Moody Jones

b. 8 April 1908, Earle, Arkansas, USA. From a rural farming background, Jones moved to East St. Louis in the late 20s, by which time he was already making music on home-made instruments. Later, he learned guitar and in 1938, moved to Chicago and joined the blues circuit there. Along with his cousin Floyd Jones and harmonica player Snooky Pryor, he made some records in the late 40s. Their sound combined a powerful down-home Mississippi/Arkansas style with influences from records by artists such as Sonny Boy Williamson - the classic ingredients of post-war Chicago blues. Jones recorded a few tracks under his own name in the early 50s, but these were not issued at the time, despite the emotional quality of his vocals. In later years, he abandoned the blues and became a Christian minister.