Johnny "Little Sonny" Jones (April 15, 1931 – December 17, 1989) was an American

New Orleans blues New Orleans blues is a subgenre of blues that developed in and around the city of New Orleans, influenced by jazz and Caribbean music. It is dominated by piano and saxophone, but also produced guitar bluesmen. Characteristics As a style, New ...

singer and songwriter. Over his lengthy career, he worked with various blues musicians, notably

Fats Domino Antoine Caliste Domino Jr. (February 26, 1928 – October 24, 2017), known as Fats Domino, was an American singer-songwriter and pianist. One of the pioneers of rock and roll music, Domino sold more than 65 million records. Born in New Orl ...

. He is not to be confused with the blues musicians

Little Sonny Little Sonny (born Aaron Willis; October 6, 1932, in Greensboro, Alabama) is an American electric blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter. His early mentor and inspiration was Sonny Boy Williamson II. Nevertheless, Little Sonny stated tha ...

and Little Sonny Warner.

Biography

Jones was born in

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

, Louisiana. He started singing professionally in the late 1940s. He befriended

and, while they were working together, was given his nickname by Domino. In 1953 he released his debut single, "Do You Really Love Me" backed with "Is Everything Allright?", for

Specialty Records Specialty Records was an American record label founded in Los Angeles in 1945 by Art Rupe. It was known for rhythm and blues, gospel, and early rock and roll, and recorded artists such as Little Richard, Guitar Slim, Percy Mayfield, and Lloyd P ...

. He recorded another four songs for

Imperial Records Imperial Records is an American record company and label started in 1947 by Lew Chudd. The label was reactivated in 2006 by EMI, which owned the label and back catalogue at the time. Imperial is owned by Universal Music Group. Early years to ...

in 1954, produced by

Dave Bartholomew David Louis Bartholomew (December 24, 1918 – June 23, 2019) was an American musician, bandleader, composer, arrangement, arranger, and record producer. He was prominent in the music of New Orleans throughout the second half of the 20th century ...

, but his records failed to find a commercial market. His connection with Domino endured, and he remained as Domino's opening act until 1961. Jones's tracks included the

blues standard Blues standards are blues songs that have attained a high level of recognition due to having been widely performed and recorded. They represent the best known and most interpreted blues songs that are seen as standing the test of time. Blues s ...

" Farther Up the Road". Jones was employed as the vocalist by a New Orleans–based band led by the brothers David and

Melvin Lastie Melvin Clarke Lastie, Sr. (November 18, 1930 – December 4, 1972) was an American R&B trumpeter, flugelhornist, and cornetist. He also played jazz and was a session musician on many soul and rock records of the 1960s. Lastie was born in New O ...

, until the late 1960s. He also had regular employment at a sugar factory. He returned to the recording studio in 1975 and issued the album ''New Orleans R&B Gems'', initially on the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

-based Black Magic label. With contributions from veteran musicians, including

Dave "Fat Man" Williams Dave Albert Williams Jr. (August 20, 1920 - March 12, 1982) was an American jazz, blues, and rhythm & blues pianist, bandleader, singer, and songwriter. He was the author of "I Ate Up The Apple Tree", a staple of contemporary New Orleans brass ...

, the record faithfully copied the R&B style and sound of the 1950s. It was reissued in 1995 by

Black Top Records Black Top Records was an American, New Orleans, Louisiana-based independent record label, founded in 1981 by brothers Nauman S. Scott, III and Hammond Scott. The label specialized in blues and R&B music. The first release was "Talk To You By Hand" ...

. Jones was a regular performer at the

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (commonly called Jazz Fest or Jazzfest) is an annual celebration of local music and culture held at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana. Jazz Fest attracts thousands of vi ...

. In December 1989, Jones died of heart failure in New Orleans, at the age of 58.

Discography

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Little Sonny 1931 births 1989 deaths American blues singers Blues musicians from New Orleans Songwriters from Louisiana Rhythm and blues musicians from New Orleans 20th-century American singers Singers from Louisiana 20th-century American male singers American male songwriters 20th-century American songwriters

Biography

Discography

See also

References