Andrew "Jr Boy" Jones

Guitarist, songwriter, and singer Andrew "Jr. Boy" Jones began working professionally at age 16 with <a href="spotify:artist:5dCuFngSPyOOnTAvrC7v2s">Freddie King</a>'s backing band, the Thunderbirds. He got his first guitar from his uncle, jazz musician Adolphus Sneed. Jones cites an eclectic array of influences: <a href="spotify:artist:5dCuFngSPyOOnTAvrC7v2s">Freddie King</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4JkqBiy0WH1Gs44Ozs2NFQ">Cornell Dupree</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:7aRi9OzdA2ciputfuguaPK">Larry Carlton</a>. For many years, he's backed various Dallas-area vocalists on guitar, but in the mid-'90s, he came into his own as a vocalist with an album for <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22JSP+Records%22">JSP Records</a>, I Need Time (1997), which showcases his crafty songwriting, great guitar playing, and powerful singing.

In 1967, Jones joined Dallas-area vocalist <a href="spotify:artist:6gCa8F8P0PSVNYUMtoQOgk">Bobby Patterson</a>'s outfit <a href="spotify:artist:791GHiv0E13wDC3kqUt0Cc">the Mustangs</a>. Through most of the '70s, Jones backed various artists, including Patterson, <a href="spotify:artist:4OGuNAnRFWZOgOA2d51taz">Johnnie Taylor</a>, and Charlie Robertson. In late 1987, he went to California and joined the Silent Partners with bassist <a href="spotify:artist:6GUInE4vCDEuDRxoONmasM">Russell Jackson</a> and drummer <a href="spotify:artist:0QIxudHuVjcWwPZwHXC4l8">Tony Coleman</a>, the latter of whom is best known for his work with <a href="spotify:artist:5xLSa7l4IV1gsQfhAMvl0U">B.B. King</a>'s orchestra. Jones recorded with Bay-area piano player and singer <a href="spotify:artist:14c9svUXIslxxftYL6GqZe">Katie Webster</a> on her critically praised <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Alligator+Records%22">Alligator Records</a> album, Swamp Boogie Queen.

Jones met harmonica player <a href="spotify:artist:4NikxGoDm5LGVYAHj0Euoc">Charlie Musselwhite</a> at a <a href="spotify:artist:6IzJ8vvCUABlUbz3JN3hnl">Sonny Rhodes</a> recording session, and <a href="spotify:artist:4NikxGoDm5LGVYAHj0Euoc">Musselwhite</a> persuaded him to stay in California and join his band. Jones played guitar on <a href="spotify:artist:4NikxGoDm5LGVYAHj0Euoc">Musselwhite</a>'s three late-'80s/early-'90s albums for <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Alligator+Records%22">Alligator Records</a> (Ace of Harps, In My Time, and Signature). He also had the chance to do some extensive world touring with the harmonica master.

Jones left <a href="spotify:artist:4NikxGoDm5LGVYAHj0Euoc">Musselwhite</a>'s band amicably in the mid-'90s and moved back to Dallas, where he accompanied Dallas-area blues singers like R.L. Griffin, <a href="spotify:artist:7LRO1fp8i1fkzm95SvqF73">Hal Harris & the Lowlifers</a>, and others. He issued Watch What You Say in 1998. ~ Richard Skelly, Rovi