Jonah Jones facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jonah Jones
Jones, ca. March 1947
Background information
Birth name	Robert Elliott Jones
Also known as	King Louis II
Born	(1909-12-31)December 31, 1909 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	April 30, 2000(2000-04-30) (aged 90)
Genres	Jazz, swing, boogie-woogie, jump blues
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Trumpet, alto saxophone
Years active	1920s- 2000
Labels	Capitol, Decca, Motown
Associated acts	Stuff Smith, Cab Calloway

Jonah Jones (born Robert Elliott Jones; December 31, 1909 – April 30, 2000) was a famous jazz trumpeter. He was known for playing jazz and swing songs in a way that many people loved. In the jazz world, he was famous for working with Stuff Smith. Some people called him "King Louis II," like a nod to the great Louis Armstrong. Jonah started playing the alto saxophone when he was 12 years old. He played in a band at the Booker T. Washington Community Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Soon after, he switched to the trumpet, where he became very good.

Jonah Jones's Music Career

Jonah Jones was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He started his music journey playing on a river boat called the Island Queen. This boat traveled between Kentucky and Ohio. In the 1920s, he played on Mississippi riverboats. In 1928, he joined a band led by Horace Henderson. Later, he worked with Jimmie Lunceford. He also had an early partnership with Stuff Smith in 1932.

Working with Other Bands

From 1932 to 1936, Jonah had a very successful time playing with Stuff Smith. In the 1940s, he played in big bands. These included famous groups like Benny Carter's and Fletcher Henderson's bands. He spent almost ten years playing with Cab Calloway's band. This band later became a smaller music group.

His Own Quartet and Success

In the 1950s, Jonah Jones started his own music group, a quartet. He began to play music in a special way that made him very popular for about ten years. His quartet included George "River Rider" Rhodes on piano, John "Broken Down" Browne on bass, and Harold "Hard Nuts" Austin on drums.

One of their most famous songs was "On The Street Where You Live". They played this Broadway tune with a strong boogie-woogie and jump blues style. This song helped him become known to many more people. Because of this success, his quartet performed on a TV show called An Evening With Fred Astaire in 1958. He also won an award at the Grammy Awards of 1960. He received the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.

In 1972, Jonah went back to playing more traditional jazz music. He worked with Earl Hines on an album called Back On the Street. Jonah was especially popular in France. He even performed at a jazz festival there called Salle Pleyel.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1996, Jonah Jones gave an interview that was recorded on video. This interview was later given to the NAMM Oral History Program Collection in 2010. This was done to help save his music and story for future generations.

Jonah also performed in the orchestra pit for the musical Porgy and Bess. He played under the direction of Alexander Smallens. He even had a short part on stage in the musical, which starred Cab Calloway.

Jonah Jones was honored in 1999. He was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame. He passed away the next year, in 2000, in New York City.

Jonah Jones's Family Life

Jonah Jones was married to Elizabeth Bowles (1910–1993). She was also a musician, playing the trumpet, clarinet, and horn. Elizabeth was the sister of another musician, Russell Bowles. Jonah and Elizabeth had four children together.

Jonah Jones's Music Albums

As the Main Artist

• Jonah Jones at the Embers (RCA, 1956)
• Muted Jazz (Capitol, 1957)
• Jazz Kaleidoscope (Bethlehem, 1957)
• Jumpin' with Jonah (Capitol, 1958)
• Swingin' at the Cinema (Capitol, 1958)
• Swingin' on Broadway (Capitol, 1958)
• Jonah Jumps Again (Capitol, 1959)
• I Dig Chicks (Capitol, 1959)
• Swingin' Around the World (Capitol, 1959)
• Hit Me Again! (Capitol, 1960)
• The Greatest Dixieland Ever (Guest Star, 1960)
• A Touch of Blue (Capitol, 1960)
• The Unsinkable Jonah Jones Swings the Unsinkable Molly Brown (Capitol, 1961)
• Jumpin' with a Shuffle (Capitol, 1961)
• Great Instrumental Hits Styled by Jonah Jones (Capitol, 1961)
• Broadway Swings Again (Capitol, 1961)
• Jonah Jones Quartet/Glen Gray Casa Loma Orchestra (Capitol, 1962)
• Jazz Bonus (Capitol, 1962)
• Trumpet On Tour (Baronet, 1962)
• And Now in Person Jonah Jones (Capitol, 1963)
• That Righteous Feelin' (Capitol, 1963)
• Jonah Jones Swings Etta Jones Sings (Crown, 1964)
• Blowin' Up a Storm (Capitol, 1964)
• Hello Broadway (Decca, 1965)
• Double Exposure (Ember, 1965)
• On the Sunny Side of the Street (Decca, 1965)
• Sweet with a Beat (Decca, 1966)
• Tijuana Taxi (Decca, 1966)
• Good Time Medleys (Decca, 1967)
• Squeeze Me and Other Favorites (Brunswick, 1968)
• Along Came Jonah (Motown, 1968)
• A Little Dis, a Little Dat (Motown, 1969)
• Back On the Street with Earl Hines, Buddy Tate, Cozy Cole (Chiaroscuro, 1972)
• Confessin' (Black and Blue, 1978)

As a Guest Musician

• Sidney Bechet, The Fabulous Sidney Bechet (Blue Note, 1984)
• Sam Price, Barrelhouse and Blues (Jazztone, 1955)
• Dakota Staton, The Late Late Show (Capitol, 1957)

See also

In Spanish: Jonah Jones para niños