden in 1971.

Throughout his career, Nix worked behind the scenes as producer, arranger, musician and in other roles for artists including Lonnie Mack, Furry Lewis, Freddy King, Albert King, Delaney, Bonnie & Friends, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, Jeff Beck, Brian May, Eric Clapton and many others. He wrote and produced albums for solo artists and for groups, such as Don Nix and the Alabama State Troupers, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and Larry Raspberry and the Highsteppers.

The song "Going Down", originally released by the band Moloch on their eponymous album in 1969, has become a rock-and-roll standard, having been covered by Freddie King, Jeff Beck, Deep Purple, JJ Cale, Marc Ford, Chicken Shack, Bryan Ferry, Pearl Jam, Gov't Mule, Sam Kinison, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Satriani, the Who, Led Zeppelin, Sammy Hagar, Joe Bonamassa, and others.^[2] Nix released a version of the song as a single for Elektra Records in 1972. The song "Black Cat Moan" was covered on the 1973 album Beck, Bogert & Appice. The Rolling Stones performed "Goin' Down" with John Mayer and Gary Clark, Jr. live on Pay-Per-View television on December 15, 2012, as part of the Stones' 50th Anniversary Tour.^[3]

Discography

Shelter SHE-8902	In God We Trust (LP) In God We Trust / Golden Mansions / I'll Fly Away / He Never Lived a Day Without Jesus / Nero My God to Thee / Amos / Long Way to Nowhere / Iuka / Will the Circle Be Unbroken / I've Tried (Trucker's Lament) Personnel: Don Nix, vcl, gtr; Eddie Hinton, gtr; Furry Lewis, sl. gtr, poem (track 8); Larry Rasberry, rh. gtr; Barry Beckett, keys; David Hood, bs; Roger Hawkins, dms; J. A. Spell, fd; Jeanie Green, Marlin Green (the Mt. Zion Singers), background vcls Recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio Produced by Don Nix Reissue: Nippon Phonogram Records BT-5357, 1979, Japan	1971, US
Elektra EKS-74101	Living by the Days (LP) The Shape I'm In / Olena / I Saw the Light / She Don't Want a Lover / Living by the Days / Going Back to Iuka / Three Angels / Mary Louise / My Train's Done Come and Gone Personnel: Don Nix, vcl, gtr; Jimmy Johnson, Tippy Armstrong, Gimmer Nicholson, Wayne Perkins, gtr; Furry Lewis, narration; Barry Beckett, Chris Stainton, keys; David Hood, Donald "Duck" Dunn, bs; Roger Hawkins, dms; Mt. Zion Singers (Wayne Perkins, Jeanie Green, Marlin Green), background vcls (tracks 3, 4, 7, 8); Shelter People (Claudia Lennear, Kathi McDonald, Don Preston, Joey Cooper), background vcls (tracks 1, 2, 9) Recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and Skyhill Studios, Hollywood, California Produced by Don Nix UK edition: Elektra K 42096, 1971; French edition: Elektra 62010, 1971 Reissue: Atco-East West CD AMCY-2609, 1998, Japan	1971, US
Elektra EKS-75022	The Alabama State Troupers Road Show (2 LPs) Furry's Blues / Brownsville / I'm Black / A Chicken Ain't Nothin' but a Bird / Will the Circle Be Unbroken / Amos Burke / Mighty Time / Jesus on the Mainline / Mary Louise / Yes, I Do Understand / Opening / Living in the Country / Joa-Bim / Dixie / Heavy Makes You Happy / Iuka / Furry's Rap / Asphalt Outlaw Hero / Olena / My Father's House / Going Down Personnel: Don Nix, vcl, gtr; Wayne Perkins, gtr; Tippy Armstrong, gtr; Clayton Ivey, pno; Ken Woodley, org; Bob Wray, bs; Tarp Tarrant, Fred Prouty, dms; Mt. Zion Choir (Brenda Patterson, Mary "Bouce" Anderson, Carolyn "Pepper" Watkins, Marianne "Tweety" Watkins, Marlin Greene) Recorded live at Long Beach Civic Auditorium, Long Beach, California, October 15, 1971, and at Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, California, October 17, 1971 Produced by Don Nix	1972, US
Enterprise ENS-1032	Hobos, Heroes and Street Corner Clowns (LP) She's a Friend of Mine / The Train Don't Stop Here No More / Black Cat Moan / Rainy Night in Paris (Memphis Reject) / When I Lay My Burden Down / Sweet Sweet Surrender / We Gotta Move (Keep on Rolling) / Miss Eleana / I Need You / Look What the Years Have Done Personnel: Don Nix, vcl, gtr; Pete Carr, Eddie Hinton, Larry Rasberry, Bobby Manuel, Furry Lewis, gtr; George Harrison, slide gtr;^[4] Wayne Perkins, gtr, background vcl; Barry Beckett, Chris Stainton, keys; Steve Smith, keys, gtr; Tim Smith, gtr, pno; David Hood, Klaus Voormann, bs; Roger Hawkins, dms; Lon Price, sax; Jay Pruitt, strings; Jeanie Green, Claudia Lennear, background vcls; Dallas–Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra Recorded at Apple Studio, London; Muscle Shoals Sound Studio; etc. Produced by Don Nix Reissue: P-Vine PCD-5175, 1997, Japan	1973, US
Cream CR-1001	Gone Too Long (LP) Goin' Thru Another Chance / Feel a Whole Lot Better / Gone Too Long / Backstreet Girl / Rollin' in My Dreams / Yazoo City Jail / Harpoon Arkansas Turnaround / Forgotten Town / A Demain (Until Tomorrow) Personnel: Don Nix, vcl, gtr; George Harrison, sl. gtr, etc. Recorded in France, England and the U.S. Produced by Don Nix Reissue: Demon DIAB-805, 1994, UK	1976, US
Cream CR-1011	Skyrider (LP) Skyrider / Nobody Else / Maverick Woman Blues / Do It Again / Long Tall Sally / I'll Be in Your Dreams / On the Town Again / All for the Love of a Woman Personnel: Don Nix, vcl, gtr, sax; Rob Kendrick, gtr, sl. gtr; Roy Halle, sl. gtr; Len Groome, keys; John Fry, acc; Ernie Chapman, bs; Darell Norris, dms; Memphis Horns; William C. Brown III Choir Recorded at Dallasonic Studio, Texas, etc. Produced by Don Nix Reissue: Demon DIAB-805, 1994, UK	1979, US
Demon DIAB-805	Gone Too Long/Skyrider (CD) Goin' Thru Another Change / Feel a Whole Lot Better / Gone Too Long / Backstreet Girl / Rollin' in My Dreams / Yazoo City Jail / Harpoon Arkansas Turnaround / Forgotten Town / A Demain (Until Tomorrow) / Skyrider / Nobody Else / Maverick Woman Blues / Do It Again / Long Tall Sally / I'll Be in Your Dreams / On the Town Again / All for the Love of a Woman Reissue of Cream CR-1001 and CR-1011	1994, UK
Icehouse IHCD 9401	Back to the Well (CD) Goin' Down the Road to Memphis / Waiting for the Help / Plastic Flowers / Angel Tears / Easy Street / Out on the Road Again / Fools Paradise / Too Dumb / Moon Madness / Dance Chaney Dance / Cruise Control / Jerimiah Gage Personnel: Don Nix, vcl, gtr, tp; Billy Crain, gtr, sl. gtr; Greg Redding, keys; Rick Steff, org, acc; Jay Spell, pno, fd; Rusty McFarland, mnd; Greg "Fingers'" Taylor, hca; David Crochan, bs; Greg Morrow, dms, perc; Memphis Horns (Jim Spake, Andrew Love, Wayne Jackson); William C. Brown III Choir Recorded at Crosstown Recording Studio Produced by Don Nix Reissue: Appaloosa AP 098, 1999, Italy	1994, US
Evidence ECD-26125	Don Nix & Friends: Goin' Down – The Songs of Don Nix (CD) Black Cat Moan / On the Road Again / Right Where You Want Me / Same Old Blues / Lucinda / Palace of the King / Going Down / Going Back to Iuka / Like a Road Leading Home / One More Repossession / Living on the Highway / Plastic Flowers / Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven Personnel: Don Nix, vcl; Billy Crain, Jon Tiven, gtr; Mike Duke, pno; Reese Wynans, org; David Hood, bs; Greg Morrow, dms; Dan Penn, lead vcl (tracks 4, 6, 9); Bonnie Bramlett, lead vcl (tracks 3, 4, 9); Steve Cropper, lead gtr (tracks 4, 9); Audley Freed, lead gtr (tracks 6, 7); Tony Joe White, lead gtr (tracks 8, 13); Leslie West, lead gtr (tracks 7, 11); Bobby Manuel, gtr intro (track 4); Brian May, gtr (track 7); Billy Lee Riley, vcl (track 8), hca (track 13); John Mayall, hca (track 8); Max Middleton, pno (track 7); Bobby Whitlock, org (tracks 7, 13); Dave Smith, bs (track 3); Michael Rhodes, bs (track 9); Susan Marshall, Jackie Johnson, background vcls (tracks 3, 5, 6, 12) Recorded at Hum Depot, Nashville, Tennessee Produced by Jon Tiven and Don Nix	2002, US

Books by Don Nix

Road Stories and Recipes (1997), Schirmer Books/Simon & Schuster, New York. ISBN 0-02-864621-5
Who's That with Don Nix? – A photojournal of Don Nix's personal experiences.

References

↑ "Don Nix". SecondHandSongs. 1941-09-27. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
↑ "Cover Versions of Going Down by Moloch". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
↑ "Newark 15th December, Prudential Center". Rolling Stones.com. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
↑ Leng, Simon (2006). While My Guitar Gently Weeps: The Music of George Harrison. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Hal Leonard. pp 140–141.

External links

Authority control	WorldCat Identities VIAF: 40190902 LCCN: no92001325 ISNI: 0000 0000 3824 6074 GND: 119537508 BNF: cb14043752f (data) MusicBrainz: 2e6f8ad2-941b-48b5-99f2-3aced8a99d9f

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