Few have heard of Texas Johnny Brown outside of the Houston area, but he was a key session player with Duke/Peacock Records in the 1950’s and 60’s, serving as guitarist on many of Bobby Bland and Junior Parker’s recordings.

He also wrote Bland’s "Two Steps From The Blues," although it was credited to Deadric Malone (a name used by Duke/Peacock owner Don Robey to claim songwriting royalties on many songs that he would not have recorded otherwise).

Brown also played in Amos Milburn’s band in the 40’s and 50’s, and recorded a few tracks of his own, backed by Milburn’s band, which later appeared on an Atlantic Records compilation in the mid 80’s. He left the music world in the early 60’s, re-emerging in the early 90’s.

His self-produced CD, Nothin’ But The Truth, marked a welcome return to recording for Brown. Actually, it’s like he was never gone.

He reprises his old Atlantic track "There Goes The Blues," and finally gets to record his own version of "Two Steps From The Blues." His guitar is as good as ever, maybe better. His vocals are a little rough around the edges, but effective. The rest of the songs are original compostions by Brown (except for the instrumental cover of "Ain’t No Way"), and lean toward the soulful side of blues. "Cheatin’ and Stealin’" (with it’s punchy horns), "Strange Situation," "Once Was," and the title track (about his life after the death of his mother) are among the standout tracks. Brown is backed by an excellent band, including the late Teddy Reynolds on three tracks).