Booker T. Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Booker T. Jones
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Jones in 2009
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| Birth name | Booker Taliaferro Jones Jr. |
| Also known as | Booker T. |
| Born | November 12, 1944 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1960–present |
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Booker Taliaferro Jones Jr. (born November 12, 1944) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is most famous for leading the band Booker T. & the M.G.'s. Jones is a master of the organ and has worked with many famous artists. His work has earned him a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Talent
Booker T. Jones was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on November 12, 1944. His father was a science teacher who gave the family a stable life. Jones was named after his father, who was named for the famous educator Booker T. Washington.
From a young age, Jones was a musical genius, often called a child prodigy. He learned to play many instruments, including the oboe, saxophone, trombone, and piano. He attended the same high school as the singer Rufus Thomas. There, he met and worked with other students who would also become music stars, like David Porter and Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire.
Jones started his professional music career at just 16 years old. He played the baritone saxophone on the first hit song for Satellite Records, which later became the famous Stax Records. The song was "Cause I Love You" by Carla and Rufus Thomas.
Booker T. & the M.G.'s
While working at Stax Records, Jones met the people who would form his famous band. In 1962, he started Booker T. & the M.G.'s with guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Lewie Steinberg, and drummer Al Jackson Jr.. Later, Donald "Duck" Dunn became the band's bassist.
While still in high school, Jones co-wrote the band's biggest hit, "Green Onions". This instrumental song, with its cool organ sound, became a huge success in 1962. It is still one of the most famous instrumental tracks ever recorded.
For the next few years, Jones balanced his life between music and school. He studied classical music at Indiana University during the week. On weekends, he would return to Memphis to play with the M.G.'s. He also worked as a session musician, playing instruments on recordings for other Stax artists like Otis Redding.
During this time, he also wrote classic songs for other musicians. With Eddie Floyd, he wrote "I've Never Found a Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)". He also co-wrote the famous blues song "Born Under a Bad Sign" for Albert King.
A Career as a Producer and Solo Artist
In 1970, Jones moved to California. He was unhappy with how Stax Records treated his band, so he stopped working for them. The album Melting Pot in 1971 was the last one the band released with Stax.
After leaving Stax, Jones began a successful career as a producer and solo artist. He produced albums for many famous singers, including Bill Withers's debut album Just as I Am and Willie Nelson's classic album Stardust. He also released his own solo music, with the song "I Want You" becoming a hit in 1981.
From 1969 to 1979, Jones was married to Priscilla Coolidge, the sister of singer Rita Coolidge. They recorded three albums together as a duo.
Later Career and Awards
Jones has continued to make music and perform for decades. In 1992, Booker T. & the M.G.'s were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a huge honor for any musician. In 1995, the band won a Grammy Award for their song "Cruisin'".
In 2007, Jones received a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement for his amazing contributions to music. He was also inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum that same year.
He has never stopped creating new music. In 2009, he released the album Potato Hole, which he recorded with the band Drive-By Truckers and musician Neil Young. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album. He won another Grammy in the same category for his 2011 album, The Road from Memphis. In total, Jones has won four Grammy Awards.
In 2013, Jones returned to Stax Records to release the album Sound The Alarm. It featured many guest artists, including Gary Clark Jr. and his son, Ted Jones.
In 2019, he released a book about his life called Time Is Tight: My Life, Note by Note. Today, Jones continues to tour with his band, sharing his legendary music with audiences around the world.
Solo Albums
- Evergreen (1974)
- Try and Love Again (1978)
- The Best of You (1980)
- I Want You (1981)
- Runaway (1989)
- Potato Hole (2009)
- The Road from Memphis (2011)
- Sound the Alarm (2013)
- Note by Note (2019)
Working with Other Artists
Throughout his career, Jones has played keyboards or produced albums for a huge list of famous musicians. Some of his most well-known collaborations include:
- Otis Redding: Jones played on many of Redding's classic soul albums, including Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul and The Dock of the Bay.
- Willie Nelson: He produced several of Nelson's albums, including the very successful Stardust.
- Bill Withers: He produced and played on Withers's first album, Just as I Am.
- Neil Young: He played organ on Young's album Are You Passionate? and worked with him on his own album, Potato Hole.
- Elton John and Leon Russell: He played organ on their collaboration album, The Union.
Current Band Lineup
- Booker T. Jones – keyboards
- Ted Jones – guitar
- Melvin Brannon Jr. – bass
- Darian Gray – drums
See also
In Spanish: Booker T. Jones para niños
