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 126-150 of 154 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 90865 10-in. 9/10/1936 Sinking sun blues Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91011 10-in. 12/7/1936 Little red wagon Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91012 10-in. 12/7/1936 Dan the back door man Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91013 10-in. 12/7/1936 Your hellish way Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91014 10-in. 12/7/1936 Marble stone blues Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91023 10-in. 12/8/1936 Poor lonesome boy Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91102 10-in. 1/28/1937 You don't know my mind Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91103 10-in. 1/28/1937 When my love comes down Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91104 10-in. 1/28/1937 Walking the street Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91105 10-in. 1/28/1937 Grandpa and Grandma Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91106 10-in. 1/28/1937 I'm so glad I'm 21 today Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91107 10-in. 1/28/1937 Toothache blues Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91229 10-in. 5/6/1937 Mistreated blues Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91255 10-in. 5/9/1937 New trouble in mind Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91256 10-in. 5/19/1937 Trouble in mind swing Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91257 10-in. 5/19/1937 Moonshine blues Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91259 10-in. 5/19/1937 Biscuit roller Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91351 10-in. 11/9/1937 Careless love-1 Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91352 10-in. 11/9/1937 Rock me Daddy-1 Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91353 10-in. 11/9/1937 Red Cap Porter-1 Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91354 10-in. 11/9/1937 Alley boogie Georgia White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 93030 10-in. 6/5/1940 New Orleans hop scop blues Jimmie Noone Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 93031 10-in. 6/5/1940 Keystone blues Jimmie Noone Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 93032 10-in. 6/5/1940 Red onion blues Johnny Dodds’ Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 93033 10-in. 6/5/1940 Gravier Street blues Johnny Dodds’ Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 126-150 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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