Years active 1946–1964 Name Little Jones | Role Singer Genres Blues | |
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Born November 1, 1924
Jackson, Mississippi, United States ( 1924-11-01 ) Instruments Vocals, piano, harmonica Died November 19, 1964, Chicago, Illinois, United States Associated acts El James, Muddy Waters, Tampa Red Similar People Muddy Waters, El James, Tampa Red, Odie Payne, Leroy Foster | ||
Little johnny jones chicago blues
Little Johnny Jones (born Johnnie Jones, November 1, 1924 – November 19, 1964) was an American Chicago blues pianist and singer, best known for his work with Tampa Red, Muddy Waters and Elmore James.
Contents
- Little johnny jones chicago blues
- Little johnny jones big town playboy
- Life and career
- Singles
- Albums
- References
Little johnny jones big town playboy
Life and career
Jones was born in Jackson, Mississippi, United States, in 1924, and was a cousin of Otis Spann. He arrived in Chicago in 1945 in the company of Little Walter and "Baby Face" Leroy Foster and soon replaced pianist Big Maceo Merriweather in Tampa Red's band after Merriweather suffered a stroke, which paralysed his right hand. Like several other Chicago pianists of his era, his style was heavily influenced by that of Merriweather, from whom he had learned and for whom he played piano after Merriweather's stroke.
Jones later backed Muddy Waters on harmonica and recorded a session (on piano and vocals) with him for Aristocrat Records in 1949. He also played on ten sessions with Tampa Red for the Victor label between 1949 and 1953. From 1952 to 1956 he played and recorded with Elmore James, and also played on sessions by Albert King, Jimmy Rogers and others, as well as occasionally recording under his own name. In later years he worked with Howlin' Wolf, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells, and Magic Sam, among others.
Popular with audiences, Jones was a heavy drinker and had a reputation as a wild character. According to Homesick James, who worked and toured with them in the 1950s, "Elmore and Johnnie used to just have a fight every night". His 1949 Aristocrat side "Big Town Playboy" is regarded as a classic of the genre, and was covered by the guitarist Eddie Taylor in 1955.
Jones married his wife, Letha, in 1952. He died of bronchopneumonia in Cook County Hospital, and was interred at Restvale Cemetery in November 1964.
On May 14, 2011, the fourth annual White Lake Blues Festival took place at the Howmet Playhouse Theater, in Whitehall, Michigan. The event was organized by executive producer Steve Salter, of the nonprofit organization Killer Blues, to raise monies to honor Jones's unmarked grave with a headstone. The concert was a success, and a headstone was placed in June 2011.