The Jones Girls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Jones Girls
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The Jones Girls in 1980. L-R: Brenda, Shirley and Valorie.
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1970–1993 |
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| Associated acts |
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| Past members | Brenda Jones (deceased) Shirley Jones Valorie Jones (deceased) |
The Jones Girls were an American R&B vocal group made up of three sisters from Detroit, Michigan, United States. The sisters were Brenda, Shirley, and Valorie Jones. They first signed with GM Records in 1970. The group became well-known for their hit songs from the late 1970s through the 1980s. Their most famous song was "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else" from 1979. After six years with GM, they started recording with Philadelphia International Records and famous producers Gamble & Huff.
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The Story of The Jones Girls
The group was made up of sisters Brenda (born December 7, 1954 – passed away April 3, 2017), Valorie (born April 17, 1956 – passed away December 2, 2001), and Shirley Jones (born September 22, 1953). Before they became famous on their own, they sang backup for many well-known artists. These artists included Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, and Aretha Franklin. They also worked with Diana Ross from 1975 to 1978.
Their Biggest Hits
The Jones Girls had several popular songs. Their biggest hit was "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else." This song reached number 38 on the Billboard Magazine Top 40 chart in May 1979. It was also one of the top 5 R&B songs. The song sold so well that it became a gold record.
Another hit song followed in 1980 called "I Just Love The Man." This song reached number 9 on the R&B charts in January 1981. They also had a song called "Nights Over Egypt" in 1981. It was written by Dexter Wansel and reached number 23 on the R&B charts in 1982.
Life After the Group
After their fourth album, On Target, was released, Shirley Jones, the lead singer, decided to start a solo career. She had a number 1 R&B hit song called "Do You Get Enough Love." This song was from her first solo album, Always in the Mood, which was a top-ten album in 1986.
Sadly, Valorie Jones passed away on December 2, 2001, in Detroit, Michigan, when she was 45 years old.
Brenda Jones later moved to Atlanta. She often sang with her band, performing both jazz and R&B songs. She even sang many of The Jones Girls' old tunes. After her children grew up, she moved to New York to perform and record more often. On April 3, 2017, Brenda was visiting her daughter in Wilmington, Delaware. She was hit by several cars while trying to cross the street and passed away at 62 years old.
Today, Shirley Jones continues to perform as The Jones Girls. She sings with two of her nieces and a nephew who provide background vocals.
Cover Songs
Sometimes, other artists sing their own versions of popular songs. This is called a "cover" song.
The song "Who Can I Run To" was on The Jones Girls' first album in 1979. In 1995, a group called Xscape covered this song. Their version became a number 1 R&B hit and reached number 8 on the pop charts. The original "Who Can I Run To" was the B-side (the other side of the record) for "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else."
Another song, "Nights Over Egypt," was covered by the band Incognito on their album No Time Like The Future. The original writer, Dexter Wansel, also covered it himself in 2019.
Key Albums and Songs
The Jones Girls released several studio albums during their career. Their first album, titled The Jones Girls, came out in 1979. They followed this with At Peace with Woman in 1980 and Get as Much Love as You Can in 1981. Their last album was Coming Back in 1992.
They also released many singles, which are individual songs. Some of their early singles included "My Own Special Way" (1970) and "Come Back" (1972). Their most famous singles were "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else" (1979) and "I Just Love the Man" (1980).
