Calvin Jones (composer)

Jones was born in Eureka, South Dakota, to parents Norman and Lena Jones. Shortly thereafter the family relocated to Sutton, Nebraska, where his father was pastor of the Hope Reformed Church. As with many artists, Jones' first exposure to music was in the church.{{cite web|url=http://calvinjones.com/?page_id=63|title=Calvin Jones composer producer and pianist, creator of Whitewater Chopped Sticks-History and Discography|website=calvinjones.com|accessdate=July 30, 2018}} He began piano lessons at the age of 6 and began composing at about age 10. The son of a minister, Jones had many opportunities to use his talents and found early on that piano was his instrument and he realized his aptitude for improvisation. His classical training was a great foundation but he approached the pieces with energy and emotion uniquely his own. At age 9 the family moved to Pierre, South Dakota. Throughout his high school and college experience, Jones was involved in the typical opportunities such as swing choir, stage band and musicals and an occasional talent show. Attending college on a musical scholarship, Jones continued to study composition. He ended his college classes with a B.S. in Economics from Hillsdale College in 1988 which has proved invaluable in the development of his musical career. Jones has started his own record company called Personal Records and managed to sign with City of Peace Records/Sony Music for distribution worldwide.[http://www.docstoc.com/docs/2166847/Biography-of-Calvin-Jones Biography of Calvin Jones by biomaster] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622205219/http://www.docstoc.com/docs/2166847/Biography-of-Calvin-Jones |date=June 22, 2015 }}

• 1987: Jones released his first album Through High Places{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/through-high-places/410757309|title=Through High Places by Calvin Jones|website=iTunes|date=May 7, 1996|publisher=|access-date=July 30, 2018}}[https://www.amazon.com/Calvin-Jones/e/B000APLXFG Top Albums by Calvin Jones]{{cite web|url=http://www.last.fm/music/Calvin+Jones/+tracks|title=Find Calvin Jones's songs, tracks, and other music - Last.fm|website=Last.fm|accessdate=July 30, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://us.songselect.com/search/results?SearchTerm=Calvin+Jones|title=Personal Records Trust Music - Calvin Jones|publisher=|accessdate=July 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622201446/https://us.songselect.com/search/results?SearchTerm=Calvin+Jones|archive-date=June 22, 2015|url-status=dead}} at the age of 21. It was then Jones connected with art director Jim Hanon who created the original water color for this release. Later, Hanon would ask Jones for soundtracks for radio, TV and short films that he directed. Jones began doing concerts in college and university venues.
• 1990: On the heels of his first release, Calvin Jones finished his second album "Coming Home" which features some traditional Christmas classics as well as newly penned compositions. Much of the album draws its musical inspiration from the music of Handel, Vivaldi, Albinoni, Bach and other Baroque composers.
• 1993: Jones' released third album "Uncharted Waters" which spans the entire dynamic range and limitations of the piano, an acoustic tour de force picturing the great forces at work on the ocean. Popular with college age audiences Jones eventually showcased at different NACAconferences including the national NACA conference in Boston in 1994 after which he toured extensively throughout the United States. In the early 90s Jones was approached by R. J. Miller to transcribe "Whitewater Chopped Sticks".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqBDgGK9Sn0|title=Calvin Jones Whitewater Chopped Sticks - Best version ever!|last=Calvin Jones|date=September 22, 2010|publisher=|accessdate=July 30, 2018|via=YouTube}} It quickly sold out of its initial printing and became an underground sensation at recitals, talent shows and pageants.
• 2000: Jones' multi-instrumental release "Acoustic Passion"{{cite web|url=http://www.gospel.nl/muziek/acoustic-passion.html|title=Calvin Jones: Acoustic Passion|publisher=|accessdate=July 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622214026/http://www.gospel.nl/muziek/acoustic-passion.html|archive-date=June 22, 2015|url-status=dead}} is truly a paradigm shift in Calvin's music. Producer Jerry Marcellino (Michael Jackson, Diana Ross) and Kerry Livgren of Kansas fame ("Dust in the Wind") take Calvin's piano melodies to new heights.
• 2010: A turning point in Jones career occurred when director Jim Hanon invited Calvin to contribute scores{{cite web|url=http://dakotawarcollege.com/south-dakotan-contributes-music-to-dinesh-desouzas-2016-obamas-america/|title=South Dakotan contributes music to Dinesh D'Souza's 2016: Obama's America|date=July 22, 2014|publisher=|accessdate=July 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622201135/http://dakotawarcollege.com/south-dakotan-contributes-music-to-dinesh-desouzas-2016-obamas-america/|archive-date=June 22, 2015|url-status=dead}} and do additional production for the documentary Little Town of Bethlehem.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XB3WN5ZCCg|title=Little Town Of Bethlehem: Official Film Trailer|last=405EGM|date=March 26, 2010|publisher=|accessdate=July 30, 2018|via=YouTube}} Later that year Jones was invited to edit "Whitewater Chopped Sticks" and mentor{{cite web|url=http://www.granttribune.com/index.php?id=3830:wallace-school-assembly-to-feature-chopped-sticks-composer&option=com_content&catid=62:school-news&Itemid=79|title=Grant Tribune|website=www.granttribune.com|accessdate=July 30, 2018}} Teresa Scanlan (Miss Nebraska 2010) in performing the edited pageant version of "Whitewater Chopped Sticks".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5tWZZnUQ9k|title=Miss Nebraska performs Whitewater Chopped Sticks becomes Miss America 2011|last=Calvin Jones|date=May 27, 2011|publisher=|accessdate=July 30, 2018|via=YouTube}}
• 2011: On January 15, Teresa Scanlan won the Miss America 2011 title performing Calvin's song "Whitewater Chopped Sticks". Earlier that week she had won the Thursday Night Miss America Preliminary Talent award. Her success winning the crown led to the eventual studio recording "Dueling Pianos"{{Cite web |url=http://yourmusiczone.com/news.php?area=&aid=1647 |title=Miss America 2011 Promotes New CD, Dueling Pianos, At NRB |access-date=June 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622211855/http://yourmusiczone.com/news.php?area=&aid=1647 |archive-date=June 22, 2015 |url-status=dead }} featuring Calvin and Teresa and released through Sony/Provident Records.{{cite web|url=http://play.tojsiab.com/ZU9ZMVhtOFZPUFUz|title=Download link Youtube mp3: Dueling Pianos - Calvin Jones with Miss America 2011, Teresa Scanlan|last=PLAY.TOJSIAB|website=PLAY.TOJSIAB|accessdate=July 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622203015/http://play.tojsiab.com/ZU9ZMVhtOFZPUFUz|archive-date=June 22, 2015|url-status=dead}}
• 2012: Jones' earlier work with Little Town of Bethlehem{{cite web|url=http://littletownofbethlehem.org/files/downloads/2012/03/LTOB-soundtrackUK.pdf|title=Global Effort Behind EGM's Just-Released Little Town of Bethlehem Soundtrack|publisher=|accessdate=July 30, 2018}} led to the invitation in 2012 to score the soundtrack for the documentary 2016: Obama's America. Jones' trailer music can be heard on the 2016 YouTube trailer,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfLsSg9wZlE|title="2016: Obama's America" The Movie: Trailer 3|last=Dinesh D'Souza|date=May 10, 2012|publisher=|accessdate=July 30, 2018|via=YouTube}} currently in excess of 1 million views.
• 2013 – 2015: Calvin Jones has since entered a new level in concerts moving from solo piano to performing with orchestras{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUSZvhIdyhI|title="Celtic Joy" by Calvin Jones with the Lviv Virtuosos|last=Calvin Jones|date=April 29, 2015|publisher=|accessdate=July 30, 2018|via=YouTube}} worldwide.{{cite web|url=http://afisha.novgorod.ru/event/3955.html|title=Calvin Jones - фортепиано|publisher=|accessdate=July 30, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://afishalviv.net/event/ua/18643_ortepianni-improvizaciji-kelvin-dzhons-calvin-jones-calvinjones-com-ssha/|title=Lviv.ua - Calvin Jones|publisher=|accessdate=July 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622203610/http://afishalviv.net/event/ua/18643_ortepianni-improvizaciji-kelvin-dzhons-calvin-jones-calvinjones-com-ssha/|archive-date=June 22, 2015|url-status=dead}} Jones is currently producing a new album of his orchestral works.

• 1987: Through High Places (solo)
• 1990: Coming Home (solo)
• 1993: Uncharted Waters (solo)
• 2000: Acoustic Passion (solo – producer Jerry Marcellino, guitars by Kerry Livgren)
• 2012: Dueling Pianos (Calvin Jones,Teresa Scanlan)

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|3841024}}
• [http://calvinjones.com/ Personal Records presents the music of Calvin Jones creator of Whitewater Chopped Sticks]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfLsSg9wZlE "2016: Obama's America" The Movie: Trailer 3]
• [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3841024/ Calvin Jones (composer): Contribute to IMDb]

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Category:1966 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American composers

Category:American film score composers

Category:Composers for piano

Category:American male songwriters

Category:Record producers from South Dakota

Category:People from Eureka, South Dakota

Category:People from Sutton, Nebraska

Category:20th-century American composers

Category:20th-century American pianists

Category:American male pianists

Category:21st-century American pianists

Category:American male film score composers

Category:20th-century American male musicians

Category:21st-century American male musicians