Jazz performer Etta Jones recorded more than several dozen records and you may generated about three Grammy Prize nominations during the girl half a dozen-decade-enough time profession
Her prominence peaked when you look at the 1960 into release of the woman single “ Wear ‘ t See Visitors, ” and that mounted so you’re able to matter four into RB maps. From the late 1960s Jones shaped an excellent duo which have tenor saxophonist Houston People, having which she toured for another 35 years. “ All I wish to perform is actually performs, build a significant paycheck, and also have household members, ” Jones informed Federal Personal Broadcast within the a price quoted on Dallas Morning Reports. Though she never reached an amount of stardom similar to such as for instance jazz and you can blues greats once the Aretha Franklin, Billie Getaway, and you will Dinah Arizona, Jones got a dedicated following the regarding listeners and made her very own unique mark on jazz background.
Jones came to be towards November 5, 1928, into the Aiken, South carolina, and you may elevated when you look at the Nyc. Once the a three-year-old she dreamed of getting an artist and you will do twist before a mirror to imitate songs in the radio. Billie Escape, whom she spotted in the concert, and Thelma Carpenter, have been the the woman very first influences. When Jones are 15 years dated, she attended Novice Night in the renowned Apollo Theatre during the Harlem. For example jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald and you may Sarah Vaughn, this lady industry first started during the Apollo, regardless if initially their debut did not hunt encouraging. Thereon nights within the 1943 she was thus worried you to she become vocal off key and missing the latest skill race. Yet the pianist-bandleader Pal Johnson acknowledged the woman element. Johnson immediately rented their to complete to possess their singer aunt, Ella Johnson, who was simply making the new ring to possess an infant.
Etta Jones
Jones toured that have Johnson ‘ s 19-child ring for a year, up to Ella came back, hence birth a few stints with other medium- and you can large-ring Ny jazz organizations, for instance the Harlemaires in addition to Barney Bigards Band. It absolutely was with the second you to definitely Jones produced the girl basic recording, establish by pianist Leonard Feather from inside the 1944. Within the next age she performed and you will submitted with like jazz personalities due to the fact Pete Johnson, J. C. Read, Kenny Burrell, Charles Brownish, Milt Johnson, and you may Cedar Walton. Inside the 1949 she started singing having Earl “ Fatha ” Hines, undertaking together with his ring for another 3 years.
Jones also made an effort to discharge a solo profession, in the event she was not profitable at Worcester hookup first. She recorded edges having such as brands as the Black Light and RCA Winner, but these american singles flopped. During the time, RB try seeing improved dominance, but Jones averted that it genre, preferring in order to sing jazz. So it choice limited her listeners and her publicity just like the an artist, and quite a while she stayed an obscure musician.
In the 1950s Jones faced crisis together with when planning on taking go out efforts sporadically while making ends up satisfy, working as a lift user, an album stuffer, and you will a seamstress. She proceeded to perform sometimes, since the possibilities arose. In the 1956 Jones filed this lady very first
On Checklist …
Already been vocal expertly that have jazz pianist-band-commander Pal Johnson, ages fifteen; produced earliest tape having Barney Bigards Band, 1944; did that have Earl “ Fatha ” Hines, 1949-52; registered very first full-duration record, The fresh new Jones Woman … Etta … Sings, Sings, Sings, 1956; create most significant hit single, “ Wear ‘ t Check out Complete strangers, ” promoting one million copies, 1960; acquired very first Grammy nomination to possess Wear ‘ t Check out Complete strangers album, 1960; first started carrying out with saxophonist Houston People, 1968; submitted 18 information which have Muse (and therefore became High Notice Records), 1976-2001.
full-duration record, The new Jones Woman … Etta … Sings, Sings, Sings, that have King Suggestions. But the record album premiered with little to no fanfare and ran mainly unnoticed.
