Coley Jones

Coley Jones (late 1880s – Unknown) was an American country blues mandolin player popular in Dallas, Texas, in the 1920s. Much of Jones's background, such as his residency, date of birth, and death are obscure, but he is best remembered for leading and recording with The Dallas String Band, with their most known song being the traditional Irish folk tune, "Drunkard's Special."

Jones was born sometime in the late-1880s, in Texas, and was associated with music at an early age, first with his family ensemble, which was led by his father, guitarist Coley Jones Senior. With Coley Jones split between duties as the mandolin player and an additional guitarist, the group ventured to performances in various dances, outside theaters, and town squares throughout the state. In 1903, it was first confirmed, through tentative documentation, that Jones had established residency in Dallas, where he was known to reside, until the end of the 1920s, and is presumed to remain for the majority of his life since nothing verifies a change of location. During that time, Jones began his professional career as a member of a traveling minstrel show.

Between December 1927 and December 1929, Jones recorded compositions for Columbia Records, first as a solo act accompanying himself with guitar and providing vocals. Among the songs was "Drunkard's Special," which originated (as stated above) from Irish folk music ballads, with alternate titles including "The Merry Cuckold and the Kind Wife" and "Three Nights Drunk." Jones's version later was featured on Harry Smith's prominent compilation album, Anthology of American Folk Music, in 1952, along with many of his contemporaries' recordings. Jones track, "Dallas Rag", best exemplified his expertise at mandolin playing. In addition, Jones was an in-demand session musician, as he worked as a guitarist on tracks by Bobbie Cadillac and Texas Bill Day. His conspicuous presence in the music scene saw Jones as a transitional musical figure, resulting in a distinct Texas-influenced blues sound.

All the while, Jones was involved in the group, the Satisfied Five, which included Herbert Cowans, and used to broadcast live from Baker Hotel and radio station WFAA. At approximately the same timeframe, Jones was also a member of the Dallas String Band, alongside Marco Washington on double bass, Sam Harris on guitar and several sidemen. The band produced ten sides during their existence, with each one displaying the group's complex instrumental abilities. The Dallas Strings later evolved into the Coley Jones String Band, notably for including T-Bone Walker. By the end of 1929, no further documentation of Jones is found though it is generally thought he still was performing in Dallas well into the 1930s.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1885

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1929

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, guitar, mandolin

= 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
Columbia W145324 10-in. 12/3/1927 Army mule in no man's land Coley Jones Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W145325 10-in. 12/3/1927 That's my man Coley Jones Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W145326 10-in. 12/3/1927 Papa Coley's past life blues Coley Jones Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W145327 10-in. 12/3/1927 You go ahead, I'll stay right here Coley Jones Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W145328 10-in. 12/3/1927 Oh death, where is thy sting? Coley Jones Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W145329 10-in. 12/4/1927 Travelling man Coley Jones Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W145342 10-in. 12/6/1927 Frankie and Albert Coley Jones Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W147612 10-in. 12/8/1928 So tired Dallas String Band ; Coley Jones String trio, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble instrumentalist, mandolin, vocalist  
Columbia W147613 10-in. 12/8/1928 Hokum blues Dallas String Band ; Coley Jones String trio, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble instrumentalist, mandolin, vocalist  
Columbia W147622 10-in. 12/9/1928 Chasin' rainbows Dallas String Band ; Coley Jones String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, mandolin, vocalist  
Columbia W147623 10-in. 12/9/1928 I used to call her baby Dallas String Band ; Coley Jones String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, mandolin, vocalist  
Columbia W149512 10-in. 12/4/1929 Goin' back to my baby Texas Bill Day Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W149513 10-in. 12/4/1929 Don't get love in your mind Texas Bill Day Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W149514 10-in. 12/4/1929 Good mornin' blues Texas Bill Day Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W149515 10-in. 12/4/1929 Burn the trestle down Texas Bill Day Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W149536 10-in. 12/5/1929 I can't stand that Bobbie Cadillac ; Coley Jones Female-male vocal duet ("blues singers"), with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Columbia W149537 10-in. 12/5/1929 He throws that thing Bobbie Cadillac ; Coley Jones Female-male vocal duet ("blues singers"), with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Columbia W149538 10-in. 12/5/1929 Elm Street blues Texas Bill Day ; Billiken Johnson Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar, piano, and vocal effects instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W149539 10-in. 12/5/1929 Billiken's weary blues Texas Bill Day ; Billiken Johnson Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar, piano, and vocal effects instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W149558 10-in. 12/6/1929 Drunkard's special Coley Jones Male vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Columbia W149559 10-in. 12/6/1929 The elder's he's my man Coley Jones Male vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Columbia W149566 10-in. 12/6/1929 Listen everybody Bobbie Cadillac ; Coley Jones Female-male vocal duet ("blues singers"), with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Columbia W149567 10-in. 12/6/1929 Easin' in Bobbie Cadillac ; Coley Jones Female-male vocal duet ("blues singers"), with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Columbia W149568 10-in. 12/6/1929 Shine Dallas String Band ; Coley Jones String band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, mandolin, vocalist  
Columbia W149569 10-in. 12/6/1929 Sugar blues Dallas String Band ; Coley Jones String band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, mandolin, vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Jones, Coley," accessed March 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104538.

Jones, Coley. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104538.

"Jones, Coley." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104538

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.