Little Johnny Jones born 1 November 1914

Little Johnny 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. 

Johnnie Jones was born in Jackson, Mississippi and was a cousin of Otis Spann. His mother, Mary, played piano in the local and his father, George was an amateur guitarist and harp player. He was already an accomplished pianist when he arrived in Chicago in 1945 in the company of Little Walter and "Baby Face" Leroy Foster and soon replaced pianist Big Maceo Merriweather in Tampa Red's band after Merriweather suffered a stroke paralysing his right hand. 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. At the tail end of this session Jones cut his lone 78 for the label “Shelby County Blues b/w Big Town Playboy” with Muddy Waters, Baby Face Leroy and Jimmy Rogers backing him up on both sides. Big Town Playboy is regarded as a classic of the genre, and was covered by the guitarist Eddie Taylor in 1955. Jones also played on ten sessions with Tampa Red for the Victor label between 1949 and 1953. 

During the 50’s Jones was best remembered as the pianist at Sylvio’s, the huge tavern at Lake & Oakley that was the blues capital of Chicago’s West Side. Johnnie played there with Elmore, with the Wolf, with second Sonny Boy Williamson, with Billy Boy Arnold, and with Magic Sam. Most nights Sylvio’s had three bands, and Johnny would play with all of them! Dressed immaculately and with his hair and mustache perfectly groomed, he would open the shows singing his favorite risque classics, “The Dirty Dozens” and ”Love Her With A Feeling.” Billy Boy remembers, “He didn’t sit there like a lot of piano players and just play– he rocked with the rhythm, he bounced. He used to sing “Dirty Mother F’or Ya” and that would just crack the house up! Johnnie and Elmore had Sylvio’s sewed up five nights a week!” 

                                   

Jones’ most famous association began in 1952 when he became the pianist for Elmore James and His Broomdusters. He remained with James through 1956 playing on classic recordings for the Bihari brothers’ Meteor, Flair and Modern labels as well as dates for Checker, Chief and Fire. The Broomdusters (with saxist J.T. Brown and drummer Odie Payne) held court on the West Side playing at Sylvio’s for five years. It was this association with James that resulted in his second stint as leader recording in 1953 for Flair. “I May Be Wrong” and “Sweet Little Woman” were issued as Johnny Jones and the Chicago Hound Dogs with backing from Elmore James and J.T. Brown. 

Jones, Otis Spann & George "Mojo" Buford

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. His last official stint as leader came in 1953 when Atlantic Records came through Chicago and teamed Elmore and the Broomdusters behind Big Joe Turner resulting in the classic “TV Mama.” Once again he recorded a couple of sides at the tail end of a session resulting in four songs: “Chicago Blues”, ‘Hoy Hoy’, “Wait Baby” and “Doin’ the Best I Can (Up the line).” Jones was backed by the full Broomdusters plus Ransom Knowling on bass. 

Johnny & his wife Letha

Jones wasn’t caught on tape again until 1963 where he was working with Billy Boy Arnold in a Chicago folk club called the Fickle Pickle run by Michael Bloomfield. Norman Dayron recorded Johnny on portable equipment which has been released on the Alligator record titled Johnny Jones with Billy Boy Arnold. A few additional sides appear on the Flyright LP Live At The Fickle Pickle. Jones last session was recorded in 1964 and is something of a mystery. Possibly backed by Boyd Atkins on sax and Lee Jackson guitar he cut three songs: “Prison Bound Blues”, “Don’t You Lie to Me” and “I Get Evil” the last being unissued. 

Little Johnny Jones & Junior Wells

He died from lung cancer November, 19, 1964 leaving a huge space on the Chicago scene. Mike Leadbitter wrote at the time of Jones death, “In a Chicago full of guitarists and with comparatively few top-rate pianists, the death of Little Johnny Jones is a great loss, as it is to us, who were never really given a chance to appreciate him.” 

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.

(Edited from Wikipedia & Big Road Blues)