Jonah Jones
Jonah Jones (born Robert Elliott Jones; December 31, 1909 – April 30, 2000) was a jazz trumpeter who created concise versions of jazz and swing and jazz standards that appealed to a mass audience. In the jazz community, he is known for his work with Stuff Smith. He was sometimes referred to as "King Louis II", a reference to Louis Armstrong. Jones started playing alto saxophone at the age of 12 in the Booker T. Washington Community Center band in Louisville, Kentucky, before quickly transitioning to trumpet, where he excelled. |
Birth and Death Data: Born December 31, 1909 (Louisville), Died April 30, 2000 (New York City)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1936 - 1967
Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet, vocalist, piano
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | PBS-09644 | 10-in. | 8/16/1937 | Confessin' (That I love you) | Lionel Hampton Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Victor | BS-060351 | 10-in. | 1/22/1941 | Cuddle up, huddle up | Benny Carter Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Victor | BS-060352 | 10-in. | 1/22/1941 | [Unknown title(s)] | Benny Carter Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Victor | BS-060353 | 10-in. | 1/22/1941 | Babalu | Benny Carter Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Victor | BS-060354 | 10-in. | 1/22/1941 | There, I've said it again | Benny Carter Orchestra ; Ray Felton | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Columbia | 29867 | 10-in. | 3/5/1941 | Jonah joins the Cab | Cab Calloway Orchestra ; Cab Calloway ; Cab Calloway ; Jonah Jones | Jazz/dance bandJazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Brunswick | B19495 | 10-in. | 6/30/1936 | It's like reaching for the moon | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Brunswick | B19496 | 10-in. | 6/30/1936 | These foolish things | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Brunswick | B19498 | 10-in. | 6/30/1936 | I cried for you | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Brunswick | B19499 | 10-in. | 6/30/1936 | Guess who? | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Brunswick | B20290 | 10-in. | 11/19/1936 | Pennies from heaven | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Brunswick | B20291 | 10-in. | 11/19/1936 | That's life I guess | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Brunswick | B20293 | 10-in. | 11/19/1936 | I can't give you anything but love (Baby) | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Vocalion | 20506 | 10-in. | 1/12/1937 | One never knows, does one? | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Vocalion | 20507 | 10-in. | 1/12/1937 | I've got my love to keep me warm | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Vocalion | 20508 | 10-in. | 1/12/1937 | If my heart could only talk | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Vocalion | 20509 | 10-in. | 1/12/1937 | Please keep me in your dreams | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Decca | 62172 | 10-in. | 5/4/1937 | Twilight in Turkey | Stuff Smith and his Onyx Club Boys | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 62173 | 10-in. | 5/4/1937 | Where is the sun ? | Stuff Smith and his Onyx Club Boys | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 62174 | 10-in. | 5/4/1937 | Upstairs | Stuff Smith and his Onyx Club Boys | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 62175 | 10-in. | 5/4/1937 | Onyx Club spree | Stuff Smith and his Onyx Club Boys | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67331 | 10-in. | 3/18/1940 | Sixth Street | Lil Armstrong and her Dixielanders | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67332 | 10-in. | 3/18/1940 | Riffin' the blues | Lil Armstrong and her Dixielanders | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67333 | 10-in. | 3/18/1940 | Why is a good man so hard to find? | Lil Armstrong and her Dixielanders | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67334 | 10-in. | 3/18/1940 | My secret flame | Lil Armstrong and her Dixielanders | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67481 | 10-in. | 4/4/1940 | Big apple blues | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67482 | 10-in. | 4/4/1940 | Big money blues | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67483 | 10-in. | 4/4/1940 | Chicago mill blues | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67484 | 10-in. | 4/4/1940 | Five minutes blues | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67485 | 10-in. | 4/4/1940 | Two time Mama | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67486 | 10-in. | 4/4/1940 | Jaybird blues | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67487 | 10-in. | 4/4/1940 | Suicide blues | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67488 | 10-in. | 4/4/1940 | Pocket knife blues | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67563 | 10-in. | 4/18/1940 | Jazzin' babies blues | Georgia White | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67564 | 10-in. | 4/18/1940 | Papa pleaser | Georgia White | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67565 | 10-in. | 4/17/1940 | Let me ride your train | Frankie Half Pint Jaxon | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67566 | 10-in. | 4/17/1940 | Be your natural self | Frankie Half Pint Jaxon | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67567 | 10-in. | 4/17/1940 | Turn over | Frankie Half Pint Jaxon | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67568 | 10-in. | 4/17/1940 | Take off them hips | Frankie Half Pint Jaxon | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67569 | 10-in. | 4/17/1940 | Gimme a pig's foot and a bottle of beer | Frankie Half Pint Jaxon | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67570 | 10-in. | 4/17/1940 | You can't tell | Frankie Half Pint Jaxon | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67571 | 10-in. | 4/17/1940 | My little girl | Lee Brown | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67572 | 10-in. | 4/17/1940 | Lucille blues | Lee Brown | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67573 | 10-in. | 4/17/1940 | Mississippi water blues | Lee Brown | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67574 | 10-in. | 4/17/1940 | Little leg woman | Lee Brown | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67575 | 10-in. | 4/18/1940 | Sensation blues | Georgia White | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67576 | 10-in. | 4/18/1940 | Late hour blues | Georgia White | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67577 | 10-in. | 4/18/1940 | Panama limited blues | Georgia White | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 67578 | 10-in. | 4/18/1940 | You ought to be ashamed of yourself | Georgia White | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 68022 | 10-in. | 8/28/1940 | Gangster's blues | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 68023 | 10-in. | 8/28/1940 | Cuttin' 'em slow | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 68024 | 10-in. | 8/28/1940 | Look out for yourself | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 68025 | 10-in. | 8/28/1940 | No count woman | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 68026 | 10-in. | 8/28/1940 | What's that? | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 68284 | 10-in. | 10/23/1940 | By the watermelon vine, Lindy Lou | Benny Carter Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 68285 | 10-in. | 10/23/1940 | The last kiss you gave me | Benny Carter Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 68286 | 10-in. | 10/23/1940 | Boogie woogie sugar blues | Benny Carter Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 68287 | 10-in. | 10/23/1940 | I've been in love before | Benny Carter Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 85447 | 11/7/1953 | Whamboogie | George Williams Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 85448 | 11/7/1953 | Creole | George Williams Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 85449 | 11/7/1953 | The knocked out choo choo | George Williams Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 85450 | 11/7/1953 | The rompin' stamper | George Williams Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 115534 | 1/6/1965 | Who can I turn to? | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 115535 | 1/6/1965 | Think beautiful | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 115536 | 1/6/1965 | A wonderful day like today | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 115537 | 1/6/1965 | Theme from Golden Boy | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 115538 | 1/7/1965 | People | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 115539 | 1/7/1965 | When I dance with the person | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 115540 | 1/7/1965 | Can it be possible | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 115541 | 1/7/1965 | Do you love me | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 115542 | 1/7/1965 | Variations on a theme by Bird | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 115543 | 1/7/1965 | Hello, Dolly! | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 115544 | 1/7/1965 | Take the moment | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 115545 | 1/7/1965 | 127th Street march | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 116226 | 6/17/1965 | Long ago | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 116227 | 6/17/1965 | Jonah in a solo | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 116440 | 8/18/1965 | Side by side | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 116441 | 8/18/1965 | Down among the sheltering palms | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 116442 | 8/18/1965 | Red head | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 116443 | 8/18/1965 | I used to love you | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 116444 | 8/19/1965 | Save your sorrow | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 116445 | 8/19/1965 | Who's sorry now | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 116446 | 8/19/1965 | Angry | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 116447 | 8/19/1965 | Anytime | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 116448 | 8/19/1965 | There'll be some changes made | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 116449 | 8/19/1965 | On the sunny side of the street | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 116450 | 8/20/1965 | I want a girl | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 116451 | 8/20/1965 | You're nobody 'til somebody loves you | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
| Decca | 116960 | 1/26/1966 | I'll get by | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 116961 | 1/26/1966 | Georgia on my mind | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 116962 | 1/26/1966 | Opus one | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 116963 | 1/26/1966 | Baby dream your dream | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 116964 | 1/27/1966 | Dulcinea | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 116965 | 1/27/1966 | Moment to moment | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 116966 | 1/27/1966 | Over the rainbow | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 116967 | 1/31/1966 | It makes no difference | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 116968 | 1/31/1966 | Dream of you | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 116969 | 1/31/1966 | Jonah don't you blow | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 116970 | 1/31/1966 | Second hand rose | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 116971 | 1/31/1966 | Tijuana taxi | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 117445 | 5/19/1966 | In the shade of the old apple tree | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, piano | |||
| Decca | 117446 | 5/19/1966 | That's how young I feel | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, piano | |||
| Decca | 117447 | 5/19/1966 | Sweet Georgia Brown | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, piano | |||
| Decca | 117448 | 5/20/1966 | Theme from Maya | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, piano | |||
| Decca | 117449 | 5/20/1966 | Strangers in the night | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, piano | |||
| Decca | 117450 | 5/20/1966 | Green grass | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, piano | |||
| Decca | 117451 | 5/23/1966 | If I had you | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, piano | |||
| Decca | 117452 | 5/23/1966 | Squeeze me | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, piano | |||
| Decca | 117453 | 5/23/1966 | Everywhere you go | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, piano | |||
| Decca | 117454 | 5/23/1966 | Birth of the blues | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, piano | |||
| Decca | 117455 | 5/23/1966 | In the shade of the old apple tree | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, piano | |||
| Decca | 117456 | 5/23/1966 | Limehouse blues | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, piano | |||
| Decca | 117457 | 5/23/1966 | Begin the beguine | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, piano | |||
| Decca | 118096 | 10/27/1966 | Lover's medley: That's my desire ; I'm gettin' sentimental over you ; All my love ; I can't believe that you're in love with me | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 118097 | 10/27/1966 | Duke Ellington medley: Rockin' in rhythm ; I let a song go out of my heart ; Mood indigo ; It don't mean a thing ; Sophisticated lady ; Caravan | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 118098 | 10/28/1966 | Swing Street medley: Organ grinder's swing ; Moonglow ; Sweet Lorraine ; Corrine Corrina | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 118102 | 11/12/1966 | Good time medley: When my sugar walks down the street ; Just a girl that men forget ; Ain't misbehavin' ; Ting-a-ling ; Farewell blues | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 119036 | 6/9/1967 | Now I know the feeling | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 119037 | 6/9/1967 | Tango Natasha | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 119038 | 6/9/1967 | Claudia | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 119039 | 6/9/1967 | Yellow days (La mentira) | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 119040 | 6/12/1967 | Jurame (Promise love) | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 119041 | 6/12/1967 | La pollera colora | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 119042 | 6/12/1967 | Lamento Borincano | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 119043 | 6/12/1967 | Compadre Pedro Juan | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 119044 | 6/14/1967 | Eddie's bossa nova | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 119045 | 6/14/1967 | Where is you laughter? | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 119046 | 6/14/1967 | El amor de mi bohio | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Decca | 119047 | 6/14/1967 | Jonah's pachanga | Jonah Jones Quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | |||
| Signature | SRC 2070 | 10-in. | 5/5/1949 | Baby, it's cold outside | Cab Calloway and his Cab Jivers | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Signature | SRC 2071 | 10-in. | 5/5/1949 | The hucklebuck | Cab Calloway and his Cab Jivers | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Signature | SRC 2072 | 10-in. | 5/5/1949 | I've got the world on a string | Cab Calloway and his Cab Jivers | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Signature | SRC 2073 | 10-in. | 5/5/1949 | Why can't you behave | Cab Calloway and his Cab Jivers | instrumentalist, trumpet |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Jones, Jonah," accessed May 4, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104916.
Jones, Jonah. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 4, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104916.
"Jones, Jonah." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 4 May 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Jonah Jones
Discogs: Jonah Jones
Allmusic: Jonah Jones
Grove: Jonah Jones
Britannica: Jonah Jones
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Jones, Jonah, 1909-2000 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n85138033
Wikidata: Jonah Jones - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q350938
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/24787511
MusicBrainz: Jonah Jones - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/d5fc2a70-7784-4877-84d3-473c99c09833
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