Little Johnny Jones

Little Johnny Jones (born Johnnie Jones; November 1, 1924 – November 19, 1964) was an American Chicago blues pianist and singer, best known for his work with Tampa Red, Muddy Waters, and Elmore James.

Life and career Jones was born in Jackson, Mississippi, United States, in 1924, and was a cousin of Otis Spann. Like several other Chicago pianists of his era, his style was heavily influenced by Merriweather, from whom he had learned and for whom he played piano after Merriweather's stroke.

Jones later backed Muddy Waters on harmonica and recorded a session (on piano and vocals) with him for Aristocrat Records in 1949. From 1952 to 1956, he played and recorded with Elmore James, and also played on sessions by Albert King, Jimmy Rogers and others, as well as occasionally recording under his own name.

Jones was a heavy drinker and had a reputation as a wild character. According to Homesick James, who worked and toured with them in the 1950s, "Elmore and Johnnie used to just have a fight every night".

Jones married his wife, Letha, in 1952. He died of bronchopneumonia in Cook County Hospital, and was interred at Restvale Cemetery in November 1964.

On May 14, 2011, the fourth annual White Lake Blues Festival took place at the Howmet Playhouse Theater, in Whitehall, Michigan. The event was organized by executive producer Steve Salter, of the nonprofit organization Killer Blues, to raise monies to honor Jones's unmarked grave with a headstone. The concert was a success, and a headstone was placed in June 2011.

Discography

Singles "Big Town Playboy"/"Shelby County Blues", Aristocrat 405 "Sweet Little Woman"/"I May Be Wrong", Flair 1010 "Hoy, Hoy"/"Doin' the Best I Can (Up the Line)", Atlantic 1045

Albums Live in Chicago with Billy Boy Arnold, Alligator AL-4717 (1979, recorded 1963) Doin' The Best I Can Johnny Jones A Chicago Pianist-About-Town and His Fellow Musicians, JSP Records (UK) JSP4245B (2015) (2 volumes, 53 tracks, Including Johnny Jones backing Elmore James, J.T. Brown, Junior Wells, Tampa Red, Joe Turner)

With Howlin' Wolf The Real Folk Blues (Chess, 1956-64 )