Johnny Jones And The King Casuals

Johnny Jones and the King Casuals were a premier Nashville, TN rhythm and blues group active in the 1960's. They were regular performers at the North Nashville club district, Printer's Alley clubs, as well as often serving as the house band for a legendary local TV show of the period. The beloved "Night Train" aired weekly at the Friday midnight time slot.

The band, which was originally named "The King Kasuals" was founded by Jimi Hendrix and bassist Billy Cox in Clarksville, TN in 1962 after the two were discharged from the adjacent Fort Campbell Army post, and eventually relocated to Nashville. After Jimi left, the band recorded a portfolio of singles in later years. Johnny Jones, born in Nashville in 1936, moved to Chicago, where he honed chops with Jr. Wells and others. He moved to back to Nashville in the early '60's to become a session player, and eventually assumed leadership of the band.

At least one video of Jimi Hendrix from the "Night Train" shows has survived, specifically, as a guest player with the band "The Royal Company" backing Nashville vocal group "Buddy and Stacy" on a cover of Jr. Walker's "Shotgun". This b&w video is generally considered to be the earliest ever (ca. 1965) of a Hendrix performance. According to Billy Cox, this appearance was during one of Hendrix's return visits to Nashville, as he had previously relocated to New York.

"Night Train" was hosted by Noble Blackwell and would open with him calling "all aboard" as footage of a steam locomotive rushing at the viewer kicked off the proceedings to the tune of (as one would expect) "Night Train".

External links

*Additional band information is available here [http://funky16corners.tripod.com/9_johnnyjones.htm] and here [http://www.knights-maumau.com/music_more.php/119/Johnny+Jones]
*Additional "Night Train" TV show information is available here [http://browneyedhandsomeman.blogspot.com/2006/10/all-aboard-night-train.html]