Jazz vocalist Etta Jones submitted more than a few dozen records and you will gained around three Grammy Prize nominations while in the the girl half a dozen-decade-much time job
Her prominence peaked inside the 1960 toward release of this lady single “ Wear ‘ t Visit Visitors, ” hence climbed so you’re able to matter four on RB charts. Throughout the late 1960s Jones molded a duo that have tenor saxophonist Houston Person, which have exactly who she toured for another thirty five many years. “ All the I wish to create was functions, create a good income, as well as have nearest and dearest, ” Jones advised National Public Radio in the an estimate quoted regarding the Dallas Day Reports. In the event she never hit a quantity of popularity just like instance jazz and you will blues greats since the Aretha Franklin, Billie Vacation, and you will Dinah Arizona, Jones got a dedicated adopting the away from listeners and made her own book mark-on jazz records.
Jones came into this world with the November 5, 1928, when you look at the Aiken, Sc, and you can elevated during the New york city. Since a three-year-old she wanted become a singer and create perspective facing an echo so you can mimic music on radio. Billie Getaway, who she noticed within the concert, and Thelma Carpenter, had been a few of the girl basic impacts. Whenever Jones try fifteen years dated, she went to Beginner Nights from the renowned Apollo Movie theater inside the Harlem. Such as jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald and you can Sarah Vaughn, her job first started during the Apollo, regardless of if at first sight her first did not appear promising. On that evening from inside the 1943 she is actually so worried you to she been singing off key and you can lost the fresh new ability battle. The pianist-bandleader Friend Johnson acknowledged the lady element. Johnson immediately rented their so you can complete getting their performer sister, Ella Johnson, who was simply making the fresh ring to own an infant.
Etta Jones
Jones toured having Johnson ‘ s 19-son ring for annually, until Ella returned, therefore delivery several stints together with other typical- and you may larger-band Nyc jazz communities, like the Harlemaires therefore the Barney Bigards Band. It was into the second you to Jones made this lady very first tape, arranged by pianist Leonard Feather into the 1944. Into the further many years she did and you can registered with instance jazz characters because Pete Johnson, J. C. Read, Kenny Burrell, Charles Brown, Milt Johnson, and you can Cedar Walton. Inside 1949 she already been singing having Earl “ Fatha ” Hines, undertaking together with band for another 36 months.
Jones and additionally attempted to discharge a solamente occupation, even if she wasn’t successful to start with. She registered corners that have such labels since the Black colored White and you will RCA Victor, nevertheless these american singles flopped. At the time, RB try enjoying enhanced prominence, however, Jones stopped which style, preferring so you can play jazz. Which decision limited this lady audience along with Sacramento California hookup site her publicity due to the fact a musician, and quite a while she remained an obscure singer.
From the 1950s Jones experienced crisis and had for taking go out services sometimes and work out comes to an end see, being employed as a lift user, a record stuffer, and you may good seamstress. She continued to do sometimes, because solutions emerged. For the 1956 Jones filed this lady basic
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Already been singing professionally which have jazz pianist-band-frontrunner Buddy Johnson, decades 15; produced very first recording that have Barney Bigards Orchestra, 1944; did with Earl “ Fatha ” Hines, 1949-52; recorded basic complete-duration record album, The fresh new Jones Woman … Etta … Sings, Sings, Sings, 1956; put out most significant hit unmarried, “ Don ‘ t Head to Strangers, ” attempting to sell 1 million duplicates, 1960; obtained basic Grammy nomination to own Wear ‘ t Check out Strangers album, 1960; first started undertaking which have saxophonist Houston People, 1968; recorded 18 records that have Muse (and that turned Highest Mention Info), 1976-2001.
full-length record album, Brand new Jones Woman … Etta … Sings, Sings, Sings, that have King Details. But the album premiered with little fanfare and you can went largely unnoticed.