Rod Nickson is the son of Buffalo blues legend Matt “Guitar” Nickson and has been a major player in the Western New York Music scene for years. Rod brings a powerful and soulful presence to the stage that demands attention and keeps it all night long. Although primarily a vocalist and entertainer, Rod is a complete musician who can play Guitar, Bass and Piano, as well as carry lead vocals with the best of them.
Rod spent his early years listening to his father and a variety of his father’s musician friends who stopped in to visit, including B.B. King. He took up the drums in high school and by his junior year in college, was playing drums, bass and acoustic guitar (later picking up piano and harmonica). Although he played a variety of genres of music in college, it was only when he came home that he got deep into the Blues. Rod played bass on Fridays and Saturdays at Buffalo’s “Green Ghetto Lounge” with father Matt on guitar, Dennis Fox on drums and Johnny Soul singing the Blues.
Best known for his originals, Rod’s writing influences range from people like Lucky Peterson and Buddy Guy to Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley. The band covers everything from Blues and 60′s-70′s soul to classic rock like Steely Dan and Led Zeppelin, but has the skill and experience to play standards like Georgia or Wonderful World and make it sound authentic. Fans can always find something they like in the band’s repertoire of over 100 songs. All the players in Rod’s band are always the best around and while many head their own projects, they love to play with Rod. It’s this mutual respect that makes a KILLER SHOW!
Rod’s hobbies are cars, music, and his children, not in that order.
Awards
Rod has won many awards including “Top Male Blues Vocalist” in 2001, 2002 and 2005, Top Blues Crossover Band in 2002, People’s Choice Entertainer of the Year in 2003, 2002 “Listener’s” Choice Award: Rhythm and Blues Band and the Muddy Waters Award from Blues Beat Magazine in 2006. Rod is almost always nominated for something every year and represented Western New York at the International Blues Competition in Memphis, TN where he finished in the top seven in 1998 and returned in 2001.
Shared Stages
The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Doug Flutie All-Star Band, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joe Beard, Chris Beard, Robert Cray (Requested Us), James Peterson, Lucky Peterson, Rico McFarland, Bob Margolin, Janice Mitchell, Count Rabbit, Cheryl King (B.B. King’s daughter), Gladys Knight, Marcia Ball, Michael Pickett, Lance Diamond, Elvin Bishop, Kelly Hunt, Fathead, Sean Costello, Little Charlie & The Night Cats, Mel Brown, Chuck Jackson & The Downchild Blues Band, Dickie Betts and Great Southern, Jefferson Starship and George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
Cover Music
Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Lucky Peterson, Van Morrison, B.B. King, Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Little Milton, Buddy Guy, Doobie Brothers, Led Zeppelin, Steely Dan, Jimmie Hendricks, Spinners, Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan, Macy Gray and Robert Bradley, Fabulous Thunderbirds and many others.