JOHNNY "YARD DOG "JONES

Johnny "Yard Dog" Jones (nascut John Júnior Jones 21 juny 1941) és un nord-americà representant del Blues de Chicago, encara que també li agrada  soul ; cantant , guitarrista, harmonicista i compositor. Va guanyar un W.C. HANDY   Award en 1997.

Tot i anys de tocar als clubs i al circuit de blues, Jones va gravar el seu àlbum debut a l'edat de 55.

Jones va néixer en una plantació de cotó en Crawfordsville, Arkansas, però en 1945 es va traslladar amb la família a East St Louis, Illinois. Influenciat per Robert Johnson i T-Bone Walker, Jones va rebre lliçons de la seva adolescència a tocar l'harmònica de Little Walter. A l'edat de 18 anys, es va traslladar a Chicago, Illinois, i va ser inspirat encara més pels enregistraments de música gospel d'OV Wright, Johnnie Taylor i l'Esperit de Memphis Quartet, i Jones tocava la guitarra en diversos grups de gospel per més d'una dècada. Va afegir el sobrenom de "Yard Dog"  ( Gos de pati ) per ajudar aconseguir  més notorietat com a music de Blues.

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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. 

                 

                   

                                     

Johnny "Yard Dog" Jones (born John Junior Jones, June 21, 1941) is an American Chicago blues and soul blues singer, guitarist, harmonica player, and songwriter. He won a W.C. Handy Award in 1997.

Despite years of playing in clubs and on the blues circuit, Jones recorded his debut album at the age of 55.

Jones was born on a cotton plantation in Crawfordsville, Arkansas, United States, but relocated in 1945 with his family to East St. Louis, Illinois. Influenced by Robert Johnson and T-Bone Walker, Jones was given lessons in his early teens in playing the harmonica by Little Walter. At the age of 18, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, and was further inspired by the gospel music recordings of O. V. Wright, Johnnie Taylor and the Spirit of Memphis Quartet, and Jones played the guitar in several gospel groups for over a decade. He added the "Yard Dog" moniker to help him gain more exposure.

Having trained as a welder, Jones moved on to Detroit, Michigan, where he became established as a musician in the local blues scene. In his early days he often played alongside Bobo Jenkins. In 1991, he recorded his debut tracks for a Blues Factory compilation album, which also included work by the Butler Twins. Jones moved back to Chicago and was spotted playing by an executive of the Earwig Music Company.

His debut album, Ain't Gonna Worry, was released on Earwig in 1996. The Allmusic journalist, Scott Yanow, noted, "At the age of 55, Johnny Yard Dog Jones finally had the opportunity to lead his first record date in 1996. His singing is likable and full of emotion as he explores a set of music that emphasizes 1950s-style Chicago blues, along with occasional soul ballads...". The album contained contributions from Johnny B. Moore and Detroit Junior. It was chosen in a Living Blues critics poll as the 'best new blues album (contemporary)' in 1996,and a W.C. Handy Award followed in 1997, citing Jones as the 'best new male blues artist'.Jones played at the 1997 Chicago Blues Festival.

Jones played on stage with Aron Burton at the 16th Pocono Blues Festival