Louis (Blues Boy) Jones
{{Short description|American singer (1931–1984)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Louis (Blues Boy) Jones
| image = Publicity photo of Louis Prince Jones, Jr. - z316q219v files 5244ebd9-e81c-4976-9b6d-10101e04d5f3.jpg
| caption = Publicity photo of Louis Prince Jones, Jr.
| birth_name = Louis Prince Jones, Jr.
| alias = Louis Prince
| birth_date = {{birth date|1931|4|28|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Galveston, Texas, United States
| death_date = {{death date and age|1984|6|27|1931|4|28|mf=y}}
| instrument = Vocalist, piano
| occupation = Singer, songwriter
| years_active = 1956–1970s
| label = Peacock, Decca, Enjoy, Sabra
| associated_acts = The Bobby Scott Orchestra
}}
Louis Prince Jones, Jr. (April 28, 1931 – June 27, 1984), credited as Louis Jones or Louis (Blues Boy) Jones, was an American R&B singer, songwriter and musician who recorded in the 1950s and 1960s.
Life
He was born in Galveston, Texas, the son of Rebecca Prince Jackson and Louis Jones, Sr. He began singing with his mother in their church choir, and learned to play piano and drums. After attending Central High School in Galveston, he served as a medic with the US Army during the Korean War under the name Louis Prince, and worked as a longshoreman and shipyard worker. In the early 1950s he moved to Houston to live with his brother, and soon began singing backing vocals on recordings produced by Don Robey at Peacock Records.{{cite web|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fjone|title=JONES, LOUIS PRINCE, JR. [BLUES BOY]|publisher=Tshaonline.org|accessdate=January 19, 2015}}
Jones made his first recording, "Rock and Roll Bells", for Peacock in 1956.{{cite web|url=http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/articlepeacock.htm|title=Peacock Records Article|publisher=Soulfulkindamusic.net|accessdate=January 19, 2015}} Billboard described the song as "a new R&B gimmick that should occasion a lot of interest. The shouter hears tinkling bells and acts as if he is going mad. The unusual backing carries the spirit thru effectively..."{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9A8EAAAAMBAJ|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9A8EAAAAMBAJ/page/n39 40]|quote=louis jones peacock.|title=Billboard|via=Internet Archive|date=June 12, 1993|accessdate=January 19, 2015}} The record was one of the 26 discs included in Elvis Presley's first record collection, sold at auction in 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/7757795/Elvis-Presleys-first-record-collection-to-be-sold-at-auction.html|title=Elvis Presley's first record collection to be sold at auction|date=May 23, 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=January 19, 2015}} Jones also worked as a backup singer on many of Robey's productions for the Peacock and Duke labels in the late 1950s, including recordings by Bobby "Blue" Bland and "Big Mama" Thornton.
He performed and toured with the Bobby Scott Orchestra, and sang back-up for singer Maxine Brown, playing in New York City and in a residency in Bermuda. His recording career continued in the early 1960s. When in New York in 1963 he recorded "The Birds Is Coming" for Decca Records – adopting the movie company's advertising slogan for Alfred Hitchcock's film The Birds – and also recorded a version of Ray Charles' "I Believe to My Soul", on Bobby Robinson's Enjoy label. Returning to Texas, he recorded his own songs "Come on Home" and "I'll Be Your Fool" for Lelan Rogers' Houston-based Sabra label.{{cite web|url=http://illfolks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/the-birds-is-coming-hitch-yourself-to.html|title=Ill Folks|publisher=Illfolks.blogspot.co.uk|accessdate=January 19, 2015}}
Jones was married twice. He died in 1984 at the age of 53, following a stroke the previous year, and was buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Galveston. His reputation as a "great R&B singer" grew after his death, and most of his recordings are available on YouTube.
Discography
- "Rock and Roll Bells" / "All Over, Goodbye" (Peacock 1663)
- "The Birds Is Coming" / "That's Cuz I Love You" (Decca 31500)
- "I Believe to My Soul" / "Hurry Baby" (Enjoy 2009)
- "I'll Be Your Fool" / "Someway, Somewhere" (Sabra 519)
- "Come On Home" / "I Cried" (Sabra 524)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://books.google.com/books?id=9decBwAAQBAJ&dq=louis+blues+boy+jones+galveston&pg=PT8 LaVern Lemons, The Re-Introduction of a Blues Legend: A Daughter’s Amazing Discovery 23 Years Later, 2015]
- [http://thefacts.com/free_share/article_1f8693dd-138f-538c-9ee5-a3a409a6f9fa.html Ian Goodrum, "Obscure Texas singer earns newfound popularity in Internet age", TheFacts.com, Clute, Texas, November 2, 2014]
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Category:African-American pianists
Category:American blues pianists
Category:American male pianists
Category:American rhythm and blues musicians
Category:Musicians from Galveston, Texas
Category:20th-century American pianists