Johnny Mercury's influences run as deep as the country roads he was raised on back in West Virginia. Starting out by cutting is hit teeth in tent revival bands in Pentacostal churches at the age of 15 may have had something to do with...or maybe it's listening to country and 50's vocalist records at home...one might also say it's come from collecting records of just about everything good prior to the mid-1960's. Anyway you slice it, it's something original and "Johnny Mercury".
After spending more than 10 ten years fronting his own Rockabilly/Rock and Roll band, Johnny Mercury is taking his music back to where it started for him - Country Music. A lot of you know this isn't a stretch, for Johnny played in numerous Country and Honkytonk bands on the Route 60 circuit back in West Virginia under the tutelage of such notable musicians like Robert Shafer (Rounder Records, Johnny Statts) and Gary Boggs (George Jones, Connie Smith).
Disillusioned with the change in Country music sent Johnny on the Rock and Roll road while still writing country songs all along. Some ended up as Rock and Roll numbers (Blue Boy, Since You're Gone, Sad Cold & Lonely) dozens of other have not been performed past strumming them on the front porch. Stay Tuned
- Gene Ledbetter
OLD PROMOTION MATERIAL:
What people say:
"i would have loved to had a guitarist like you back in the 50's"
- Wanda Jackson (Queen of Rockabilly and Rock and Roll legend)
"Throughout my travels, Johnny Mercury is closest to the raw rockabilly sound I've ever heard!"
- Rudy "Tutti" Grayzell (original Sun/Starday/Capitol Records rockabilly artist)
"Johnny Mercury himself plays that sizzling lead guitar and sings his heart out."
- Blue Suede News
"An ace...one of the best guitar players I've seen in years."
- Billy Poore (original rockabilly artist and author of 'Rockabilly: A Forty Year Journey)
The band has released 3 full length CD's; Introducing... (1996), Atomic Guitar Boogie (2001) and the newly-released Real Gone Rockin' (2007), one EP; Shank Hands, Shack Up! (2005) and has been featured on 8 CD compilations ranging from Rockabilly, Psychobilly, Rock & Roll and Punk bands. Johnny has also written and contributed for film and television as well starting the independant film Just a Sweater (1997), Stray Dogs (tv pilot 2005), Flyin Saucer Rock and Roll (2006) and he just recorded several television commercials for The Kroger Company and their subsideraries (April 2007) as well as other films and and multimedia projects.
Johnny has been a sideman playing guitar for such notable artists as:
Show us your CANS!! this Sunday and get free raffle tickets at HOT RODS FOR HUNGER car show & Food Drive. Only at FRISCO'S IN LBC. 4750 E. Los Coyotes Diagonal. 1-6pm ALL AGES!
Live Music by WHISKEY WAGON ELVIS IMPERSONATORS to get your hips a swinging!
All for bitchin cause! Vendors for early X-mas shopping!!!!
Check the site now for: Daily news updates on music, film and games. Cutting articles on Music / Film / Fashion / Arts & Games Whats on near you! Free music downloads with Netdog!
Hi you all, I really enjoy your music very much, I thank you for the chance to hear the new songs and old songs on your site and the last thing I want to say is thank you for being my friend this really means a lot. Thanks.
..
Online Now!
