DON'T DENY ME

JOHN HUTCHINGS (aka. J. HENRY & CO.) 

Drawing from his Texas childhood and beyond, John grew up exposed to the world with a different perspective. He was an island boy to begin with, but at the age of 14, he was sent to Connecticut for education. “While I was there”, he says, “every kind of music was everywhere! Chet Atkins to ZZ Top and everything in between. Everyone had album collections, so that’s where my initial influences came from.” 

Music became a way of life for John as he learned how to play bass and guitar in the late 70’s. By the early 80’s he was writing and arranging songs after a cross-country move to New Mexico and shortly after, to Oklahoma. He recalls that “Stillwater was just starting to get the Red Dirt Music scene together, and I was glad to be there when all that was happening”.

After moving back to Texas and raising a family, a tragic auto accident happened in 1996 which almost left John without his left arm. Pure determination to play again was the perfect physical therapy, and he began recording his songs. He has continued to write and record songs. And now, for the first time, he has released an eleven-song album. There's a nod to the "King John's" (Fogerty, Hiatt, and Prine) in his writing, and while the music is rooted in americana, it wanders into other genres as well.

The songs are full of introspective ideas and thoughtful phrasing. They’re built on a foundation of authentic feeling and passion that look, both to the good, and the bad in everyday life – past and present. A life of looking ahead and watching behind.

Drums were recorded by Warren Van Wyk at Blueville Studio in South Africa, and guitar, keyboard and bass were all recorded in Nashville by extremely talented session players (Nicky V., Tim McDonald/Yamaha, and Martin Motnik). Mastering took place at Studio On The Ridge, owned by James Cook (12-year veteran touring bassist for Luke Bryan and previously with master picker Steve Wariner).