Nicky Diamonds

Born and raised in San Antonio, TX, Nicholas Mikkel-John Long built his early musical identity as frontman of the San Antonio blues band Lonely Horse before a contentious split with a major label led to the group's breakup. After a period away from music in El Paso, he returned to San Antonio in 2020 and relaunched his solo career as Nicky Diamonds, signing with Black Opry Records and relocating to Nashville, TN. Pulling inspiration from old church hymn books, family stories, and his Afro-Indigenous heritage, Diamonds blends country, Americana, Hill Country blues, folk, and gospel into a singular sound. He has performed at the 2023 Luck Reunion (invited by Willie Nelson) and AmericanaFest, and was asked to duet with Alicia Keys at the Pilgrimage Festival in Franklin, TN. His 2023 release Perdido en La Salsa is a seven-song mini-album exploring themes of depression and resilience. The Austin Chronicle has called his solo work music that 'cuts with a tender power.'