Curtis Jones (pianist)
| Curtis Jones | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Curtis Jones |
| Born | August 18, 1906 Naples, United States |
| Died | September 11, 1971 (aged 65) Munich, Germany |
| Genres | Piano blues |
| Occupations | Pianist, singer |
| Instruments | Piano, guitar |
| Years active | Late 1930s–1971 |
| Labels | Vocalion, Okeh, Bluebird, Parrot, Bluesville, Delmark, Decca, Blue Horizon[1] |
Curtis Jones (August 18, 1906 – September 11, 1971) was an American blues pianist.
Biography [edit]
Jones was born in Naples, Texas, United States, and played guitar whilst young but switched to piano after a move to Dallas.[2] In 1936 he relocated to Chicago, where he recorded between 1937 and 1941 on Vocalion, Bluebird, and OKeh. Among his best-known tunes from these recordings were the hit "Lonesome Bedroom Blues" and the song "Tin Pan Alley".[2] His "Decoration Blues" though unissued at the time, was recorded by Sonny Boy Williamson I in 1938. World War II interrupted his recording career, which he did not resume until 1953, when a single of his, "Wrong Blues"/"Cool Playing Blues", was released on Parrot, featuring L. C. McKinley on guitar.
Jones's first full-length album appeared in 1960 on Bluesville, by which time he had become a noted performer on the Chicago folk music scene.[2] A solo album appeared in 1962, but by that time Jones had moved to Europe, where he spent the rest of his life, apart from a couple of years living in Morocco.[2] He made further albums in the UK; the last in 1968 when visiting with the AFBF was produced by Mike Vernon with Alexis Korner on guitar.[2]
His first instrument had been the guitar, and he liked to play a number or two on his records and in personal appearances.[2]
One of Jones' songs, "Highway 51" was included on Bob Dylan's 1962 debut album, Bob Dylan.
Jones died in Munich, Germany, from heart failure in 1971, at the age of 65.[3]
Discography [edit]
- Trouble Blues (Bluesville Records, 1960)
- Lonesome Bedroom Blues (Delmark Records, 1962)
- Americans in Europe Vol. 2 (Impulse!, 1963)
- In London (Decca, 1964)
- Now Resident in Europe (Blue Horizon, 1968)
- Blues and Trouble (Oldie Blues OL 2824, 1980)
References [edit]
- Footnotes
- ^ Olderen, Martin van, Blues and Troubles, Linernotes OL 2824, 1980
- ^ a b c d e f Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues – From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 128. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ^ Doc Rock. "The 1970s". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
- Sources
- Curtis Jones at Allmusic
- Harry Shapiro Alexis Korner: The Biography, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, London 1997, Discography by Mark Troster, ISBN 0-7475-3163-3
- Olderen, Martin van, Blues and Troubles, Linernotes OL 2824, 1980
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