J.J. Malone
{{For|the Australian engineer|James Joseph Malone}}
{{short description|American blues musician}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = J.J. Malone
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| birth_name = John Jacob Malone
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1935|8|20|mf=y|}}
| birth_place = Pete's Corner, Alabama, United States
| death_date = {{death date and age|2004|2|20|1935|8|20|mf=y}}
| death_place = Hawaii, United States
| origin =
| instrument = Vocals, guitar, keyboards
| genre = West Coast blues, electric blues, soul blues
| occupation = Guitarist, singer, keyboardist, songwriter
| years_active = Mid 1960s–2001
| label = Fedora, Blues Express
| associated_acts =
| website =
}}
John Jacob (J.J.) Malone (August 20, 1935 – February 20, 2004) was an American West Coast blues, electric blues and soul blues guitarist, singer and keyboardist.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jj-malone-mn0000777454/biography |title=J.J. Malone: Biography |publisher=AllMusic.com |access-date=2014-01-26}} His best-known recordings were "It's a Shame" and "Danger Zone". Malone was a member of the Rhythm Rockers, and he variously worked with other musicians, such as Troyce Key, Jill Baxter, Al Green, Joe Simon, Etta James, Scott McKenzie and Frankie Lee.
Biography
Malone was born in Pete's Corner, Alabama. His father, "Hard Rock" Charlie Malone, was an accomplished bottleneck guitarist, who played the Chitlin' Circuit from Chattanooga to Chicago in the 1930s.{{Cite web |title=Guide to the J.J. Malone Audiovisual Collection |url=https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8pk0mzk/ |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=oac.cdlib.org}}{{Cite news |date=2023-08-01 |title=I've Listened to This Breakup Song a Million Times |work=The New York Times |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/01/magazine/lady-wray-breakup-song.html |access-date=2023-08-10 |last1=Purnell |first1=Brontez }} Malone sang in his local church and learned to play the harmonica, guitar and piano.{{cite book |author=Herzhaft, Gérard |year=1997 |title=Encyclopedia of the Blues |publisher=University of Arkansas Press |location=Fayetteville |isbn=1-55728-452-0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofbl00herz/page/127 127] |display-authors=etal |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofbl00herz/page/127 }} After moving to California, he found more regular employment in the music industry and had local hit singles with "It's a Shame", "One Step Away", and "Danger Zone". Malone met the record producer Ray Shanklin and was subsequently employed as a record company executive at Fantasy Records (and its subsidiary Galaxy) in the late 1960s and early 1970s. At Galaxy, Malone worked alongside Little Johnny Taylor, Big Mama Thornton, Sonny Rhodes and Creedence Clearwater Revival. With the singer and guitarist Troyce Key, he bought Eli's Mile High Club, a nightclub in north Oakland, California.{{cite web|url=http://elismilehigh.com/ |title=Eli's Mile High Club |publisher=Elismilehigh.com |access-date=2014-07-11}} In the 1970s, Eli's Mile High acquired a reputation for supporting West Coast blues artists. In 1980s, the duo appeared at the San Francisco Blues Festival.
Malone appeared in conjunction with Key on the albums I've Gotta a New Car (1980, Red Lightnin' Records),{{cite web|author=Dahl, Bill |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/ive-gotta-new-car-mw0000839895 |title=Troyce Key, I've Gotta New Car: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic.com |access-date=2014-01-26}} and Younger Than Yesterday (1981, Red Lightnin').{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/younger-than-yesterday-mw0000811488/credits |title=Troyce Key, Younger Than Yesterday: Credits |publisher=AllMusic.com |access-date=2014-01-26}} Malone returned to performing as a solo artist in the 1980s, and continued to record until 2001. He released three solo albums, including Highway 99 (1997).
Malone died of cancer in Hawaii, in February 2004, at the age of 68. He was buried next to his father on March 2, 2004, at Ragland Cemetery in Limestone County, Alabama.{{cite web|author=Doc Rock |url=http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/2004.html |title=The Dead Rock Stars Club 2004 January to June |publisher=Thedeadrockstarsclub.com |access-date=2014-01-26}}
Discography
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| 1981 | The Enemy called Hate | style="text-align:center;"|Cherry |
| 1997 | Highway 99 | style="text-align:center;"|Fedora |
| 1999 | See Me Early in the Mornin' | style="text-align:center;"|Fedora |
| 2001 | And the Band Played On | style="text-align:center;"|Blues Express |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8pk0mzk/ Guide to the J.J. Malone Audiovisual Collection], African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.
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Category:American blues singers
Category:American blues guitarists
Category:American male guitarists
Category:American keyboardists
Category:Electric blues musicians
Category:West Coast blues musicians
Category:Songwriters from Alabama
Category:Deaths from cancer in Hawaii
Category:20th-century American singers
Category:20th-century American guitarists
Category:Guitarists from Alabama
Category:20th-century American male singers