024 – Sultan of Psychedelia: Powell St. John (1/2)
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Powell St. John was in the Waller Creek Boys (with a young Janis Joplin) while at the University of Texas in the early 60’s. He went on to form the band St. John the Conqueroo, wrote songs for the 13th Floor Elevators (featuring Roky Erickson), and helped to found the San Francisco band Mother Earth with Tracy Nelson. In the 70’s he took a break from professional music and went on to raise a family, but was inducted into the Texas Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 where he has picked up his musical career. He is currently playing with the band The Aliens. We sit down with Powell and his wife Toby and talk about his musical, artistic and life journey. This is part one of the interview with focus on his early life and music career up to the late 60’s.
Credits: “MLR Intro” by “Rob McCann“, “You Don’t Know” by “Powell St. John“, “John Clay” by “Powell St. John“, “Black Mountain” by “Bessie Smith” as performed by “Waller Creek Boys”, “Abandonado” by “Powell St. John“, “Your Gonna Miss Me (When I’m Gone)” by “Roky Erickson” as performed by “13th Floor Elevators“, “Living with the Animals” by “Mother Earth“.
The song Living With The Animals help lift my spirits a little after my girlfriend dumped me for my roommate. Several years later another girlfriend later, she on bass and me on guitar taught ourselves that song. I didn’t need to learn the lyrics because they were in my memory good and strong. Thank you, Powell.