Birth name Charles Jones III Years active 1960s–present Spouse Celeste Bullock Role Cornetist | Occupation(s) Musician Name Olu Dara Genres Jazz Labels Atlantic Children Nas, Jabarai, Kiani | |
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Born January 12, 1941 (age 83) Natchez, Mississippi, US ( 1941-01-12 ) Albums In the World: From Natchez to New York, Neighborhoods, From Natchez To New York Grandchildren Destiny Jones, Knight Jones Similar People David Murray, Julius Hemphill, Kip Hanrahan, Lester Bowie, Butch Morris | ||
Instruments Vocals, guitar, cornet | ||
Olu dara rainshower
Olu Dara Jones (born Charles Jones III; January 12, 1941) is an American cornetist, guitarist and singer. He is the father of rapper Nas.
Contents
- Olu dara rainshower
- your lips olu dara
- Early life
- Career
- Personal life
- As leader
- As sideman
- Featured compositions
- Songs with Nas
- References
your lips olu dara
Early life
Olu Dara was born Charles Jones III in Natchez, Mississippi, US, the son of Ella Mae and Charles Jones.
Career
He moved to New York in 1963 and became known as a jazz musician, playing alongside avant-garde musicians such as David Murray, Henry Threadgill, Charles Brackeen, and Art Blakey. He has formed two of his own bands, The Okra Orchestra and The Natchezippi Band, the first a "theatrical nightclub band" and the second a concert band.
His first album under his own name, 1998's In the World: From Natchez to New York, revealed another aspect of his musical personality: the leader and singer of a band immersed in African-American tradition, playing an eclectic mix of blues, jazz, and storytelling, with tinges of funk, African popular music and reggae. His second album Neighborhoods, with guest appearances by Dr John and Cassandra Wilson, followed in a similar vein.
Rapper Nas (Nasir Jones) is Dara's son. He encouraged his father to record the music he was playing with his band. Nas performs on "Jungle Jay" from In the World. Dara played cornet on Nas's debut album Illmatic (1994) and the tracks "Life's a Bitch" and "Dance" from God's Son, a posthumous tribute to Anne Jones (his former wife and Nas's mother). In 2004, his vocals and trumpet were featured on Nas's single "Bridging the Gap", and the title track from his album Street's Disciple. The song "Poppa Was A Player" off The Lost Tapes was inspired by Nas' childhood times around Olu Dara.
Dara is also a playwright and actor. He staged Blues Rooms to strong acclaim in New York City and Fairfax, Virginia during the 1990s.
Personal life
Dara has traveled throughout Africa and Europe. He was given the name Olu Dara ("God is good" in Yoruba) by a Yoruba priest when he returned to America.
As leader
As sideman
With The Be Good Tanyas
With Charles Brackeen
With Dirty Dozen Brass Band
With Craig Harris
With Julius Hemphill
With Oliver Lake
With Brother Jack McDuff
With David Murray
With Cecil McBee
With James Newton
With Don Pullen
With Henry Threadgill
With James Blood Ulmer
With Various Artists
With Cassandra Wilson