Powell St. John

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Powell St John] http://www.powellstjohn.com was a well-known figure on the mid-1960's Austin, Texas campus folk/bohemian music scene. He was an occasional member of various Austin rock groups, including The Conqueroo. He wrote many songs for the 13th Floor Elevators, moved to San Francisco, California and with Tracy Nelson, formed the band Mother Earth. Powell St. John is a brilliant song writer and a gifted singer. His songs for the 13th Floor Elevators and for the first two Mother Earth albums ("Living with the Animals" and "Make a Joyful Noise") were complex, both musically and lyrically. He manages to mix psychedelic mysticism with a more homespun Americana that's eerie but certainly memorable. He also plays a wicked mouth harp. In Spring 2006 he was reunited with Roky Erickson in performance at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas.

Powell's bio:

Powell St. John went from Laredo to Austin, Texas in 1959, a harmonica playing, beret wearing beatnik kid who had a hunch that something was going on somewhere. Powell began his musical career in Austin in the early 1960’s, playing at parties and clubs around the University of Texas campus. Eventually he came to work with Kenneth Threadgill of Austin’s Threadgill’s Bar, performing with Janis Joplin and Lannie Wiggins in a small trio called The Waller Creek Boys. Later, in answer to a request for material from Tommy Hall of the 13th Floor Elevators, St. John wrote six songs for their two first albums. In the late 60’s, Powell formed a blues and rock band with Tracy Nelson named Mother Earth.

Some of the most famous musicians in the world have recorded Powell’s songs, such as Janis Joplin (Bye, Bye Baby), Boz Skaggs (I’ll Forever Sing), Tracy Nelson (Livin’ with the Animals), Roky Erickson (Right Track Now) & Doug Sahm (You Don’t Know).

Over the years, Powell has been interviewed by many of the top television stations from the US and Europe, BBC, CBS, E! Entertainment, Lifetime, and others, about Janis Joplin, the Psychedelic scene in Austin, and his own music career. After a 30 year run of royalties and licensing for film, stage and TV, the Texas Music Hall of Fame inducted Powell in 2005 as part of the South by Southwest Music Conference. At each event attended in Austin during this time, he was mobbed by people, telling him how much they liked his music and asking for his autograph. Taking advantage of the fact that Powell returned to Austin, several of his fans arranged for him to record a new CD, “Right Track Now.

Powell has fans the world over, including many important and influential music industry professionals, such as Julian Cope from the UK, David Fricke from Rolling Stone magazine, and Bill Bentley, senior vice president at Warner Brother’s Records, all emerging from the woodwork as long time St. John fans:

∑ “Powell’s CD is nothing short of amazing. I've listened about 5 times all the way through, and there are so many highlights I can't start to list them. Over the years his music and songs have given me so much joy.” – Bill Bentley, Senior Vice President, Warner Brother’s Records

∑ "I think he is a first-rate harmonica player and I am glad he is still doing it. His songs are some of my favorites!" - Roky Erickson

∑ “In the midst of the budding psychedelic sound, Powell's music was unique, completely original and brilliant. He gave us validation as something more than a derivative R&B band and he inspired me to stretch out beyond my desire to be Irma Thomas. I think he was the most significant and profound artist (and by the very nature of that the least appreciated) of the era. I'm so glad he's making music again”. - Tracy Nelson

This CD highlights this amazing lyricist, who has a timeless knack for song writing and a unique sense of melody. His music is both original and fully engaging, representing the best of the past and greatness for the future.

Powell St. John now performs in live concerts backed by The ALIENS, the same band that once backed Roky Erickson on his famous recordings and performances.

 Contact Toby St. John at 510-540-7981 or email at: buddha@lmi.net.