Cadillac Johnson

Born in Houston, Texas in 1951, Michael “Cadillac” Johnson began playing guitar at the age of 10. By age 14 he had switched to the bass guitar and began playing professionally. Cadillac started out at an early age playing in the rich blues and soul environment of Houston, Texas and in the Gulf Coast area. During these early years he also played with the great Lightnin’ Hopkins. Friend Billy Gibbons called upon Cadillac in 1969 to play bass guitar on an interim basis with ZZ TOP until Dusty Hill could move from Dallas to join the group. Billy is responsible for Cadillac’s nickname. While performing with ZZ Top, Gibbons would introduce him as the “Cadillac of Bass Players.”

Cadillac has played with Johnny Winter and Uncle John Turner and recorded the only solo album Uncle John ever made with Johnny Winter. Cadillac and Uncle John left Charlie Helpenstiel’s band Ezra Charles, to form The Step Children with Alan Haynes, and record Alan’s first release Seventh Son, which also featured Johnny Winter.

In 1973 Cadillac moved to Ft. Worth to join Lou Ann Barton in her first band Rockola, which yielded an obscure release. In Ft. Worth he found a home at Robert Ealey’s New Bluebird Nite Club. Cadillac backed Robert Ealey for years, right up to Roberts passing in 2006. It was at the Blue Bird that Cadillac met Freddie Cisneros, whom he dubbed with the nickname “Little Jr. One Hand.” Cadillac and Freddie formed the infamous band The Blasting Caps, who still get together for an annual Texas tour.

Cadillac has been fortunate to share the stage with Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughn, Kim Wilson, Doyle Bramhall Sr., Omar Dykes, Cornell DuPree, Buddy Guy, BB King, Albert Collins, Sonny Landreth, Room Full of Blues and many others over the years.

Cadillac played with Ray Sharpe, who is the penman of “Linda Lou”, and became part of Johnnie Red and the Roosters who released “In The Red Zone” in 1996. He has been a staple in the Fort Worth blues scene as a journeyman bass player for many years, playing with Holland K. Smith, Dave Millsap, Buddy Whittington, Johnny Reno and the list goes on. Along with his Gospel/Blues project with the Revelators, he also plays bass for Guthrie Kennard, Blind Dog Cooley, and co-hosts a weekly jam with Dallas Blues great Hash Brown.

Battled by years of serious addiction, destructive living, and near fatal diseases, Cadillac has emerged healed, delivered and redeemed by the power of God. Ordained in 2002, Cadillac has now begun a ministry focusing on youth and those who need encouragement while battling and overcoming areas he himself has dealt with.

Cadillac Johnson: KneeBone Station (2010)

“Music and Ministry remain the focus for Cadillac these days. He is often overheard telling folks, “The best is yet to come.” Knowing Cadillac, I believe he is right.”
Sondra Nicholas McDonald
WhoDo Graphic Design
Ft. Worth, Texas

“Cadillac Johnson is part of our collective conscience of influences along with the Vaughn brothers Jimmy and Stevie, Doyle Bramhall I&II, Red Pharaoh, Doug Sahm, Johnny Winter, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and B.B. King.”
—Billy Gibbons, ZZ Top
Author, Rock and Roll Gearhead

“Cadillac may not have invented cool, but he sho’ ‘nuff brought it to town.”
—Ray Wylie Hubbard