Chris Jones (bluegrass musician)

Last updated

Chris Jones
Born Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres Bluegrass music
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Labels Mountain Home, Rebel
Website chrisjonesgrass.com

Chris Jones is an American bluegrass singer, guitarist, songwriter, and broadcaster, singing in a baritone voice. He fronts the Night Drivers.

Contents

Biography

Jones started out in Brooklyn, New York, where his mother was a singer and actress. His uncle played Scruggs-style and clawhammer banjo. [1] But Jones's interest in bluegrass was sparked when he lived in Albuquerque with his father and stepmother, who listened to country and bluegrass. Jones took up guitar at age 12 or 13. [2]

When Jones was age 18 and back in New York, he joined Horse Country as lead singer and guitarist, led by banjoist Bob Mavian. After four years with Chicago's the Special Consensus, Jones played with Whetstone Run, the Lynn Morris Band, the McCarters, and Dave Evans. [3]

Jones moved to Nashville in 1989 as a member of the band Weary Hearts, which included Ron Block, Mike Bub, and the late Butch Baldassari. He formed Chris Jones & The Night Drivers in 1995, and they've been recording and touring ever since. Current members are Jones, Marshall Wilborn (bass), Mark Stoffel (mandolin), and Grace Van't Hof (banjo). [4]

Jones has performed with the Chieftains, [5] Vassar Clements, Tom T. Hall, and Earl Scruggs.

Writing and broadcasting

Jones writes a weekly column for the website Bluegrass Today. [6]

Jones has been a broadcaster for SiriusXM's Bluegrass Junction for more than 15 years. He also hosts the classic bluegrass show "Truegrass." Ned Luberecki and Jon Weisberger are also broadcasters. [7]

He has also appeared in the PBS series "The Appalachians" as a both a performer and commentator. [8]

Songwriting

Jones's compositions have been recorded by the Gibson Brothers, the Infamous Stringdusters, the Chapmans, and Lou Reid. [9]

Awards

International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards received: [10] [11]

Personal life

Jones and his wife Sally Jones live in Alberta.

Discography

Solo albums

Compilations

Chris Jones & The Night Drivers

As a member of The Special Consensus

As a member of Weary Hearts

Also appears on

Music instruction

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Del McCoury</span> American bluegrass musician

Delano Floyd McCoury is an American bluegrass musician. As leader of the Del McCoury Band, he plays guitar and sings lead vocals along with his two sons, Ronnie McCoury and Rob McCoury, who play mandolin and banjo respectively. In June 2010, he received a National Heritage Fellowship lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts and in 2011 he was elected into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.

<i>How to Grow a Woman from the Ground</i> 2006 studio album by Chris Thile

How to Grow a Woman from the Ground is a 2006 album by Chris Thile and Punch Brothers. It was released on Sugar Hill on September 12, 2006. The album is named after a song on the album; a cover of the original by folk singer Tom Brosseau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Sutton</span> American musician (born 1973)

James Bryan Sutton is an American musician. Primarily known as a flatpicking acoustic guitar player, Sutton also plays mandolin, banjo, ukulele, and electric guitar. He also sings and writes songs.

Missy Raines is an American bassist, singer, teacher, and songwriter. She has won 10 International Bluegrass Music Awards for Bass Player of the Year. Missy Raines was the first woman to win IBMA Bass Player of the Year award. She won 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Infamous Stringdusters</span> American progressive acoustic/bluegrass band

The Infamous Stringdusters are a progressive acoustic/bluegrass band. The band first emerged in 2006 with the limited release of a five-song extended play CD The Infamous Stringdusters, followed in 2007 by their first album Fork in the Road. Both of these were on Sugar Hill Records. The band consists of Andy Hall (Dobro), Andy Falco (guitar), Chris Pandolfi (banjo), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle), and Travis Book. The band has become known for a complex, distinctive, and groove-friendly sound along with a bluegrass theme.

Benjamin Horace Williams was an American bluegrass musician. A multi-instrumentalist, he sang and played fiddle, guitar, banjo, autoharp, and mandolin.

Gloria Belle Flickinger was an American bluegrass vocalist and musician, playing the banjo, bass, and mandolin. She was probably the first female lead singer in bluegrass, having begun her music career as early as 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Special Consensus</span> American acoustic bluegrass band

The Special Consensus is an acoustic bluegrass group led by banjoist Greg Cahill.

Louis Reid Pyrtle is an American bluegrass singer, band leader, and multi-instrumentalist.

Terry Baucom is an American bluegrass singer, banjo player, and band leader. He is nicknamed "The Duke of Drive" for his propelling banjo style. He leads his band, The Dukes of Drive, and was a founding member of Boone Creek, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, and IIIrd Tyme Out.

Ronnie Bowman is an American singer and composer of bluegrass music. Besides his solo albums, he is known for his work with the Lonesome River Band.

Kenny Smith is an American guitarist and vocalist in the bluegrass tradition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sammy Shelor</span> Musical artist

Sammy Shelor is an American banjoist in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known as leader of the Lonesome River Band and for his solo recordings, music instruction, and session work.

Dudley Dale Connell is an American singer in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for his work with the Johnson Mountain Boys, Longview, and The Seldom Scene.

Marshall Wilborn is an American bluegrass music bass player and composer best known for his work with the Johnson Mountain Boys, Longview, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, and the Lynn Morris Band.

Ron Stewart is an American multi-instrumentalist in the bluegrass tradition. He plays fiddle, guitar, banjo, and mandolin, and has won the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award for Fiddle Player of the Year in 2000 and Banjo Player of the Year in 2011.

Scott Vestal is an American banjoist, songwriter and luthier, known for his innovative approach to playing and designing the banjo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rickie Simpkins</span> American singer-songwriter

Rickie Hal Simpkins is an American fiddler and mandolinist in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for his solo albums and his work with the Lonesome River Band and the Seldom Scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Strings</span> American bluegrass musician (born 1992)

Billy Strings is an American guitarist and bluegrass musician. He won a Grammy Award in 2021.

References

  1. ↑ Wilson, Brian (November 18, 2013). "Chris Jones and the Night Drivers: The Next Generation of Bluegrass Comes to Southern Illinois". Carbondale Rocks. Retrieved July 10, 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. ↑ Penn, Casey L. (May 1, 2015). "Chris Jones (& the Night Drivers)". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  3. ↑ Bonfiglo, Jeremy D. (March 30, 2017). "Chris Jones & The Night Drivers were 'Made To Move'". Herald-Palladium. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  4. ↑ Hoffard, Vince (February 18, 2016). "Chart-topping Chris Jones and the Night Drivers take stage at Old Feed Store". The Southern Illinoisan. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  5. ↑ Suzanne Weiss. "The Chieftains". CultureVulture. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Author: Chris Jones". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  7. ↑ Amburgey, Rick (November 8, 2015). "Chris Jones and the Night Drivers Celebrate 20 Years, New CD". No Depression. Retrieved July 10, 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
  8. ↑ staff writer (July 19, 2013). "Bluegrass series features dual honoree Chris Jones". The Missoulian. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  9. ↑ Ledgin, Stephanie P. (2004). Homegrown Music: Discovering Bluegrass (1 ed.). Greenwood Publishing Group. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  10. ↑ uncredited (October 11, 2007). "Bluegrass' Biggest Night Showers Awards on BMI Affiliates". BMI. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Recipient History". IBMA. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  12. ↑ Brinkman, Mark. "Chris Jones: Follow Your Heart". Country Standard Time. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Chris Jones, Cloud of Dust, and playing air-bass". Fervor Coulee- roots music opinion. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  14. ↑ Lupton, John (October 23, 2013). "Chris Jones & The Night Drivers: Lonely Comes Easy". Sing Out!. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  15. ↑ Hudson, Mark (February 5, 2015). "Review: Chris Jones & The Night Drivers – Live At The Old Feed Store". Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association. Retrieved July 10, 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
  16. ↑ Hackett, Vernell (August 21, 2015). "Chris Jones & the Night Drivers: Run Away Tonight". Elmore Magazine. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.