Johnny Dowd is an American original; a singular musical vision distilled from the raw detritus of primal rock and roll, free jazz, swamp blues and greasy funk; anchored by a voice channeling Johnny Cash through Chet Baker.

Cruel Words is Johnny Dowd’s 6th album (2nd for Bongo Beat). It follows a trajectory set in motion by the self-released Wrong Side of Memphisin 1998. Johnny was 50 years old at the time, working at the Zolar Moving Company (Ithaca, NY) by day and recording in their offices by night (it’s ok, he’s one of the owners) a pattern that hasn’t changed much over the years, except for Cruel Words(recorded at Ithaca’s Pyramid Sound with long time friend and engineer Alex Perialas).

It’s no surprise the Europeans were the first to embrace him. Here was a fully formed character who’d emerged literally out of nowhere. A guitar-toting white haired James Dean; flashing a sly grin as he casually hand-rolls a cigarette during the course of a song. Born in Ft. Worth, Texas, Johnny’s childhood was spent i