john cotton

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In his younger days the nick name of Mumbles was tagged on to John. This was because no one could understand him except when he sang, a shy quite person. He started playing rhythm guitar at age 11 but really was not interested in lead guitar. Playing rhythm guitar for numerous local groups and garage bands during the early to middle 60's a new found friend (bass player for the Roemans and later famed Allman Brothers Band) Berry Oakley convienced John that guitar players were a dime a dozen and he should start playing bass. Again playing with verious groups John's reputation was growing as a staff bass player and was ask to join, sit in, play, and record with groups from the south--Dothan, Jacksonville, Macon, and Hot-lanta.The war was happening and Uncle Sam decided he wanted John to come play with him. Like all musicians John carried his guitar. On his tour of Viet Nam John met other musicians and were always jammin' when they had time. Heard by some of the entertainer directors they were asked to play for the troops stationed in thier area. The word spread and they were invited to play at the different bases around Viet Nam. During this period of time John's nick name changed to Trippie but John didn't want to elaborate on how that came about. Ha Ha Ha yeah right.John finished his commitment to Uncle Sam and returned home. John was back in demand to play bass for another two years. John decided to return to school and entered FSU and studied Business Communications. During this time John played rhythm guitar for a few groups around the Tallahassee area. After graduation John returned to his home in Georgia and opened his own club, hiring musicians and entertainers he had met on the road. As times changed and entertainment was getting more expensive John sold the club and moved to a small farm nestled in the mountians of southwest Virginia.Playing music only for himself, a close friend (The Pirate) talked John into returning to the music he loved. Still not really comfortable playing public John did agree to jam for the fun and introduce The Pirate to the bass. As age catches up with all of us the nick name changed again and now he is known as Papa John. Papa does little playing in public, but is content writing and recording in his home studio. Papa's true love is the Blues but mixes it up with Rock Folk which he inherited from his stay in New York and California.by Mandy Ziller