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Tail Dragger Jones

James Yancey Jones (September 30, 1940 – September 4, 2023), known professionally as Tail Dragger Jones, was an American Chicago blues singer.[1] He performed beginning in the 1960s and released four albums. Jones gained a certain notoriety in 1993, after being convicted of second-degree murder for the killing of another blues musician, Boston Blackie.

Tail Dragger Jones
Birth nameJames Yancey Jones
Also known asThe Tail Dragger
Taildragger
Taildragger Jones
Crawlin' James
Born(1940-09-30)September 30, 1940
Altheimer, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedSeptember 4, 2023(2023-09-04) (aged 82)
GenresChicago blues, electric blues
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1960s–2023
LabelsSt. George, Delmark, Delta Groove

Jones, a disciple of Howlin' Wolf, was given his nickname by his hero because of his habit of regularly arriving late at Howlin' Wolf performances.

Life and career edit

James Yancey Jones was born in Altheimer, Arkansas, on September 30, 1940.[2][1] He was raised by his grandparents after his parents separated when he was a baby.[3] He first heard blues music as a child.[1] He secretly listened to music on his family's battery-powered radio, which caused some consternation when the batteries were too low for his family to listen to gospel music before church each Sunday.[3] During those formative years he saw both Sonny Boy Williamson II and Boyd Gilmore perform at a little club named Jack Rabbitts in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.[4][5] After relocating to Chicago in 1966, Jones worked as an auto mechanic. He began to perform locally but got lucky when his musical hero, Howlin' Wolf, allowed Jones to sit in with him at concerts. This influence, and the raw, gritty approach he had admired in the musical stylings of Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters, and Willie Dixon, made Jones concentrate on a "low-down" style of Chicago blues.[1][4] Originally he was known as Crawlin' James, a nickname he acquired from his habit of crawling around on stage while performing. Later on, Howlin' Wolf named him Tail Dragger because Jones often arrived late for gigs.[1] By the early 1970s, Jones had become a full-time singer and he used notable backing musicians, including Willie Kent, Hubert Sumlin, Carey Bell, Kansas City Red,[5] Little Mack Simmons, Big Leon Brooks, and Eddie Shaw.[1]

On July 11, 1993, in Chicago, Jones shot and killed the blues artist Boston Blackie, following a heated dispute over payment that began a month earlier when both performers appeared at the Chicago Blues Festival. Jones claimed he acted in self-defense, but was convicted of second-degree murder and was incarcerated for 17 months of a four-year prison sentence.[1][6]

Jones was a regular performer in Chicago blues clubs throughout the 1970s and 1980s, releasing a number of commercially unsuccessful singles. His spell in prison aside, it took until 1996 before his debut album, Crawlin' Kingsnake, was issued by St. George Records. He was 56 years old when the record was released. It was followed by the album American People (1998, Delmark Records). A DVD, My Head Is Bald: Live at Vern's Friendly Lounge, was released in 2005. Live at Rooster's Lounge was issued in 2009, also by Delmark Records.[1] His joint work with Bob Corritore resulted in the 2012 CD and DVD release Longtime Friends in the Blues.[1]

Personal life and death edit

Jones was married six times and had a number of children.[5] He died on September 4, 2023, at the age of 82.[7]

Discography edit

Albums edit

Year Title Record label
1996 Crawlin' Kingsnake St. George Records
1998 American People Delmark Records
2009 Live at Rooster's Lounge Delmark Records
2012 Longtime Friends in the Blues (with Bob Corritore) Delta Groove Productions

[8]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Alex Henderson (1940-09-30). "Tail Dragger: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  2. ^ Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. p. 164. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  3. ^ a b "Featured Interview – Tail Dragger". BluesBlastMagazine.com. 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  4. ^ a b "Bio". Taildraggerbluesband.com. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  5. ^ a b c "Tail Dragger Talks, interview by Liz Mandeville". Chicagobluesguide.com. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  6. ^ Downing, Andy (2006-11-10). "Tail Dragger Has Paid Dues to Sing Blues". Articles.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  7. ^ "Tail Dragger Jones Obituary, American Chicago Blues Singer Tail Dragger Jones Has Died". Burlingtonpressobits.com. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  8. ^ "Tail Dragger: Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-30.

External links edit

  • Tail Dragger Jones discography at Discogs
  • Tail Dragger Jones at IMDb

tail, dragger, jones, james, yancey, jones, september, 1940, september, 2023, known, professionally, american, chicago, blues, singer, performed, beginning, 1960s, released, four, albums, jones, gained, certain, notoriety, 1993, after, being, convicted, second. James Yancey Jones September 30 1940 September 4 2023 known professionally as Tail Dragger Jones was an American Chicago blues singer 1 He performed beginning in the 1960s and released four albums Jones gained a certain notoriety in 1993 after being convicted of second degree murder for the killing of another blues musician Boston Blackie Tail Dragger JonesBirth nameJames Yancey JonesAlso known asThe Tail DraggerTaildraggerTaildragger JonesCrawlin JamesBorn 1940 09 30 September 30 1940Altheimer Arkansas U S DiedSeptember 4 2023 2023 09 04 aged 82 GenresChicago blues electric bluesOccupation s SingerYears active1960s 2023LabelsSt George Delmark Delta Groove Jones a disciple of Howlin Wolf was given his nickname by his hero because of his habit of regularly arriving late at Howlin Wolf performances Contents 1 Life and career 2 Personal life and death 3 Discography 3 1 Albums 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksLife and career editJames Yancey Jones was born in Altheimer Arkansas on September 30 1940 2 1 He was raised by his grandparents after his parents separated when he was a baby 3 He first heard blues music as a child 1 He secretly listened to music on his family s battery powered radio which caused some consternation when the batteries were too low for his family to listen to gospel music before church each Sunday 3 During those formative years he saw both Sonny Boy Williamson II and Boyd Gilmore perform at a little club named Jack Rabbitts in Pine Bluff Arkansas 4 5 After relocating to Chicago in 1966 Jones worked as an auto mechanic He began to perform locally but got lucky when his musical hero Howlin Wolf allowed Jones to sit in with him at concerts This influence and the raw gritty approach he had admired in the musical stylings of Sonny Boy Williamson Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon made Jones concentrate on a low down style of Chicago blues 1 4 Originally he was known as Crawlin James a nickname he acquired from his habit of crawling around on stage while performing Later on Howlin Wolf named him Tail Dragger because Jones often arrived late for gigs 1 By the early 1970s Jones had become a full time singer and he used notable backing musicians including Willie Kent Hubert Sumlin Carey Bell Kansas City Red 5 Little Mack Simmons Big Leon Brooks and Eddie Shaw 1 On July 11 1993 in Chicago Jones shot and killed the blues artist Boston Blackie following a heated dispute over payment that began a month earlier when both performers appeared at the Chicago Blues Festival Jones claimed he acted in self defense but was convicted of second degree murder and was incarcerated for 17 months of a four year prison sentence 1 6 Jones was a regular performer in Chicago blues clubs throughout the 1970s and 1980s releasing a number of commercially unsuccessful singles His spell in prison aside it took until 1996 before his debut album Crawlin Kingsnake was issued by St George Records He was 56 years old when the record was released It was followed by the album American People 1998 Delmark Records A DVD My Head Is Bald Live at Vern s Friendly Lounge was released in 2005 Live at Rooster s Lounge was issued in 2009 also by Delmark Records 1 His joint work with Bob Corritore resulted in the 2012 CD and DVD release Longtime Friends in the Blues 1 Personal life and death editJones was married six times and had a number of children 5 He died on September 4 2023 at the age of 82 7 Discography editAlbums edit Year Title Record label1996 Crawlin Kingsnake St George Records1998 American People Delmark Records2009 Live at Rooster s Lounge Delmark Records2012 Longtime Friends in the Blues with Bob Corritore Delta Groove Productions 8 See also editList of Chicago blues musicians List of electric blues musiciansReferences edit a b c d e f g h i Alex Henderson 1940 09 30 Tail Dragger Biography AllMusic Retrieved 2016 10 30 Eagle Bob LeBlanc Eric S 2013 Blues A Regional Experience Santa Barbara California Praeger p 164 ISBN 978 0313344237 a b Featured Interview Tail Dragger BluesBlastMagazine com 2013 12 31 Retrieved 2016 10 30 a b Bio Taildraggerbluesband com Retrieved 2016 10 30 a b c Tail Dragger Talks interview by Liz Mandeville Chicagobluesguide com Retrieved 2016 10 30 Downing Andy 2006 11 10 Tail Dragger Has Paid Dues to Sing Blues Articles chicagotribune com Retrieved 2016 10 30 Tail Dragger Jones Obituary American Chicago Blues Singer Tail Dragger Jones Has Died Burlingtonpressobits com Retrieved September 6 2023 Tail Dragger Discography AllMusic Retrieved 2016 10 30 External links editTail Dragger Jones discography at Discogs Tail Dragger Jones at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tail Dragger Jones amp oldid 1184642816, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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