Bruno Michel: Jody, your Grandpa Jonah was a fiddler and your Grandma Myrtle played guitar. You started by playing drums in your dad's band in 1960 when you were 8 years old. How has the music business changed during your career of more than 50 years?
Jody Nix: It changed quite a bit. Listening to mainstream radio lets you realize that there is far less traditional country music being played these days. But thankfully stations like Willie's Roadhouse or the Bluegrass Channel and others are preserving that Classic Country and Western Swing music. I stick to the roots. I guess you could say I'm one of the preserving artists in this business. We keep Twin-Fiddles and Pedal Steel alive.
What would be the title of your autobiography?
Oh wow. I never really thought about that. I guess "Over Half A Century Of Music - Keeping The Tradition Alive" might be suitable.
You're hosting a radio show, you're on stage almost every weekend. What is the type of fuel that keeps Jody Nix going after all this time?
I love Country Music, Western Swing and I still love to be on the road and play. Interacting with people, with my audience every week when we play. I take my hat off right here and say thank God for the talent and the gift of music he gave me when I was just a small boy. I've been playing all my life and this is what I love to do. The radio show is another activity that I love. The owner of the station KBYG in Big Spring approached me over a year ago and asked me to do a Sunday show from 7-9pm. I can choose what I want to play and that's kind of neat.
Your dad wrote the signature song "Big Ball's In Cowtown". Which song would you wish you had written?
That's kind of a hard question. Yes my dad did write that song. 1949 was the first time they cut it. I guess there would be many I wish I'd had written. But it's really hard to answer that. My all time favorite is Pick Me Up On Your Way Down by Charlie Walker. I like that song so much we do it on every show we play.
What was the best piece of advice you ever received in your career?
That's a hard one, too (laughs). To keep on doing what I'm doing, never quit, work hard and please the people. That's what I was doing anyhow. Just taking care of the business and keep tradition alive.
You're a seasoned artist now yourself. Which advice would you give to a young talent who wants to start in this business?
I obviously can't give advice to any of those younger artists that play today's country music. I just didn't keep up with that. But as to all the younger traditional artists, I'll tell them to keep digging for all these lost songs that you don't hear anymore and play them. Also to write some new songs in the style of that era. Keep it good and clean and don't give up.
Thankfully there's still a bunch out there doing this today...
...oh yes. People like Billy Mata, Jake Hooker, Bobby Flores and of course the young lady Amber Digby or Justin Trevino. And then there's of course still the older active generation with Johnny Bush, Darrell McCall or Tony Booth out there. And I love the Quebe Sisters. Great Fiddle players and great singers. They're so talented.
What would be your favorite duet partner if you could freely choose?
If it would be a lady it would be Connie Smith. On the male artist side it would be Ray Price. He's still great. He's as good as he ever was.
If we lookup Jody Nix in the history books in 50 years from now, what do you wish people would read about you?
They should say that I kept it good and kept it clean. That I was doing great dance shows and used my god given talent.
What was the most memorable moment in your long career and why?
Oh there were so many in my long career. I should touch on a highlight here when I was 21 years old. In 1973, me, my daddy and Merle Haggard were all guest artists on Bob Wills' album For The Last Time (Red. Double LP UA-LA216-J2), right before he had his massive stroke. That was an honor and I am so glad to have had that experience.
If you were to interview Jody Nix, which question would you ask him that I did not ask?
You're putting me on the spot (laughs). I don't really know how to answer that at all. We may have to leave that one blank. You can write that as I say it. Let me think. I guess I'd ask myself if I enjoyed my career. And the answer would be: Yes I have and I hope I can enjoy it some more.