Ripon College Days

Image coutesy www.jonnicholson.com [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Photo by Joe Truesdale Piano man. Jon Nicholson rocks out during his after party at the Oneida Casino. [Click to enlarge]

Image courtesy www.jonnicholson.com [Click to enlarge]

With the scent of stale smoke and beer in the air, a single man pours his heart and soul over his electric organ. That man is none other than up and coming musician Jon Nicholson.

Nicholson recently made a stop in Green Bay while on tour with his fellow MuzikMafia artists including famed country artists Big and Rich and Gretchen Wilson. The MuzikMafia is a collection of artists founded by four people with a love of "Music Without Prejudice."

Nicholson is one of the Godfathers, or founders, of the MuzikMafia along with Big Kenny and John Rich from Big and Rich and business mastermind Corey Gierman.

"There was a lack of singer/songwriters in the Nashville scene," says Nicholson. "And we were just hanging out and jamming." The four Godfathers then decided to start playing on Tuesday nights at Nashville's Pub of Luv. "We picked the worst night at the worst time because we didn't care if anyone showed up, we were doing it for ourselves and for our love of music."

Regardless of being on "the worst night," Nashville began to take notice of the four-some with full force. "People were lined up outside of the Pub just to see us play," Nicholson explained. "We were playing totally new stuff, everyone in the Mafia brought in different and diverse elements."

After some time of establishing their presence at the Pub of Luv, the Godfathers began inviting others to join in the Mafia if they were worthy of the honor. Included in these additions is once bartender, now CMA's Top Female Vocalist of the Year, Gretchen Wilson. Within the last week, Wilson was named as the first Godmother to the MuzikMafia because, as Nicholson said, "Gretchen was there from the start and she's always watched out for us." Additional members that have been inducted into the world of the MuzikMafia include James Otto and Shannon Lawson, among others.

As jamming became more frequent, the Mafia was exploding in the Nashville music scene. "It just became a slam," says Nicholson as he reminisces about the early days of the Mafia. "Celebrities even started showing up; Josie Scott from Saliva would hang out and jam with us."

The first to get offered a record deal from the Nashville elite were Big Kenny and John Rich who wrote together often and began a parternish with Warner Bros. Records. They now go by Big and Rich. Gretchen Wilson soon followed suit with her deal from Sony.

Even though the first groups to hit it big within the MuzikMafia are country artists, Nicholson is quick to say that the MuzikMafia is not a group of just country artists. "We've got artists who cover everything from country to rock and soul and blues, to hip hop," Nicholson clarifies. "We've had Mafia jam sessions with artists like Kid Rock, Robert Randalf, the P. Funk All-stars and George Clinton, and the Super Action Heroes."

With all of these friends who provide different influences, the MuzikMafia proudly totes the slogan, "Music Without Prejudice." Nicholson finds that this is missing in music today and that it is important for people to support good music, regardless of its classification. Rather than just preach about the current state of the music industry, the Godfathers have taken action to promote their music values.

At the end of 2004 RAYBAW records was created by the Mafia Godfathers in conjunction with Warner Bros. Records. The label stands for Red And Yellow Black And White and drives home the Mafia's values. The label's first artist, Cowboy Troy, exemplifies the ideals of the Godfathers. With his brand of music lovingly called "hick-hop," Cowboy Troy successfully melds the worlds of urban and country music.

As for Jon Nicholson's music, many would classify him as a rock and soul artist. In fact, John Rich of Big and Rich even stated that Nicholson is the "white Ray Charles." While that sounds like a kind remark from one friend to another, Rich was sure to point out his conviction. "I'm dead serious, this guy is the white Ray Charles," says Rich.

Nicholson has a different take on how someone should classify his music. "Do you really have to say what 'it' is?" asks Nicholson. "You really just gotta hear it for yourself and decide what it is to you."

The difficulty in classifying Nicholson's music gets even more complex when he goes over all of his influences. He's been a fan of Elvis ever since he was a kid, and since then he's been listening to Metallica, AC-DC, Dead Kennedies, Agent Orange, Hank Williams Jr., Merl Haggard, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Donny Hathaway, The Rolling Stones, The Faces and Bob Marley just to name a few.

The artists that really strike a chord with Nicholson are those who are paving their own paths. "You know, Ray Charles was a gospel singer and when he started singing about things other than the Lord, people were saying, 'well that isn't really gospel' and that's pretty much how soul was born," says Nicholson.

Since his music also pulls from other sounds other than straight up rock and soul, Nicholson relies on the internet, college radio and live performances to get his music out to the masses.

"The internet expands everything," says Nicholson. Nicholson continued to say that the internet also allows music with different sounds to reach other audiences that wouldn't normally listen to that artist on mainstream radio. "It also gives people a taste of music in order to judge their purchase on," continues Nicholson. "Hopefully they'll enjoy the music and go buy the record after hearing it for free on the internet."

In terms of radio exposure, Nicholson sees college radio as an excellent medium to promote his music. "(Commercial) radio is so controlled," declares Nicholson. "You've got someone who tells you what to play and when to play it. College radio allows so much more diversity and you can spin anything you want, especially those who are different from the mainstream sound that isn�t on the radio right now."

On the night College Days spoke with Jon Nicholson, he was also preparing to play a free after party at Oneida Casino immediately following his opening act for Big and Rich and Gretchen Wilson on the American Revolution Tour. During the performance, Nicholson gave up his stage to fellow MuzikMafia artists James Otto and Shannon Lawson, each playing two of their own songs. Nicholson was also joined on stage by other Mafia members John Rich, Cowboy Troy and Two Foot Fred.

"These jams are where you really get to see what the MuzikMafia is all about," says Nicholson. "It's just us up there playing what we want to play, when we want to play it and hopefully everyone digs it."

And dig it they did. After Nicholson's intimate performance at Oneida, everyone who saw the two-hour energy filled and emotionally powerful performance came away with a new view on what music should be, if even in the slightest effect. Among the crowd, nearly everyone took the time to support Nicholson by purchasing his new album, A Lil Sump'm Sump'm and in true MuzikMafia fashion, Nicholson stayed to personally autograph each and every one.

While meeting and greeting his fans, Nicholson expressed how important events like this are. "It's all about a grassroots movement," says Nicholson. "This is how it all starts." With the kind of dedication, heart, and soul that Jon Nicholson puts into his performance and music, no one will argue with that.

Jon Nicholson performs with:

Jerry Navaro - Bass

Max Abrams - Sax

Sean Smith - Guitar

Elijah "DD" Holt - Drums and Organ

To learn more about Jon Nicholson and hear some of his music, check out his official website You can also listen to his jams right here on Ripon Campus with WRPN 90.1 FM The Edge which is playing songs off his new album, A Lil Sump'm Sump'm out now on Warner Bros. Records.

To learn more about the MuzikMafia and their message of "Music Without Prejudice" visit their official website.

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