As a songwriter, in addition to the material written, or co-written for the Allman Brothers,[1] Gregg Allman,[2] and Dickey Betts,[3] Neel's songs have also been recorded by Gov't Mule,[4] John Mayall,[5] Delbert McClinton,[6] Montgomery Gentry,[7] Keith Whitley,[8] Travis Tritt,[9] The Oak Ridge Boys,[10] Restless Heart,[11] Ann Peebles, Dorothy Moore,[12] and John Schneider.

As a studio musician, Neel appeared on recordings by The Allman Brothers, Gov't Mule, Warren Haynes, Dickey Betts, Montgomery Gentry, Michael McDonald, Todd Snider, David Allan Coe, Jeff Coffin, Robert Gordon, Chris LeDoux, Tiny Town, Suzy Bogguss, Joe Diffie, Collin Raye, and Pirates of the Mississippi.

He cut his first single, entitled "Talking About People", at the age of twelve, as Johnny Neel and The Shapes Of Soul, which was a hit on local radio in the Wilmington/Philadelphia area.

That relationship led to seven cuts on the Pattern Disruptive album released in 1988, including the AOR hit, "Rock Bottom".

The album also included the song "Read Me My Rights" which was co-written with Delbert McClinton, and which was covered by McClinton on his Nothing Personal album,[16] by Ann Peebles on her Full Time Love,[17] by Dorothy Moore on Stay Close to Home,[18] and by Dalton Reed on Louisiana Soul Man.

In 2000, Neel released Late Night Breakfast which was recorded at his Straight Up Sound Studio with the members of his band The Last Word, along with special guests guitarists Shane Theriot (The Neville Brothers), and Rick Vito, as well as Wayne Jackson on trumpet.

The Grease Factor included guitarist Shane Theriot, bassist Derek Jones, drummer Jeff Sipe, and percussionist Count M'Butu.

[27] A return to a more blues-based sound, the album includes ex-Allman Brothers guitarist Jack Pearson, and ex-Little Feat vocalist Shaun Murphy.

In 2019, Neel joined Chris Anderson, formerly of the Outlaws, in a new band entitled "Rattlebone" and released a record, "World's Gone Crazy."