Powell St. John
Encyclopedia
Powell St. John is an American
singer and songwriter. He was a well-known figure on the mid-1960s Austin, Texas
campus folk/bohemian music scene. He was an occasional member of various Austin rock groups, including The Conqueroo and he wrote songs for the 13th Floor Elevators
.
. Powell began his musical career in Austin in the early 1960s, 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 60s, Powell moved to San Francisco, California
and with Tracy Nelson
, formed the band Mother Earth.
Many musicians have recorded Powell’s songs, including Janis Joplin (Bye, Bye Baby), Boz Scaggs
(I’ll Forever Sing), Tracy Nelson (Livin’ with the Animals), Roky Erickson
(Right Track Now), Doug Sahm
(You Don’t Know) & The Vietnam Veterans (Right Track Now).
In 2005 the Texas Music Hall of Fame inducted Powell as part of the South by Southwest Music Conference
.
In Spring 2006 he was reunited with Roky Erickson in performance at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas.
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.
In Oct 2010 Powell had an interview with Music Life Radio where he discussed his life and times.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer and songwriter. He was a well-known figure on the mid-1960s Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
campus folk/bohemian music scene. He was an occasional member of various Austin rock groups, including The Conqueroo and he wrote songs for the 13th Floor Elevators
13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators were an American rock band from Austin, Texas formed by guitarist and vocalist Roky Erickson, electric jug player Tommy Hall, and guitarist Stacy Sutherland, which existed from 1965 to 1969...
.
Biography
Powell St. John went from Laredo to Austin, Texas in 1959 as a harmonica playing, beret wearing beatnikBeatnik
Beatnik was a media stereotype of the 1950s and early 1960s that displayed the more superficial aspects of the Beat Generation literary movement of the 1950s and violent film images, along with a cartoonish depiction of the real-life people and the spiritual quest in Jack Kerouac's autobiographical...
. Powell began his musical career in Austin in the early 1960s, 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
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
and Lannie Wiggins in a small trio called The Waller Creek Boys
The Waller Creek Boys
The Waller Creek Boys were an Austin, Texas folk music band formed in 1962. The band lineup was made up of; Janis Joplin: autoharp, Lanny Wiggins: guitar and vocals, and Powell St. John: vocals and harmonica.-External links:*...
. 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 60s, Powell moved to San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
and with Tracy Nelson
Tracy Nelson (singer)
-Youth in Wisconsin:Nelson was born and grew up in Madison, Wisconsin. There she first learned about R&B music from WLAC radio in Nashville. In her teens, Nelson sang folk music in coffeehouses and with a group called The Fuller's Wood Singers and was lead singer in a band called The Fabulous...
, formed the band Mother Earth.
Many musicians have recorded Powell’s songs, including Janis Joplin (Bye, Bye Baby), Boz Scaggs
Boz Scaggs
William Royce "Boz" Scaggs is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He gained fame in the 1970s with several Top 20 hit singles in the United States, along with the #2 album, Silk Degrees. Scaggs continues to write, record music and tour.-Early life and career:Scaggs was born in Canton,...
(I’ll Forever Sing), Tracy Nelson (Livin’ with the Animals), Roky Erickson
Roky Erickson
Roky Erickson is an American singer, songwriter, harmonica player and guitarist from Texas. He was a founding member of the 13th Floor Elevators and a pioneer of the psychedelic rock genre.-Biography:...
(Right Track Now), Doug Sahm
Doug Sahm
Douglas Wayne Sahm , was an American musician from Texas. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he was a child prodigy in country music, but became a significant figure in blues rock and other genres. Today Sahm is considered one of the most important figures in what is identified as Tejano music...
(You Don’t Know) & The Vietnam Veterans (Right Track Now).
In 2005 the Texas Music Hall of Fame inducted Powell as part of the South by Southwest Music Conference
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
.
In Spring 2006 he was reunited with Roky Erickson in performance at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas.
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.
In Oct 2010 Powell had an interview with Music Life Radio where he discussed his life and times.