Tutu Jones
Tutu Jones
Tutu Jones (born September 9, 1966) is an American electric blues and soul blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He has cited both Freddie King and Z. Z. Hill as influences on his playing style. Since 1994, Jones has released five albums.
John Jones Jr. was born in Dallas, Texas, the son of a Dallas-based R&B guitarist, Johnny B. Jones. Through his father's work, Jones was introduced to house guests such as Freddie King, L. C. Clark, Ernie Johnson, and Little Joe Blue. Jones began playing the guitar by the age of five, by which time he had acquired his nickname of Tutu from his father. However, his career began as a drummer in his adolescence, graduating from backing his uncles Barefoot Miller and L. C. Clark, the latter in 1976, before working with Z. Z. Hill and R. L. Burnside.
Meanwhile, working on his guitar playing, by 1989 Jones had moved on to fronting his bands. This in turn led to him recording his debut album, "I'm For Real", on JSP Records in 1994. It was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award. "Blues Texas Soul" followed two years later, and "Staying Power" in 1998.
A live album, "Tutu Jones Live", was issued in 2005 by Doc Blues Records. A journalist at The Austin Chronicle then stated, "Bluesmen are traditionalists, but Jones learns how to mesh soulful wails with syrupy blues that are as sweaty live as they are in quiet studios."
His latest album, "Inside Out" was released via CD Baby in 2009.
(Tutu Jones at 6th annual Poconos Blues Festival 1997)