Joe Jones (singer)

Joe Jones (August 12, 1926 – November 27, 2005) was an American R&B singer, songwriter and arranger, who was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jones is also generally credited with discovering the Dixie Cups. He also worked with B.B. King. As a singer, Jones had his greatest hit in the form of the Top Five 1960 R&B hit "You Talk Too Much", which also reached #3 on the pop chart.

Career

Jones served in the U.S. Navy before studying music at the Juilliard Conservatory of Music. He was a valet, then pianist and arranger for B.B. King. His debut solo single was "Will Call" (1954) on Capitol Records. In 1960, "You Talk Too Much" became a national success, but his subsequent releases were less successful.

Jones claimed to have composed many songs, including the song "Iko Iko." Although his claims were originally successful, a federal jury and then Court of Appeals ruled that Jones did not write "Iko Iko," that his claims were fraudulent, and that the true writers were the band he managed, the Dixie Cups (the true original recording of this song had been released as Checker 787 by New Orleans singer and pianist Sugar Boy Crawford and his Cane Cutters in late 1953). The band hired music attorney Oren Warshavsky, who had previously won a case demonstrating that Jones fraudulently claimed ownership of another Mardi Gras classic song, "It Ain't My Fault." Jones also failed in his bid to claim ownership (though not as an author) to yet another Mardi Gras classic song, "Carnival Time." He also originally recorded "California Sun", which was made a hit by the Rivieras. He later worked tirelessly for the rights of fellow R&B acts.

Jones died in Los Angeles, California, from complications from quadruple bypass surgery.

External links

• Joe Jones at AllMusic
• Joe Jones at the Internet Movie Database