Blues On Stage - Johnny "Yard Dog" Jones

Profile
Johnny "Yard Dog" Jones

Jones, a multi-instrumentalist (guitar and harmonica) has been a vital force in the Detroit music scene since he moved there from Chicago in 1971. His voice is expressive and soulful and he has a versatile instrumental technique that can range from suave uptown blues to backstreet grit. Born John Junior Jones on June 21, 1941 on a cotton plantation in Crawfordsville, Arkansas, his family soon moved to East St. Louis where he grew up listening to the records of Robert Johnson, T. Bone Walker and Sonny Boy Williamson. It was the stirring sounds of gospel vocalists however, who inspired him the most. Jones heard O.V. Wright, Johnnie Taylor and The Spirit Of Memphis when he was only 6 years old and remembers the impact their music had on him. He moved to Chicago in his late teens where he spent the next 12 years as a guitarist with various gospel groups. About 17 years ago he adopted the name "Yard Dog" to gain more exposure as a blues musician. Jones is a delightful entertainer with an engaging grin, a twinkle in his eye and some very funky dance steps. He sings with raw emotion, plays a mean harmonica and when he picks up his Gibson, watch out because he can play some gritty blues licks. Jones calls himself a blues/soul vocalist whose main objective is to put on a good show. His current Earwig release, "Ain't' Gonna Worry," features a deep, rootsy blues sound and his appearance at the 1997 Chicago Blues Festival has helped Jones gain the international recognition he deserves.

E-mail Ray Stiles at: mnblues@aol.com

Free web pages from GeoCities

Copyright © 1998 by Ray M. Stiles
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.