Who is John Nickel from Taft and what is their importance?

John Nickel is the protagonist of the novel. Before the beginning of the narrative, he was a popular Memphis blues drummer until his girlfriend, Marion Woodmoore, became pregnant. John initially refused to marry her, but once his son Franklin was born, he became determined to win Marion back. Marion forces him to get a job - namely bartending at Muddy's - to put her through nursing school. When she gets her degree, however, Marion takes Franklin and moves to Miami.