Johnny Jones And The King Casuals
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Johnny Jones and the King Casuals were a premier Nashville, TN rhythm and blues group active in the 1960's. They were regular performers at the North Nashville club district, Printer's Alley clubs, as well as often serving as the house band for a legendary local TV show of the period. The beloved "Night Train" aired weekly at the Friday midnight time slot.
The band, which was originally named "The King Kasuals" was founded by Jimi Hendrix and bassist Billy Cox in Clarksville, TN in 1962 after the two were discharged from the adjacent Fort Campbell Army post, and eventually relocated to Nashville. After Jimi left, the band recorded a portfolio of singles in later years. Johnny Jones, born in Nashville in 1936, moved to Chicago, where he honed chops with Jr. Wells and others. He moved to back to Nashville in the early '60's to become a session player, and eventually assumed leadership of the band.
At least one video of the King Casuals with Jimi Hendrix from the "Night Train" shows has survived, specifically, of the band backing Nashville vocal group "The Spidells" on a cover of Jr. Walker's "Shotgun". This b&w video is generally considered to be the earliest ever (ca. 1965) of a Hendrix performance.
"Night Train" was hosted by Noble Blackwell and would open with him calling "all aboard" as footage of a steam locomotive rushing at the viewer kicked off the proceedings to the tune of (as one would expect) "Night Train".
