J.D. Nicholson

b. James David Nicholson, 12 April 1917, Monroe, Louisiana, USA, d. 27 July 1991, Los Angeles, California, USA. Nicholson learned to play the piano in church from the age of five. He later emigrated to the west coast where, influenced by the popular black recording artists of the day, he built up a solo act and travelled and performed all over California. In the mid-40s he teamed up with Jimmy McCracklin and they made their first demo recordings together; Nicholson played, McCracklin sang and both their styles were very much in the mould of Walter Davis. Over the next decade, Nicholson accompanied a number of well-known artists, such as Lowell Fulson and Ray Agee, and also made some records under his own name. Later in the 50s, he joined Jimmy Reed’s band, and also played with Little Walter. He made a few more records in the 60s.