Memphis Man: Living High, Laying Low

Memphis blues and rock legend writes about a long career that involved close associations with Joe Cocker, Leon Russell, George Harrison, Freddie King, Furry Lewis, John Mayall, and many others Don Nix is a Memphis music legend who played sax in a 1960s instrumental band, the Mar-Keys, that scored one of Stax Records first Top 10 hits. He went on to become a prolific songwriter and record producer. His song, "Going Down," has been recorded by Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelin, Sammy Hagar, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Deep Purple, The Who and many others. When Don Nix began his career, he was still in high school. Over time the Mar-Keys evolved into Booker T. and the MGs. As a producer and musician Nix worked with Freddie King, Furry Lewis, Lonnie Mack, Albert King, Delaney and Bonnie, the Staple Singers, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and many others. He was asked by Beatle George Harrison to organize the 1971 Bangladesh Concert at Madison Square Garden. Nix's stories of living at George Harrison's mansion in England make for especially good reading. In 1971 Nix organized a touring band named the Alabama State Troupers, featuring Wayne Perkins, Clayton Ivey, Fred Prouty, bluesman Furry Lewis, singer Jeanie Green and the Mount Zion Band and Choir. Their music was a brilliant mix of Southern rock and roll, blues and gospel. This memoir contains dozens of photographs taken by Nix of the legendary musicians with whom he worked. Read more