Album Notes

John Salih (pronounced "Solly") started music in the mid 60's in Dallas Texas playing lead guitar in the "Novas". It was an extremely popular group with flawless three part harmonies. They became well known for their performances of songs such as "Bus Stop" by The Hollies, "Rock and Roll Woman" by the Buffalo Springfield, "Help" and a lot of other tunes by The Beatles. After the addition of a Rickenbacker 12 string, they covered many songs by The Byrds. While still in high school, they played on the same bill with national touring acts such as Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and The Spencer Davis Group.

The Novas made frequent appearances on a local TV show called "Sump'n Else", a Monday through Friday after school dance party patterned after American Bandstand and hosted by Dallas broadcast legend, Ron Chapman. One of the songs they performed was an original called "William Junior" which peaked at #14 on the local charts. This song and other recordings by The Novas were released as a cd on the Collectables label in 1996.

After graduating from high school John enrolled at North Texas State University as a music composition major. After two years of college, he joined a seven piece band that relocated in Los Angeles California. They toured as the opening act for such notable groups of the day as Sly and the Family Stone, Three Dog Night, and Spirit.

After a couple of years in L.A. John moved back to Dallas where he started a little band that performed mostly his original songs. Later, the band grew in size and played local clubs and opened shows for the likes of the Everly Brothers and the great jazz pianist Erroll Garner. After about a year the band broke up and John began playing bars, restaurants, and hotel lounges as a solo piano player-singer.

In 1982, he began working in, and eventually managing, the family restaurant business started by his father in 1945.

Around the mid 90's,he started writing and recording again. The result is the cd "Hush and Feel", which reflects both a musical and personal journey.