Born and raised in West Virginia, Johnny Jones started playing the guitar, singing and writing songs around the age of 14. While in the U.S. Air Force his off duty hours were spent playing clubs and entertaining at many different functions. Eventually, Johnny was selected as one of several Air Force men and women for the "Command Performance" a variety show that toured throughout the United States, entertaining the troops at different air force and army bases. After his tour of duty, Johnny returned to his home state of West Virginia, where he was soon in demand for performing clubs and a variety of social events as a single act, as well as doing some recording. During this time he was a regular on a Saturday morning radio show as well as making frequent tv appearances on "The Country Jamboree" in Bluefield, WV as well as a guest appearance on "The Bonnie Lou & Buster Show" out of Knoxville, TN.
Johnny has performed on the same stage with acts like Dave Dudley, the late Mel Street, the Glaser Brothers and Tom T. Hall to name a few.
Johnny eventually moved to Nashville where he formed his own band and toured throughout several states and western Canada. After a couple of years he returned to West Virginia performing with different bands as well as working as a single act. He just recently started his own record label, Singing Crow Records, to promote his own material.
This CD was recorded in Fulton, MS, Labor Day weekend of 2004. He hired one of his drummers from his traveling days, Marty Williams. Marty has a friend, Danny McKeown, who played bass, lead guitar and steel. These musicians are from from MS. With Johnny on guitar and his son Casey playing the tambourine on a couple of songs, this recording session was finished in just 2 days. Of course there was mixing and editing to do later on.
All these songs were written by Johnny. He likes to write light hearted songs to make people laugh. Most of the songs on "Mowing Grass While Dressed Up In A Suit" are songs that will put a smile on your face. There is however 1 gospel song and a few serious songs on this CD. The song "Ode To A Country Music Fan" has a bluegrass feel.
"Yes Santa There Is A Virginia" has gotten radio play in several states.
The song "The Japanese Kidnapped My Son" was aired on the Dr Demento Show Jan. 8-9, 2005. "Yes Santa There Is A Virginia" was aired on his show Dec. 17-18, 2005. This show is on more than 100 stations coast to coast in the USA.
This CD is has gotten air play on several radio stations in Denmark as well as The Netherlands, Canada and Internet Radio.
-----------------the gazz - the Charleston Gazette entertainment section
Thursday, August 25, 2005Johnny Jones
THE CD:"Mowing Grass While Dressed Up in a Suit"
PEFORMER: Johnny Jones
Johnny Jones writes country songs with lots of love and humor. The Hinton, W.
Va.
, resident has been recording music off and on since back in the days of 45 rpm records. "The Japanese Kidnapped My Son" is a lighthearted look at the travails of fatherhood: "While they're working hard in Tokyo/He's no longer on the go/all day long it's the same dang thing/he sure loves those video games..."
"Morning After a Night Of Lovin'" turns the table on a familiar honky-tonk theme: cheatin.
' "We must be in heaven/our love took us there/it will last forever we have what it takes/I wouldn't be a bit surprised/ if I looked with you to see flying angels around God's own holy gates."
Jones' music takes me back to steel mill bars in northeast Ohio in the mid-1960s. Steel guitar, bass, drums, guitar and a workingman's voice. This is honest country music. Available at Tamarack and at Singing Crow Records, 1022 Summers Street. Hinton St.
, or online at singingcrowrecords , cdbaby and Apple's itunes.
-- by Paul Gartner
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