Sandra "Puma" Jones (October 5, 1953—January 28, 1990) was an American singer, best known as a member of the Grammy Award-winning reggae group Black Uhuru.
Puma Jones
Puma Jones on the back cover of the Black Uhuru album Red, 1981.
Born in Columbia, South Carolina, Jones graduated from Columbia University in New York City with a master's degree and served as a social worker.[1] She studied dance with the Chuck Davis troupe where she took a particular interest in African dance. After becoming disillusioned with city life she declared a need to "discover her roots" and moved to Jamaica.[2]
Deciding to build a singing career, Jones briefly sang with Miriam Makeba (then using the name Mama Africa),[3] and sang with the band Sons of Negus led by Ras Michael.[4] In 1978, she was introduced by a mutual friend to Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, the leader of reggae group Black Uhuru. That group was undergoing a significant lineup change that also included the addition of singer Michael Rose.[2] Jones became a full member of Black Uhuru and sang on seven studio albums, starting with Showcase in 1979 and also including the critically acclaimed Red in 1981 and the Grammy Award-winning Anthem in 1983.[5] That album won the award for Best Reggae Album in 1985, the first year of that award's existence.[6]
Jones was noted for adding lyrics on religious and social topics to Black Uhuru songs, during a period when reggae musicians were often accused of being trite and dismissive of women, and she was also known for her haunting voice.[1][7] Her last full album with the group was Brutal in 1986, which was nominated for another Grammy Award and reached the charts in New Zealand and the Netherlands.[8] Before sessions began for the album Positive in 1987, Jones was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had to withdraw from Black Uhuru and was replaced by singer Olafunke. Jones returned to the United States for treatment and died at age 36 on January 28, 1990. She was buried near her family home in South Carolina.[2]
Referencesedit
^ ab"Exclusive! Rare Puma Jones (Black Uhuru) Interview, August 12, 1984". Midnight Dread Radio. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
^ abcLiner notes, Black Uhuru, Liberation: The Island Anthology, Island Records, 1993.
^"Puma Jones – Black Uhuru". IRIE. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
^Thompson, Dave (2002). Reggae and Caribbean Music. Backbeat Books. pp. 38–39. ISBN0-87930-655-6.
^"Anthem > Charts & Awards > Grammy Awards" at AllMusic. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
^Moskowitz, David Vlado (2006). Caribbean Popular Music: An Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 268. ISBN0313331588.
^Farah, Sandra (April 1998). "Black Uhuru". The Dread Library. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
^"Black Uhuru". Grammys. May 14, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
puma, jones, sandra, puma, jones, october, 1953, january, 1990, american, singer, best, known, member, grammy, award, winning, reggae, group, black, uhuru, back, cover, black, uhuru, album, 1981, background, informationbirth, namesandra, jonesborn, 1953, octob. Sandra Puma Jones October 5 1953 January 28 1990 was an American singer best known as a member of the Grammy Award winning reggae group Black Uhuru Puma JonesPuma Jones on the back cover of the Black Uhuru album Red 1981 Background informationBirth nameSandra JonesBorn 1953 10 05 October 5 1953OriginColumbia South CarolinaDiedJanuary 28 1990 1990 01 28 aged 36 GenresReggaeYears activec 1975 1987Career editBorn in Columbia South Carolina Jones graduated from Columbia University in New York City with a master s degree and served as a social worker 1 She studied dance with the Chuck Davis troupe where she took a particular interest in African dance After becoming disillusioned with city life she declared a need to discover her roots and moved to Jamaica 2 Deciding to build a singing career Jones briefly sang with Miriam Makeba then using the name Mama Africa 3 and sang with the band Sons of Negus led by Ras Michael 4 In 1978 she was introduced by a mutual friend to Derrick Duckie Simpson the leader of reggae group Black Uhuru That group was undergoing a significant lineup change that also included the addition of singer Michael Rose 2 Jones became a full member of Black Uhuru and sang on seven studio albums starting with Showcase in 1979 and also including the critically acclaimed Red in 1981 and the Grammy Award winning Anthem in 1983 5 That album won the award for Best Reggae Album in 1985 the first year of that award s existence 6 Jones was noted for adding lyrics on religious and social topics to Black Uhuru songs during a period when reggae musicians were often accused of being trite and dismissive of women and she was also known for her haunting voice 1 7 Her last full album with the group was Brutal in 1986 which was nominated for another Grammy Award and reached the charts in New Zealand and the Netherlands 8 Before sessions began for the album Positive in 1987 Jones was diagnosed with breast cancer She had to withdraw from Black Uhuru and was replaced by singer Olafunke Jones returned to the United States for treatment and died at age 36 on January 28 1990 She was buried near her family home in South Carolina 2 References edit a b Exclusive Rare Puma Jones Black Uhuru Interview August 12 1984 Midnight Dread Radio Retrieved 24 April 2018 a b c Liner notes Black Uhuru Liberation The Island Anthology Island Records 1993 Puma Jones Black Uhuru IRIE Retrieved 24 April 2018 Thompson Dave 2002 Reggae and Caribbean Music Backbeat Books pp 38 39 ISBN 0 87930 655 6 Anthem gt Charts amp Awards gt Grammy Awards at AllMusic Retrieved 12 November 2010 Moskowitz David Vlado 2006 Caribbean Popular Music An Encyclopedia of Reggae Mento Ska Rock Steady and Dancehall Greenwood Publishing Group p 268 ISBN 0313331588 Farah Sandra April 1998 Black Uhuru The Dread Library Retrieved 24 April 2018 Black Uhuru Grammys May 14 2017 Retrieved February 24 2018 External links editPuma Jones discography at Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Puma Jones amp oldid 1102067073, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
