User:Michael "Cadillac" Johnson

Texas Blues Legend Michael "Cadillac" Johnson was born in Houston Texas, in 1951. Growing up in Houston, Cadillac was exposed to the rich musical heritage of the Texas Gulf Coast's influential Soul, R&B, Blues,Country and Blue Eyed Soul. He is the son of Rev. Robert L. Johnson, an Episcopal minister, and Emagene "Dusty" Johnson. He began playing guitar at 9 years old. He later switched to bass guitar and at 14, he was playing professionally with older musicians and school friends.He was Influenced by diverse regional artists like The Boogie Kings, G. G. Shinn, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, and Bobby Blue Bland., Early band efforts in included The Remaining Few in which he wrote and recorded his first 45rpm "Wait A While", released in 1966 on the local label of Projection Records. Cadillac went on to join groups such as The Dream Machine and Big Sweet. Cadillac was called upon by his friend Billy Gibbons to join ZZ Top, on an interim basis after Billy Ethridge left the group, and until permenant member Dusty Hill could join the group.(Reference Pg.30 Sharp -Dressed Men, ZZ TOP Behind the scenes from Blues to Boogie to Beards, by David Blaney. This was from late 1969 until early 1970 prior to them signing with London Records. During the early ZZ days,just pror to the recording ZZ Top's First Album The band performed with Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Grand Funk Railroad and more. It was during his tenure with ZZ Top, that Billy Gibbons gave Cadillac his nick name, referring to him as "the Cadillac of bass players". Cadillac went on to spend some time with the great Sam "Lightnin" Hopkins, playing around the Houston area. Cadillac credits his brief time with Lightnin' as "a rich and valuable learning experience, from one of the greatest bluesmen and master story tellers, of our time". In 1972 Cadillac spent a year in Lafayette La. with friend and B-3 Hammond player Richard Klien, playing with assorted musicians and performing at clubs, cock fights, casinos and roadhouse bars. , It was while in Lafayette that Cadillac recieved the invitation from friend Randy "Turtle" DeHart, to come to Ft. Worth Tx., to join the group Rockola, which was Lou Ann Barton's first band. It included David Skinner, Paul Christenson, and Richard "Rookie" Klien came with Cadillac from La., to form Rockola. This group achieved recognition and recorded Lou Ann's first efforts. Various versions of Rockola's material, emerged from unscrupulous record producers, hoping to capitalize on Lou Ann's later success. All of the members remain close friends to this day. It was during these early to mid 70's days in Ft. Worth, that Cadillac became friends with Freddie Cisneros, by way of their association with Robert Ealey and Ft. Worth's legendary New Bluebird Night Club. Freddie had been playing with Robert Ealey and his 5 Careless Lovers. In late 1978, Freddie and Cadillac formed the Blasting Caps, featuring Little Jr. One Hand, a name given to Freddie by Cadillac. The Blasting Caps along with the Juke Jumpers continued to back Ealey at the Bluebird. The Blasting Caps traveled to Austin frequently to join friends Jimmie Vaughan, Mike Buck and Keith Ferguson's new project The Fabulous Thunderbirds, featuring Kim Wilson. It was in June of 1979 at the After Hours club in Austin, that the infamous and friendly "Battle of the Bands" occurred, between The T-Birds and The Blasting Caps. The Blasting Caps emerged as victors in what some say was a most memorable event., During the days at the Bluebird it was common to have the finest of blues luminaries to stop by and want to sit in with the band. Over the years Cadillac has had the honor of sharing the stage with Albert Collins, Jimmie Vaughan and Stevei Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins, Doyle Bramhall I & II, Ronnie Earl, Cornell DuPree among others. The Blasting Caps featuring Li'l Jr. One Hand have continued to reunite and in 2010 recorded their only cd The Blasting Caps "Live at the Keys", recorded at the Keys Lounge in Ft. Worth. In 1980, Cadillac rejoined Freddie Cisneros back in Houston, to play with Jimmy Don Smith in The Cold Cuts, a high energy blues group featuring the late great Jimmy Don Smith on vocals and guitar,and Jerry Chambers on drums. Following the Cold Cuts, Cadillac joined his friend Uncle John Turner in a brief run with Charlie Helpenstiel(Ezra Charles) in the Helpenstiel Blues Band., Cadillac and Uncle John Turner went on to play with Austin's Blues Legend Alan Haynes, in The Step Children. Cadillac recorded with Uncle John and Alan on Alan's first release Seventh Son. Next, Cadillac and Uncle John Turner worked again with Johnny Winter for some short tours. It was during this period around 1981, that Cadillac recorded with Uncle John Turner & Johnny Winter, on Uncle John's only solo record "Back to Beaumont". In 1992 Cadillac returned to Ft. Worth to join his old friend from Rockola Randy "Turtle" DeHart anf Johnnie "Red" Latham in Johnnie Red and the Roosters. The Roosters were a long running favorite of North Texas for many years. In 1996 Johnnie Red and The Roosters, released "In The Red Zone", with Cadillac writing and contributing 3 songs. During the 90's Cadillac played with the great Ray Sharpe, who wrote Linda Lu. Cadillac played with Ft. Worth Sax Man and entertainer Johnny Reno. Included in the band was Paul Boll on guitar In 2000, after battling a re-occurring opiate addiction of some 30 years, Cadillac was delivered once and for all from all substance abuse and desructive living. Having been to treatment a reported 13 times, he credits Jesus Christ as the One who set him free. In 2002 Cadillac was ordained into ministry. In 2005 while in the hospital for pneumonia, he contracted MRSA (a virulent staff infection) which contaminated an I-V line and went internally, to set up in his leg. After a year of being hospitalized, and 5 surgeries to save his leg, he was not expected to live. In addition he was diagnosed with COPD, congestive heart failure and chronic active Hepatitis C. Cadillac was healed by the power of God and now devotes his time and music, to sharing the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ., After being restored he has returned to his music with a new vitality, playing with various top name artist as a journeyman bass player and singer, along with his own Gospel/Blues project Cadillac Johnson and The Revelators. In 2010 Cadillac released his first solo project with The Revelators entitled KneeBone Station, featuring some of Texas' finest musicians. Appearing on the cd with Cadillac are, Buddy Whittington on guitar (John Mayall Band), Gonzy Trevino drums and co-producer, Rusty Burns on guitar, (Point Blank), Lewis Stephens on B-3 Hammond,(from Freddie King's band, Mike Zito and more, the late Michael Hamilton on piano, Linda Waring on drums (Bugs Henderson Band, Dave Millsap on guitar,(Delbert McClinton) Johnnie Reno on sax (Chris Isaak Band, Glen Clark B-3 organ (Delbert & Glen), Bonnie Raitt, Blues Brother, Reid Farrell on guitar, aka (Red Pharaoh) from Rocky Hill Band, Archie Bell and the Drells, Guthrie Kennard guitar and co-wrote music on 3 tracks,(Smokin' Joe Kubeck,, Rocky Hill Band, James Pennebaker guitar,(Delbert McClinton, Mike Farris, Big & Rich, Leroy Parnell) Johnnie "Red" Latham guitar, Christian Dozzler Harp. The cover painting was done by Cadillac's friend and associate Lenny Jones at FolkArtBlues. Rev. Cadillac Johnson and the Revelators cd KneeBone Station is available at http://www.christianblues.net/s/scripts/default.asp, Cadillac is considered to be a staple of the DFW blues scene, playing in Dallas and Ft. Worth on a weekly basis, with people like Dallas Bluesman Hash Brown (Brian Calway). He continues to minister and evangelize in churches and Gospel concerts, with the his band The Revelators. Currently Cadillac is playing with Dylan Bishop.

“Cadillac Johnson is part of our collective conscience of influences along with the Vaughn brothers Jimmy and Stevie, Doyle Bramhall I&II, Red Pharaoh, Doug Sahm, Johnny Winter, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and B.B. King.”, —Billy Gibbons, ZZ Top, Author, Rock and Roll Gearhead.

“Cadillac may not have invented cool, but he sho’ ‘nuff brought it to town.”, - Ray Wylie Hubbard

http://www.ameriblues.com/2010/12/26/rev-cadillac-johnson http://cahlsjukejoint.com/2010/12/rev-cadillac-johnson-the-revelators-kneebone-station.html

Discography The Remaining Few, Wait A While 1966, Rockola, featuring Lou Ann Barton 1973, Alan Haynes and The Step Children, Seventh Son 1981, Uncle John Turner & Johnny Winter, Back to Beaumont 1981, Movie soundtrack Roadracers, by Robert Rodriguez 1994, Johnne Red and the Roosters, In The Red Zone 1996, Rev. Cadillac Johnson and The Revelators, KneeBone Station 2010, Li'l Jr. One Hand and The Blasting Caps, Live at The Keys Lounge, Guthrie Kennard, Cross Your Heart, 2012 Dylan Bishop "Look Out" 2015