|
| Don Nix |
Don Nix is a songwriter and music producer.
Although cited as being "obscure", he is a key figure in several genres of southern rock, soul and
blues.
He was instrumental in the creation of the trademark "Memphis Sound" and known for his work at
Stax Records.
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, he attended Messick High School, where he began his musical career playing saxophone for instrumental soul group pioneers the Mar-keys (which later morphed into Booker T and
the MGs).
Along with Steve Cropper,
Duck Dunn, Wayne Jackson,
Andrew Love, Charlie Freeman, Packy Axton and others, they produced a hit instrumental,"Last Night", which was the first of many successful hits to his credit.
After the Mar-Keys, Nix worked as a producer/backing musician with other
artists such as Leon Russell of Shelter Records and
Gary Lewis
and the Playboys
in Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars.
Throughout his career, Don Nix worked behind the scenes as producer, arranger, musician, and many other
roles for artists such as Lonny Mack, Furry Lewis,
Freddie King,
Albert King,
Delaney and Bonnie,
Jeff Beck,
Brian May,
Eric Clapton and many others.
He wrote and produced many solo albums and with groups such as the Alabama State Troopers,
John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, the
Muscle Shoals Rhythm Band, Beauty and the Beats, Paris Pilot, Moloch and Larry Rasberry and the Highsteppers.
The song "Goin' Down" became a blues standard and was covered by
Deep Purple,
Pearl
Jam, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Mick Jagger, Maggie Bell with Stone the Crows and many others.
One notable event was the collaboration with Harrison, Russell and many others in the production of
the
Concert for Bangladesh -
a star-studded benefit concert at
Madison Square Garden.
Harrison asked Nix to assemble a "soul choir" for the show (Claudia Lennear, Marlin and Jeannie Greene, etc.) and later told Nix that he should join the singers onstage. Though reluctant, Nix explains that "you don't say 'no' to a Beatle." The project's net proceeds were used to help alleviate dire conditions for
the Children of Bangladesh.
