Richard M. Jones

Richard M. Jones, born Richard Marigny Jones (sometimes written Richard Mariney Jones), (June 13, 1892 – December 8, 1945) was an American jazz pianist, composer, band leader, and record producer. Numerous songs bear his name as author, including "Trouble in Mind".

He was born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, United States. Jones grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jones suffered from a stiff leg and walked with a limp; fellow musicians gave him the nickname "Richard My Knee Jones" as a pun on his middle name. In his youth he played alto horn in brass bands. His main instrument, however, became the piano. By 1908, he was playing in Storyville, the red-light district of New Orleans. A few years later, he often led a small band which sometimes included Joe Oliver. Jones also worked in the bands of John Robichaux, Armand J. Piron, and Papa Celestin.

In 1918, Jones moved to Chicago, Illinois. He worked as Chicago manager for publisher and pianist Clarence Williams. Jones began recording in 1923, making gramophone records as a piano soloist, accompanist to vocalists, and with his bands The Jazz Wizards and The Chicago Cosmopolitans. He recorded for Gennett, OKeh, Victor, and Paramount Records in the 1920s. He also worked for OKeh Records as Chicago supervisor of the company's "Race" (African-American) Records for most of the decade. During this period he was the producer of the influential Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings led by cornetist (later trumpeter) Louis Armstrong. In the 1930s, Jones performed a similar management role for Decca.

Richard M. Jones worked for Mercury Records until his death in December 1945 in Chicago, at the age of 53.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 13, 1892, Died December 8, 1945 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, composer, leader, lyricist, songwriter, arranger, vocalist, speaker

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 154 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh 9765 10-in. 6/21/1926 Soapstick blues Creole Roof Orchestra ; Arthur Sims Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh 9772 10-in. 6/22/1926 Mush mouth blues Richard M. Jones’ Jazz Wizards Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
OKeh 9773 10-in. 6/22/1926 Baby of mine Richard M. Jones’ Jazz Wizards Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
OKeh 9777 10-in. 6/23/1926 Big fat Ma and skinny Pa Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo and talk lyricist, composer  
OKeh 9785 10-in. June 1926 Individual blues Katherine Adkins Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
OKeh 9786 10-in. June 1926 Did she fall or was she pushed? Katherine Adkins Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
OKeh 9916 10-in. 11/18/1926 Nolan Welsh's blues Nolan Welsh Male vocal solo, with violin and piano instrumentalist, piano, composer  
OKeh 9917 Not documented 11/18/1926 [Unknown title(s)] Nolan Welsh Male vocal solo, with violin and piano instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh 9918 10-in. 11/18/1926 Bouncing blues Clarence Black ; Richard M. Jones ; Nolan Welsh Male vocal solo, with violin and piano instrumentalist, piano, composer  
OKeh 9919 Not documented 11/18/1926 [Unknown title(s)] Nolan Welsh Male vocal solo, with violin and piano instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh 9949 10-in. 11/23/1926 Pleadin' for the blues Louis Armstrong ; Bertha Chippie Hill ; Richard M. Jones Female vocal solo, with trumpet and piano instrumentalist, piano, composer  
OKeh 9950 10-in. 11/23/1926 Pratts City blues Louis Armstrong ; Bertha Chippie Hill ; Richard M. Jones Female vocal solo, with trumpet and piano instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh 9951 10-in. 11/23/1926 Mess Katie mess Bertha Chippie Hill Female vocal solo, with trumpet and piano instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh 9960 10-in. 11/24/1926 Dusty bottom blues Richard M. Jones’ Jazz Wizards Jazz/dance band, with talking leader, speaker, composer  
OKeh 9961 10-in. 11/24/1926 Scagmore Green Richard M. Jones’ Jazz Wizards Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh 9962 Not documented 11/24/1926 [Unknown title(s)] Richard M. Jones’ Jazz Wizards Jazz/dance band leader  
OKeh 9963 Not documented 11/24/1926 [Unknown title(s)] Richard M. Jones’ Jazz Wizards Jazz/dance band leader  
OKeh 9971 10-in. 11/26/1926 Lovesick blues Louis Armstrong ; Bertha Chippie Hill ; Richard M. Jones Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer  
OKeh 9972 10-in. 11/26/1926 Lonesome weary blues Louis Armstrong ; Bertha Chippie Hill ; Richard M. Jones Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh S-71911 10-in. September 1923 Jazzin' babies blues Clarence Williams’ Trio ; Eva Taylor Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio lyricist, composer  
OKeh 74060 10-in. Mar. 1926 Sweet little mammy Ernest Hare Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio composer, lyricist  
OKeh 74334 10-in. Sept. 1926 Heebie jeebies Alberta Hunter Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance quartet songwriter  
OKeh 80031 10-in. 5/4/1926 Sweet little mammy Buster Johnson's Pickaninnies ; Frank Cumberland Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
OKeh 80137 10-in. 9/24/1926 Heebie jeebies The Goofus Five ; Ernest Hare Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo songwriter  
OKeh W80841 10-in. 5/6/1927 It all depends on you Lillie Delk Christian ; Richard M. Jones’ Jazz Wizards Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
(Results 51-75 of 154 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Jones, Richard M.," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106200.

Jones, Richard M.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106200.

"Jones, Richard M.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106200

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